Today, Headlong have announced their programme for 2020/21, the final season under current Artistic Director, Jeremy Herrin.
Jeremy Herrin, Artistic Director, Headlong said: “Running Headlong has been the privilege of a lifetime and I’m immensely grateful to the colleagues, artists, stakeholders and audiences who have been part of the journey. It seems appropriate to draw my time as Artistic Director to a close with a range of projects and collaborators that are close to my heart.
Bunny Christie, Jack Thorne and I have been incubating After Life for a while and I hope it will be a soulful and satisfying show that showcases what Headlong and the National Theatre can do at their best.
I’m a big fan of August Wilson’s peerless writing, and Tinuke Craig’s production of one of his greatest plays Jitney will be a meaningful expansion of the canon on the UK’s touring scene.
I’ve always been proud to make our work digitally available. With Holly Race Roughan and April de Angelis collaborating on Mrs Noah, a joyful response to the very real climate crisis, and our continued collaboration with The Guardian on Europeans: Dramas from a Divided Union, we are building on past achievements.
Despite our very visible successes in London and the West End, Headlong is, at heart, a national company and I’m particularly proud to leave a scheme that encourages regional theatre directors and offers them practical and structured support in Headlong Origins. This talented generation of theatre artists based outside London will provide a creative legacy for Headlong and regional theatre in general and I’m delighted that some of the success of my time at Headlong can be channelled in such a targeted way. Alongside Headlong Futures, it has been great to expand our work.
I’ll be sad to leave Headlong with its supportive and wise board, Alan Stacey and the wonderful team that make the company consistently punch above its weight. I’ve loved the time sharing some magical evenings of theatre up and down the country with the team past and present. I’m happy that I leave the company in strong health with an inspired staff, a capable and ambitious board and a range of excellent commissions, making it an appetising opportunity for a talented and visionary new Artistic Director.”
The season celebrates the breadth of the company’s work under Herrin and Executive Director Alan Stacey; from bold, ground-breaking productions made with some of the UK’s finest artists, to digital projects which respond to, and provoke, discussion around the political and social crises of our time. Headlong continues to take their provocative mix of innovative new writing and influential 20th century plays across the UK seeking, out new audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Alongside their stage work, the company continues its commitment to supporting young theatre makers and artists from around the UK.
