The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and Good Chance today announce that Kyoto will transfer to @sohoplace for a limited 16-week run from Thursday 9 January – Saturday 3 May 2025, with tickets on sale to RSC, Good Chance and Nimax priority bookers from Thursday 3 October at 10am and on public sale from Friday 4 October at 10am at sohoplace.org.
The production transfers direct from its critically acclaimed world premiere run in Stratford-upon-Avon; one of 17 productions announced as part of Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey’s inaugural programme as RSC Co-Artistic Directors and their first co-production with Good Chance. The London transfer will see Tony award-nominated actor Stephen Kunken (The Handmaid’s Tale, Billions) reprise his celebrated role as American oil lobbyist and master strategist, Don Pearlman, after making his RSC debut earlier this year.
This December will mark 27 years since the signing of the Kyoto agreement which took place on 11 December,1997. Global in scale and yet personal at heart, Kyoto is a fast-paced, politically charged thriller which places audiences at the heart of the historic 1997 Kyoto climate summit, a world where big oil, big money and big egos clash in the battle to secure the world’s first legally binding emissions targets.
Written by Good Chance co-founders, Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson (The Jungle, The Walk with Little Amal) and directed by Stephen Daldry (Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Billy Elliot, The Inheritance) and Justin Martin (Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Prima Facie), this breathless and gripping tale recounts the fateful hours of tense negotiation which lead up to the historic signing of the UN’s landmark climate conference in December 1997. The production features a unique production design by award-winning designer Miriam Buether.
Also returning to the cast Jenna Augen (Shirley), Olivia Barrowclough (Secretariat), Jorge Bosch (Raul Estrada-Oyuela), Nancy Crane (USA), Andrea Gatchalian (Kiribati, AOSIS), Togo Igawa (Japan, Ohki), Kwong Loke (China, Zhong), Dale Rapley (Bolin, Santer, Gore), Raad Rawi (Saudi Arabia, Al Sabban) and Ferdy Roberts (UK, Prescott, Houghton).
Co-Directors Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin said: “Kyoto tells the story of a miraculous moment of agreement in which the seemingly impossible, became a reality. From the crucible of Kyoto emerged something extraordinary; a landmark moment in the history of climate legislation, which paved the way for much of the environmental progress we have witnessed in our lifetime. To bring Joe and Joe’s urgent and vital play to the heart of central London, feels entirely in-keeping with the international nature of this collaboration and we are delighted to be re-uniting with so many of the original company in our new home @sohoplace in 2025.”
Stephen Kunken said: “I’m utterly thrilled and champing at the bit to return to KYOTO and the complicated character that is Don Pearlman. Bringing this play to life has been one of the most invigorating, challenging and rewarding artistic endeavours of my career. I cannot wait to continue the journey with this magnificent Company in the epicentre of the Theatre universe.”
RSC Co-Artistic Directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey said: “Every so often, a play comes along that speaks passionately and urgently to the world in which we live. Kyoto is one of those plays. Its resonance is testament to the creative might of its writers, Good Chance co-founders Joe Robertson and Joe Murphy, and their long-term collaborators Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin. Nearly 30 years on from the signing of the original Kyoto climate agreement in December 1997, this ultimately hopeful story of agreement against the odds embodies our core belief in the unique power of theatre to bring people together and – in doing so – deepen our shared understanding of the world around us. Having seen it captivate audiences in Stratford earlier this year, we can’t think of a more perfect venue for London audiences to experience this high-octane political thriller.”
Writers and Good Chance Co-Artistic Directors Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson said: “We’re delighted that Kyoto will continue its life in Nica Burns’ spectacular @sohoplace next year. We loved creating the show with Good Chance and the RSC in Stratford and the incredible conversations it inspired with audiences every night.
The play tells the extraordinary story of how an unlikely group of international diplomats, scientists, politicians and activists made a leap of faith – to work together to defeat powerful vested interests and reach the first global agreement on climate change.
In our current age of disagreement, and amid the daily assault of news reports about climate catastrophe, we want Kyoto to be a story of hope that will thrill and inspire audiences to take a seat at the table and make that same leap of faith again.”
Nica Burns, Founder of @sohoplace said: “Speaking to the most urgent issues of our time, Kyoto is exactly the kind of thrilling and provocative theatre that we want to share with audiences @sohoplace and we are delighted to be partnering with the RSC and Good Chance on such an extraordinary production. Our intimate and dynamic auditorium will perfectly complement Kyoto’s atmospheric staging, placing audiences at the centre of this gripping drama.”
The full creative team for Kyoto comprises; Miriam Buether (Set Designer), Natalie Pryce (Costume Designer) Aideen Malone (Lighting Designer), Christopher Reid (Sound Designer), Akhila Krishnan (Video Designer), Paul Englishby (Composer), Gemma Stockwood (Dramaturg) and Julia Horan CDG (Casting Director).
