The Almeida Theatre has unveiled the final season under Artistic Director Rupert Goold, marking the end of a transformative 12-year tenure.
The season features 10 productions, including four world premieres, a musical revival, and bold reimaginings of classic plays.
Among the world premieres is Romans: a novel, a new play by Alice Birch, directed by Sam Pritchard and starring Kyle Soller.
Tony Award winner Michael Grandage will direct The Line of Beauty, adapted by Jack Holden from Alan Hollinghurst’s Booker Prize-winning novel.
Olivier Award winner Sam Grabiner presents Christmas Day, directed by James Macdonald.
Goold will revisit his acclaimed production of American Psycho, the musical thriller that launched his Almeida tenure in 2013.
Romola Garai returns to the Almeida in A Doll’s House, adapted by Anya Reiss and directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins.
Under the Shadow, adapted by Carmen Nasr from Babak Anvari’s BAFTA-winning film, will be directed by Nadia Latif and feature Leila Farzad.
Rebecca Frecknall will direct her final production as Almeida Associate Director with Sarah Kane’s Cleansed.
Sam Yates directs Golden Boy by Clifford Odets, starring BAFTA winner Josh O’Connor.
Former Almeida Resident Director Ebenezer Bamgboye returns to direct Zackary Momoh in a revival of Eugene O’Neill’s Desire Under the Elms.
Also announced is 81 (Life), the second in a trilogy of community plays co-created by Rhianna Ilube with 81 local residents, in partnership with All Change and Cardboard Citizens.
The Almeida will also join the newly launched National Youth Advisory Board, aimed at fostering industry-wide dialogue and change.
Additionally, the theatre’s office and rehearsal spaces will undergo major refurbishment to enhance accessibility and sustainability.
Rupert Goold said, “Today we announce my final season as Artistic Director at the Almeida. A season that, I hope, captures the spirit and values of our past 12 years. We present 10 productions including four world premieres, four revivals of classic plays and a revisit of the musical from my first season at the Almeida.
“New writing has always been a central pillar of our work so I’m proud to be premiering brand new plays from four of the most exciting voices in the country. Three of the writers are new to us in Alice Birch, Jack Holden and Sam Grabiner, while Carmen Nasr returns following her Almeida Young Company production The Maladies in 2022.
“Another artist continuing their journey with us is Ebenezer Bamgboye who was on our Resident Director Scheme in 2018 and now gives his take on Eugene O’Neill’s Desire Under the Elms, featuring Zackary Momoh. This great American play joins Joe Hill-Gibbins and Anya Reiss’ new version of A Doll’s House, with Romola Garai following up her Olivier Award-winning performance in The Years; Rebecca Frecknall’s production of Sarah Kane’s infamous Cleansed; and Josh O’Connor featuring in Clifford Odets’ Golden Boy, directed by Sam Yates.
“I will be revisiting my production of American Psycho, the show with which I launched my tenure back in 2013 – partly to explore what may have changed since then.
“It’s a complex feeling to leave Islington and this unique theatre for a new challenge south of the river so it’s particularly pleasing that before I go, we will also present the second instalment of our Islington Trilogy community productions – a project that celebrates Islington and everyone who lives and works here. While we have looked to the world for our stories, our artists and our influence, our identity has remained as a local theatre.
“I look forward to seeing you over the next 18 months and thank you to everyone – artists, makers, supporters and above all audiences – for your support over the last decade.”
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
