Theatre Royal Stratford East announces new shows and events for 2023-24.
A new production to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Jonathan Harvey’s coming-out and coming-of-age story ‘Beautiful Thing’ directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike which will run Friday 8 September – Saturday 7 October 2023.
In 2024 Stratford East will revive its hit Windrush ska musical ‘The Big Life’, 20 years after it premiered at the venue and transferred to the West End. With book by Paul Sirett and EastEnders star Tameka Empson, lyrics by Paul Sirett and music by Paul Joseph, this new production will be directed by Tinuke Craig (The Color Purple). The Big Life will run Friday 16 February – Saturday 30 March 2024.
This year, Stratford East continues to nurture young talent across East London, with their 2023/24 Young Company presenting a new production written by Guleraana Mir, inspired by the Young Company. ‘here, here, here’ will be directed by Katie Greenall, with support from trainee assistant director Taiwo Oyebola. Set in 1993, 2023 and 2043, this is a story about a building, about Stratford and about London and will play Friday 28 and Saturday 29 July 2023
Comedy and music will also continue in 2023 with further one-night events including ‘Live at Stratford East’ comedy line-up including Mawaan Rizwan and Thanyia Moore in May and ‘An Evening of Soca Carnival – LIVE!’ featuring Triniboi Joocie & special guests in August.
Key creative team announced for Stratford East’s festive favourite pantomime ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ with book and lyrics by Anna Jordan, music and lyrics by Robert Hyman and directed by Denzel Westley-Sanderson.
Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Stratford East, Nadia Fall said:
“Nostalgia, love and feel-good theatre.
Our new season is a warm bath of nostalgia, love and laughter, kicking off with the 30th anniversary revival of Jonathan Harvey’s modern classic Beautiful Thing, which tenderly explores first love on a South London Estate in the 90s.
This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Windrush, so we’re incredibly excited to announce the return of our celebrated ska musical The Big Life, which takes a playful look at romance and the relationships of the young people who arrived from the Caribbean to forge new lives in the UK.
Our panto, Jack and the Beanstalk, promises an exciting collaboration between our Sky Arts Associate Artist Denzel Westley-Sanderson and prolific writer Anna Jordan, with composer Robert Hyman who will be celebrating his 25th year writing those fantastic Christmas earworms!
We’re also delighted to be continuing our series of one-night events with the return of comedy night Live at Stratford East and Don’t Stop The Beat Productions with An Evening of Soca Carnival – Live!, and to be welcoming our 2023/24 Young Company to our stage with their new production, here, here, here”.
Priority booking for Stratford East Members and customers with access requirements opens on 31 March 2023 at 11am. Public booking opens on 6 April at 11am. Full listings and more information might be found here.
These new productions join previously announced shows including Village Idiot by Samson Hawkins, directed by Artistic Director Nadia Fall in a co-production with Nottingham Playhouse and Ramps on the Moon (Thursday 13 April – Saturday 06 May 2023, Press Night Wednesday 19 May, 7pm), Ballet Black’s return to Stratford East with their new show Pioneers (Wednesday 10 – Saturday 20 May 2023) and Dave Harris’ Tambo & Bones, directed by Matthew Xia in a co-production between Stratford East and Actors Touring Company (Friday 16 June – Saturday 15 July 2023, Press Night Thursday 22 June, 7pm).
