|
Sloane
Square is of course the home of the Royal Court, one of London's
liveliest, most accessible and important theatrical addresses for
new work, but it's not the only game in town.
At
the other end of the King's Road, the Chelsea Centre is forging
an increasingly intriguing programme of new writing, too, though
sadly it's near neighbour at World's End, the Man in the Moon
pub theatre, is about to shut shop after 20 years in business
as one of London's more interesting fringe venues.
Turning
point
The
English Stage Company at the Royal Court broke new ground soon after
it established itself there in 1956 with its premiere of John
Osborne's Look Back in Anger.
The
play marked a turning point in the history of modern British drama,
and established the theatre's pole position in the hierarchy of
new writing venues that it has continued to occupy ever since.
In
the 60s and 70s, it was the home of Osborne and Wesker, John
Arden and Edward Bond.
New
talent
Talents
it has more recently uncovered include Martin McDonagh (whose
The Beauty Queen of Leenane transferred from here to Broadway),
Conor McPherson (whose The Weir premiered there became a
long-running West End and Broadway hit), Jez Butterworth
and the late Sarah Kane.
In
1995 the venue received a lottery grant to completely rebuild its
100 year-old home, and the refurbished result re-opened in February
2000 with its intimacy intact but with added comfort for audience
and actors alike, as well as a handsome new underground restaurant.
New
season
The
Court, as it is universally known, is currently under the inspired
artistic direction of Ian Rickson, but the last incumbent
(who presided brilliantly over the rebuilding scheme) was Stephen
Daldry, who returns there this month to direct a new play by
Caryl Churchill, A Number, with a cast that includes Michael
Gambon and Daniel Craig (running 12 September to 2 November).
It
will be followed in the main house by a new play by the controversial
Anthony Neilson, The Lying Kind (running 21 November to 11
January).
 |
| A
tale of two twitchers, Outlying islands is part of the current
season at the Court |
Meanwhile,
in the Theatre Upstairs studio, David Greig's Outlying Islands
has recently transferred from Edinburgh's Traverse (running to 28
September), and will be followed by Imprint, the Court's
annual Young Writers Festival featuring full productions and rehearsed
readings chosen from over 350 scripts submitted (18 October to 23
November).
Then
the theatre hosts a new first play by actor turned writer DeObia
Oparei, entitled crazyblackmuthaf***in'self.
More
new drama
Meanwhile
the Chelsea Centre kicks off its autumn season of three premieres
with Jonathan Hall's The Coffee Lovers Guide to America (7
October to 2 November), and continues with the British premiere
of Veronique Olmi's End of Story (18 November to 14 December),
first produced by the Comedie Francaise in Paris.
Then
Judith Johnson, whose last play The Singing Group was a success
at the Chelsea Centre earlier this year, premieres Exclude Me next
February.
Finally,
the dank pub basement of the Man in the Moon reaches the end of
its current theatrical life with this week's final premiere of Kicking
Oscar's Corpse, a new play by Gavin Armstrong about the trial
of Oscar Wilde, running to 28 September.
|
Listen live
Click
through amazing shots of London from high up in a helicopter!