Almeida Theatre announces Winter 2015 season

The Almeida Theatre in north London has announced details of its new season which takes a fresh look at two of the 19th Century's greatest dramatists.

Almeida Artistic Director Rupert Goold introduced the season by saying:

"We follow our Almeida Greeks with a double-header of late nineteenth-century masterpieces by two of the world's most important and influential playwrights. Written less than five years apart, these plays offer startlingly fresh reflections on our lives and our theatre - and how we can understand them."

The first production in the season will be Little Elyof
by Henrik Ibsen in a new version created by Richard Eyre, which will run from 19 November 2015 to 9 January 2016, with an official opening on 26 November 2015.

The production completes a trilogy of Ibsen plays directed by Richard Eyre, following on from 'Ghosts' and 'Hedda Gabbler' which both transferred to the West End. The cast will be led by Jolyon Coy, Lydia Leonard, Sam Hazeldine, Eve Ponsonby and Eileen Walsh.

"How is a life well-lived? Alfred Allmers comes home to his wife, Rita, and makes a decision. Casting aside his writing, he dedicates himself to raising his son. But one event is about to change his life forever."

The production will be designed by Tim Hatley with lighting by Peter Mumford, sound by John Leonard and video by Jon Driscoll.

This will be followed by Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov in a new version by Robert Icke, which will run from 5 February to 26 March 2016, with an official opening on 12 February 2016.

Paul Rhys will make his Almeida debut in the title role.

"Things your life could be: (1) a farce. (2) a tragedy. (3) pointless. (4) all of the above. Things you could do about it: (1) keep living. (2) stop living. (3) stop someone else living. (4) nothing. Even so, what has your life been worth?"

This will be the first Chekhov production at the Almeida in a decade.

Public booking for both productions opens at 10am on Tuesday 15 September.