Arcola Theatre in Dalston announces its new season

Dom O'Hanlon
Dom O'Hanlon

The Arcola Theatre in Dalston, east London has announced details of its upcoming Autumn and Winter season across both of their studio spaces, including new writing and the return of a successful hit play.

Clarion returns to the Studio One venue from 20 October to 14 November 2015, with an official opening on 22 October 2015. Written by former journalist Mark Jagasia, who has worked for some of the UK's leading newspapers, the original run sold out and gained excellent press reviews.

"The Daily Clarion is Britain's worst newspaper. Power-crazed editor Morris Honeyspoon spends his weekends dressed as Julius Caesar, and life at his beloved paper is a masterclass in incompetence and deceit. But as political storm clouds gather over an uneasy country, it seems the Clarion's worst crimes are about to be exposed. While Honeyspoon searches for an office traitor, washed-up foreign correspondent Verity Stokes masterminds a murderous day of reckoning..."

The production stars John Atterbury, Jim Bywater, Peter Bourke, Greg Hicks, Clare Higgins, Laura Smithers and Ryan Wichert. It is directed by Mehmet Ergen with design by Anthony Lamble, sound by Neil McKeown and lighting by David Howe.

Running alongside in Studio 2 will be Sarai, written and directed by Paul Anthony Morris. It runs from 21 October to 7 November, with an official opening on 23 October 2015.

"Sarai has been promised that she will be the founder of a new nation, its sovereignty established upon an old land. But first she must contend with the most formidable of forces - famine, disease, persecution and civil war. Her courage and wisdom will be tested to its limits..."

The production will star Karlina Grace and features design by Victoria Johnstone, lighting by Prema Mehta and choreography by Shane Shambu.

Howard Barker Double Bill: Battle of Isonzo and Judith ad a Parting from the Body runs from 25 November to 19 December 2015, with an official opening on 27 November 2015.

"The Twelfth Battle of Isonzo: Isonzo is blind, witty and 100 years old; Tenna is blind, beautiful and just 17. On the day of their wedding a battle of wits commences in which bride and groom discover the other is far more of a match than they had bargained for...Power-play abounds in this fearlessly imaginative one-act drama."

"Judith: A Parting From The Body: On the night before battle, Judith enters the enemy camp to kill the Assyrian general, Holofernes. Her land is at stake - but what of her heart and mind? Barker's radical reimagining of this apocryphal story lays bare the complex sacrifices of human beings at war."

The production is directed by Robyn Winfield-Smith.

The first production in Studio 1 in 2016 will be Jane Wenham: The Witch of Walkern by Rebecca Lenkiewicz and directed by Ria Parry, running from 5 to 30 January 2015 with an official opening on 7 January 2016.

"Walkern, 1712. After decades free from witch hunts, Walkern's cunning woman Jane Wenham is blamed for a tragic death - and charged with witchcraft. A terrifying ordeal begins, as the village is torn between those who want to save her life, and those who claim to want to save her soul."

The cast includes David Acton, Amanda Bellamy, Judith Coke, Tim Delap, Hannah Hutch, Andrew Macklin, Rachel Sanders and Cat Simmons.

The final production in the season will be Nine Lives by Zodwa Nyoni, produced by Leeds Studio in association with West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Running from 6 to 30 January 2015, the production is directed by Alex Chisholm with design by Ed Clarke and will star Lladel Bryant.

Tickets for all productions are now on sale.

Originally published on

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