Royal Court Announces its Autumn Season.

Royal Court Announces its Autumn Season.

The Royal Court Theatre has announced its Autumn 2008 Season - running 3 Sep 2008 to 10 Jan 2009.

Dominic Cooke, Artistic Director says: "When I took over at the Royal Court, I said that I wanted the theatre to ask two questions - "Who are we today?" and "What is a play?" The eighteen months since have seen us address those questions, taking significant risks, and being rewarded for those risks with a theatre that was 91% full last year. And that experimentation will continue. "In a few months' time, the eyes of the world will be on America as the voters elect their next President. Their decision will affect us all and so it is fitting that our Autumn season looks across the Atlantic for inspiration, with new plays from Christopher Shinn and Tarell Alvin McCraney." "Meanwhile, in the intimacy of the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, three plays by British writers will scrutinise the way we love now, shedding new light on sexual identity.

In the Theatre Downstairs...

NOW OR LATER
by Christopher Shinn, opens 9 Sep 2008, following previews from 3 Sep - running to 18 Oct 2009. Directed by Dominic Cooke, designed by Hildegard Bechtler, lighting by Jon Clark, sound by Ian Dickinson. Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Adam James, Eddie Redmayne. Examines religion, freedom of expression and personal responsibility: Election night in the U.S., and things are looking rosy for the Democratic Party. Holed up in a hotel, watching the results flood in, are the likely President-elect, his wife, advisors and 20 year old son John Jnr. Every speech, interview and photocall has been carefully controlled and meticulously orchestrated, all leading up to this big night.At the same time controversial photos of John Jnr are gathering momentum on the internet. Whilst his father's advisors work against the clock on damage limitation, it's up to father and son to try and reach an agreement.

CARYL CHURCHILL readings
15 - 26 September 2008
In celebration of Caryl Churchill's 70th birthday, and in recognition of her long and successful association with the Royal Court, ten leading playwrights will direct one-off readings of their favourite Caryl Churchill play.

PARADISE REGAINED
by Mark Ravenhill, opens Sep/Oct tbc. As Mark Ravenhill watched Shoot/Get Treasure/Repeat - his epic cycle of short plays - being performed at various venues across London this spring, he realised there was one more piece to put in the jigsaw - this new twenty minute play. Paradise Regained is an epilogue to the sixteen plays that made up Shoot/Get Treasure/Repeat.

WIG OUT!
by Tarell Alvin McCraney, opens 28 Nov 2008, following previews from 20 Nov - running to 10 Jan 2009. Directed by Dominic Cooke, designed by Ultz.
Enter the legendary House of Light, a hyper-glamorous, uber-competitive drag queen refuge where a daughter who was once a son, can find a family. While the House are primping and preening for a catwalk showdown with the other houses, drag queen Nina is wooing the delectable Eric as 'Wilson', a de-camped, make-up free 'straight' gay man. How can Nina/Wilson strut the thorny divide between opposite genders and differing worlds? With sassy music, killer costumes and performed in a club cabaret setting, Wig Out! brings to glorious, vivid life, a riotous, defiant drag queen sub-culture.

In the Theatre Upstairs...

The GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE
by Alecky Blythe, opens 23 Sep 2008, following previews from 18 Sep - running to 11 Oct 2008. Directed by AJoe Hill-Gibbins, designed by Lizzie Clachan, Sound by Ian Dickinson. Co produced by Royal Court / with The Drum, Plymouth. Starring Debbie Chazen, Beatie Edney.. Tessa has set up a business; a brothel by the sea where mature women specialise in the Girlfriend Experience, a surprisingly caring and sympathetic service. As the women stoically strive to make a living in a competitive market, their personal lives start to crumble. Will they ever have loving relationships outside work and enjoy being girlfriends themselves? This play is created entirely from edited conversations recorded inside a real brothel. .

FACES IN THE CROWD
by Leo Butler, opens 21 Oct 2008, following previews from 17 Oct - running to 8 Nov 2008. Directed by Clare Lizzimore. When Dave moved south to London he left behind his family, wife Joanne and mounting financial woes in favour of a playground of riches, sex and shopping. 10 years on and Joanne wants payback...with interest. Faces in the Crowd offers an insight into 21st century London and the debts we accrue in the wake of seeking out our ambitions.

I COME FROM THERE: New Plays from the Arab World
11 - 15 November 2008
The Royal Court, in association with the British Council, presents a week of rehearsed readings of new plays from the Arab World.

THE PRIDE
by Alexi Kaye Campbell, opens 26 Nov 2008, following previews from 21 Nov - running to 20 Dec 2008. Directed by Jamie Lloyd. The 1958 Philip is in love with Oliver, but married to Sylvia. The 2008 Oliver is addicted to sex with strangers. Sylvia loves them both. The Pride examines changing attitudes to sexuality over a period of 50 years, looking at intimacy, identity and the courage it takes to be who you really are.