Kenneth Branagh is back in the West End with a series of plays being presented at the Garrick Theatre under the banner of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company. Commencing in October 2015 and running for a year this venture will be under the direction of central creative team which includes central artistic associates Rob Ashford, Christopher Oram and Director/ Adaptor Sean Foley.
An ensemble of exception artists including Ron Brydon, Judi Dench, Lily James and Richard Madden are already confirmed with further casting to be announced.
THE WINTERʼS TALE
By William Shakespeare
17 October 2015 – 16 January 2016
READ OUR 6 STAR REVIEW
Shakespeareʼs timeless tragicomedy of obsession and redemption is re-imagined in a new production co-directed by Rob Ashford and Kenneth Branagh, following their triumphant staging of Macbeth in Manchester and Manhattan. Judi Dench will play Paulina, Kenneth Branagh will play Leontes.
ALL ON HER OWN / HARLEQUINADE
by Terence Rattigan
24 October 2015 – 13 January 2016
READ OUR 5 STAR REVIEW
In this rarely seen comic gem, a classical theatre company attempts to produce The Winter’s Tale and Romeo and Juliet, while the intrigues and dalliances of the company members are accidentally revealed with increasingly chaotic and hysterical consequences… The behind-the-scenes world takes centre stage in Terence Rattiganʼs affectionate celebration of the lunatic art of putting on a play. Kenneth Branagh will perform and co-direct with Rob Ashford.
RED VELVET
by Lolita Chakrabarti
23 January 2016 – 27 February 2016
Imagined experiences based on the true story of Ira Aldridge
Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, 1833. Edmund Kean, the greatest actor of his generation, has collapsed on stage whilst playing Othello. A young black American actor has been asked to take over the role. But as the public riot in the streets over the abolition of slavery, how will the cast, critics and audience react to the revolution taking place in the theatre?
This multi-award winning play, which originally premiered at the Tricycle Theatre, before transferring to St Ann’s Warehouse in New York, will be the third production in the Plays at the Garrick Season and will be directed by Indhu Rubasingha. Olivier-Award winner Adrian Lester will reprise his role as Ira Aldridge. Kenneth Branagh said “Writing, direction and performance are exceptional in Red Velvet. I’m immensely proud to be presenting this work. I was aware of its development from its inception and believe Lolita Chakrabarti has written an important and exhilarating play which in its discussion of performance, politics, and race is as entertaining as it is illuminating.”
READ OUR REVIEW OF RED VELVET
THE PAINKILLER
by Francis Veber
In an adaptation by Sean Foley
5 March 2016 – 30 April 2016
Two men. Two lonely hotel rooms. An adjoining door…
One of them is a killer… one of them wants to die… What could possibly go wrong?
Sean Foley directs his darkly hilarious adaptation of Francis Veberʼs classic French farce as Kenneth Branagh and Rob Brydon reprise the roles they played to great acclaim at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre in this comic tour-de-force.
READ OUR REVIEW OF THE PAINKILLER
ROMEO AND JULIET
By William Shakespeare
12 May 2016 – 13 August 2016
Reuniting the stars of his celebrated film of Cinderella, Kenneth Branagh directs Richard Madden and Lily James who play the leads in Shakespeareʼs heartbreaking tale of forbidden love.
READ OUR REVIEW OF ROMEO AND JULIET
THE ENTERTAINER
By John Osborne
20 August 2016 – 12 November 2016
Set against the backdrop of post-war Britain, John Osborneʼs modern classic conjures the seedy glamour of the old music halls for an explosive examination of public masks and private torment. Rob Ashford directs Kenneth Branagh as the unforgettable Archie Rice.
