The season will also include the the theatre's first family-friendly show, The Arabian Nights, in a version by American writer Mary Zimmerman; visiting company Eclipse Theatre in the U.K. premiere of Don Evans' One Monkey Don't Stop No Show; and the world premiere of Paper Dolls, a new play with music by Philip Himberg, adapted from the documentary film of the same name.
Rubasingham, who will herself direct Red Velvet and Paper Dolls, said in a press statement, "I am so delighted to be announcing my opening season. In programming The Tricycle, I am seeking to view the world through different lenses, where unheard voices are brought into the mainstream. I believe it's these global, contemporary stories, and the connections they make to each of us that keep theatre immediate and pertinent. Situated in Brent, the most diverse borough in London, The Tricycle is a local venue with an international vision."
Red Velvet will begin performances Oct. 11, prior to an official opening Oct. 16, for a run through Nov. 24. Playwright Lolita Chakrabarti is also an actress, who has appeared previously at the Tricycle in The Great Game: Afghanistan. Lester, who is also her husband, is best known for playing Michael Stone in hit BBC1 series "Hustle." He was last seen on stage in the West End in Cat On a Hot Tin Roof at the Novello Theatre. Other theatre credits include the titel role in Hamlet for Peter Brook at the Bouffes du Nord/Young Vic; Anthony in Sweeney Todd at the National Theatre (Olivier Award Nomination for Best Performance in a Supporting Role); and Bobby in Company at the Donmar Warehouse (Olivier Award for Best Actor). Next year he will be playing the title role in Othello at the National Theatre.
The Arabian Nights, adapted by Mary Zimmerman from "The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night," will begin performances Nov. 30, prior to an official opening Dec. 6, for a run through Jan. 12, 2013. It is directed by Lu Kemp. In the land ruled by the brutal King Shahryar, every unmarried girl fears for her life. When young Scheherazade is summoned to marry the King, she must use the power of her captivating story-telling to survive. Night after night, the new Queen weaves tales of seduction and suspense: from a madman on the hunt for Perfect Love, to a tortoise curing a King with soup, a Jester with marriage trouble, and many more. How long can Scheherazade’s imagination save her?
One Monkey Don't Stop No Show begins performances Jan. 16, 2013, prior to an official opening Jan. 17 for a run through Feb. 9. Written by Don Evans and directed by Dawn Walton, it received its U.K. premiere in a co-production between Eclipse Theatre and Sheffield Theatres in October 2011. In the 1970s Philadelphia suburbs, the Harrisons are the most respected middle-class Black family. However, the arrival of their young niece and her radical ideas from the rural South, turns their polite, Christian life on its head. Evans was a noted African-American playwright, theatre director, actor and educator. He was a contemporary of August Wilson and was a founding member of the Black Theatre Network and the African Grove Institute for the Arts. Paper Dolls begins performances Feb. 28, 2013, prior to an official opening March 6, for a run through April 13. Written by Philip Himberg, it is adapted from the documentary film by Tomer Heymann, which has won multiple awards including three at the 2006 Berlin International Film Festival. In Tel Aviv, Israel, a group of Filipino immigrants work as live-in care-givers for elderly Orthodox Jewish men. Six days a week, they provide dedicated support to their employers. But on the seventh day, they transform into a homespun, sassy musical drag act. Himberg is a writer and director and is the Producing Artistic Director of the Sundance Institute Theatre Program.
To book tickets, contact the box office on 020 7328 1000, or visit tricycle.co.uk for more details.
