A Taste of Honey will begin performances Feb. 10, 2014, prior to an official opening Feb. 18 in the Lyttelton Theatre, for a season that is booking initially through April 5.
Bijin Sheibani will direct a cast that includes Lesley Sharp and Kate O'Flynn, each last seen at the National in two plays by Simon Stephens, Harper Regan (Sharp) and Port (O'Flynn). The production will be designed by Hildegard Bechtler with movement direction by Aline David, lighting design by Paul Anderson and sound design by Ian Dickinson.
Written by Shelagh Delaney when she was nineteen, A Taste of Honey is described as one of the great defining and taboo-breaking plays of the 1950s, offering an explosive celebration of the vulnerabilities and strengths of the female spirit in a deprived and restless world. When her mother Helen runs off with a car salesman, feisty teenager Jo takes up with a black sailor who promises to marry her, before he heads off for the seas, leaving her pregnant and alone. Art student Geoff moves in and assumes the role of surrogate parent until, misguidedly, he sends for Helen and their unconventional setup unravels.
Blurred Lines will begin performances Jan. 16 prior to an official opening Jan. 22, for a run through Feb. 22. Created by director Carrie Cracknell and playwright Nick Payne, it is desribed in press materials as "a blistering journey through the minefield of contemporary gender politics." The cast includes Marion Bailey, Michaela Coel, Bryony Hannah, Sinéad Matthews, Ruth Sheen, Claire Skinner and Susannah Wise. It will be designed by Bunny Christie, with lighting by Lucy Carter, music by Stuart Earle, sound by David McSeveney and movement by Ann Yee.
Daniel Kitson will bring Analog.Ue to the Lyttelton Theatre for a 12-performance run in rep, beginning Feb. 22 through March 20. Press materials characterise it thus: "A mess of cables. A mound of electronic junk. A single cassette player. And then – Lights. Power. Sockets. Audio Tape. Televisions. Vinyl. Neon Words. VCR Machines. Speaker cables. Amplifiers. At least one Ladder. Video Tape. Speakers. Super 8. Microphones. Projectors. And running. Lots and lots of running." Public booking for Blurred Lines is already open; for A Taste of Honey and Analog.Ue, public booking opens Nov. 29. To book tickets, contact the box office on 020 7452 3000, or visit nationaltheatre.org.uk
