The world premiere of Jude by Howard Brenton will be directed by Edward Hall. Jude will be the last production that Edward will direct during his tenure as Artistic Director of Hampstead.
Roy Williams’ gripping play The Firm returns to Hampstead Downstairs following a sold out run in 2017 and will be directed by Denis Lawson.
Full casting for the world premiere of Kellie Smith’s Wilderness at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs includes Richard Frame, Natalie Klamar, Allison McKenzie and Finlay Robertson.
Artistic Director Edward Hall comments,
‘Jude will be the last production that I will direct for Hampstead before Roxana Silbert's first season in the Autumn. It has been a huge privilege to work with so many extraordinary people backstage and front during my time as Artistic Director, with writers such as Mike Bartlett, Martyna Majok, Beth Steel, Lauren Gunderson, Ryan Craig, Fiona Doyle and David Lindsay-Abaire to name but a few. But it is a particularly happy moment for me to be directing one of Howard Brenton's plays as my last. Howard has given us five plays during my time here, with Jude emerging from our Next Decade programme, a fund that will support new work well beyond my tenure. It feels somehow appropriate then to sign off on this incredible journey with the world premiere of a Hampstead Theatre Next Decade play from this brilliant and original playwright, an artist whose work lies at the very heart of the British theatre canon.’
JUDE
A new play by Howard Brenton Directed by Edward Hall
23 April – 1 June 2019
Press Night: Thursday 2 May 2019 7pm
‘It wasn’t just her freakish ability with language. She saw through to behind the words. It was like she had a direct line to - I was going to say to ‘the gods'
Hampstead Theatre presents the world premiere of Howard Brenton’s latest play Jude, directed by Edward Hall in his final production as Hampstead’s Artistic Director. Loosely inspired by Thomas Hardy’s novel Jude the Obscure, Jude is a modern day tale of unexpected genius and of our struggle to accommodate extraordinary talent.
About to be fired from her cleaning job for stealing a volume of Euripides, Jude turns her employer’s outrage to shock by translating the ancient Greek on the spot. The employer, a Classics teacher, knows great talent when she sees it and the encounter kick-starts Jude's lifelong ambition to study at Oxford University. Entirely self-taught and possessing an astonishing gift for languages, Jude will stop at nothing to achieve her dream – but she remains oblivious to the hidden barriers that her background has placed in her path...
Howard Brenton makes a highly anticipated return to Hampstead following Lawrence After Arabia in 2016. His other Hampstead premieres include #aiww: The Arrest of Ai Weiwei (2013); Drawing the Line (2013) and 55 Days (2012). His many plays include Christie In Love (Portable Theatre, 1969); Magnificence (Royal Court Theatre, 1973); The Churchill Play (Nottingham Playhouse, 1974 twice revived by the RSC 1978 and 1988);Weapons Of Happiness (National Theatre, 1976, Evening Standard Best Play Award); Epsom Downs (Joint Stock Theatre, 1977); Sore Throats (RSC, 1978); The Romans In Britain (National Theatre, 1980, Sheffield Crucible 2006); Thirteenth Night (RSC, 1981); Bloody Poetry (Foco Novo 1984/Royal Court, 1987); Pravda with David Hare (National Theatre,1985 - Evening Standard Best Play Award); Greenland (Royal Court, 1988); Moscow Gold (with Tariq Ali, RSC, 1990); Berlin Bertie (Royal Court, 1992); Kit’s Play (RADA, 2001); Paul (National Theatre, 2005);In Extremis (Shakespeare’s Globe, 2006/7 and toured in 2013 retitled Eternal Love); Never So Good (National Theatre, 2008); Anne Boleyn (Shakespeare’s Globe, 2010 - revived there 2011 and toured in 2013, winner of the Whatsonstage Best Play Award and UK Theatre Awards Best Touring Production); The Guffin (one act play, NT Connections 2013); Doctor Scroggy’s War (Shakespeare’s Globe, 2014); Ransomed (one act play, Salisbury Playhouse, 2015); The Blinding Light (Jermyn Street, 2017) and The Shadow Factory (New Nuffield Theatre, Southampton, 2018, revived in 2019).
His versions of classics include The Life of Galileo (National Theatre, 1980); Danton’s Death (National Theatre, 1982 and a new version in 2010) and Goethe’s Faust (RSC, 1995/6). He adapted Robert Tressell’s The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists (Liverpool Everyman and Chichester Festival Theatre, 2010); Dances of Death (after Strindberg) was presented by The Gate Theatre, Notting Hill in 2013. His version of Strindberg’s Miss Julie was presented at The Theatre By The Lake, Keswick, then at The Jermyn Street Theatre in 2017, revived by those theatres in rep with his version of Strindberg’s Creditors in 2019.
As Artistic Director of Hampstead Theatre Edward Hall’s productions include Cost of Living; I and You; The Strange Death of John Doe; Cell Mates; Filthy Business; Rabbit Hole; Wonderland; Sunny Afternoon (also Harold Pinter Theatre/ UK tour); Raving; Chariots of Fire (also West End); No Naughty Bits; Loyalty; Enlightenment and Firebird (Hampstead Downstairs/Trafalgar Studios). As Artistic Director of Propeller, his productions have included Rose Rage (adapted from Henry VI, I, II & III); Henry V; The Winter’s Tale; The Taming of the Shrew; Twelfth Night; The Merchant of Venice; Richard III; A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Comedy of Errors. His Propeller work has toured worldwide, played the West End and Broadway (as well as regular seasons at Hampstead Theatre) andhas won numerous awards both in the UK and overseas. His other theatre work includes Once in a Lifetime with David Suchet (National Theatre); A Streetcar Named Desire with Natasha Richardson (Roundabout, New York); A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (National Theatre); Mark Ravenhill’s Dick Whittington (Barbican); Calico (Duke of York’s); Edmond with Kenneth Branagh (National Theatre); Two Men of Florence (Huntingdon, Boston); Macbeth with Sean Bean (Albery); The Constant Wife (Apollo); Julius
Caesar (RSC); Tantalus (Denver Centre/UK tour); Henry V (RSC); The Deep Blue Sea (Vaudeville) and The Two Gentleman of Verona (RSC). His television work includes The Durrells; Partners in Crime, a six part series for the BBC; Restless; Downton Abbey; Strike Back; Spooks; Kingdom; Trial and Retribution; Miss Marple – Sleeping Murder; Cutting Edge: Safari Strife and Richard III.
The commissioning of Jude was funded by NEXT DECADE, a joint Hampstead Theatre/AKO Foundation imitative.
HAMPSTEAD DOWNSTAIRS / CELIA ATKIN PRESENT
THE FIRM
By Roy Williams
Directed by Denis Lawson
3 May – 8 June 2019
Press Night: Tuesday 14 May 2019 7.45pm
‘I can’t get out of bed without groaning or feel summin inside of me is creaking... We’re too old for this shit’
Hampstead Downstairs presents Roy Williams’ gripping play The Firm, a tale of growing up, lifelong loyalties and how sometimes, it is possible to choose your own family. Directed by Denis Lawson, The Firm returns to Hampstead Downstairs following a sold out run in 2017.
In a pub in South London ‘The Firm’ reunite for the first time in twelve years. Once they were a notorious criminal gang. Today, they’re older, wiser and wistful - their lives changed beyond recognition.
But when an uninvited guest turns up to their reunion with an intriguing proposition and an explosive secret, they’re tempted to try their hands at one last job... Will they escape their pasts unscathed?
Roy Williams’ previous work at Hampstead Theatre includes The Firm (Downstairs); Wildefire and Local Boy (Main Stage). Other theatre work includes Soul: The Untold Story of Marvin Gaye (Royal and Derngate/Hackney Empire); Antigone (Pilot Theatre/UK tour); an adaptation of The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (Pilot Theatre/UK tour); Sucker Punch (Royal Court - nominated for Olivier Award for Best Play); Kingston '14 (Theatre Royal, Stratford East); Category B (Tricycle); Days of Significance (RSC); Joe Guy (Tiata Fahodzi); There's Only One Wayne Matthews (Polka Theatre); Baby Girl (NT Connections); Absolute Beginners (Lyric Hammersmith); Slow Time (National Theatre Education UK tour); Fallout (Royal Court); Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads (National Theatre); Clubland (Royal Court); The Gift (Birmingham Rep); Lift Off (Royal Court); Starstruck (Tricycle - Winner of the Alfred Fagon Award for Best Play) and The No-Boys Cricket Club (Theatre Royal, Stratford East). His film and television work includes work includes Fast Girls; Let It Snow; Fallout; Offside (Winner of BAFTA Children's Film & TV Award for Best Schools Drama); Babyfather and Soon Gone: The Windrush Chronicles. His radio work includes adaptations of To Sir with Love; The Midwich Cuckoos and the original series The Interrogation.
Denis Lawson’s directing work includes The Firm and The Meeting (both Hampstead Downstairs); The Anniversary (Garrick) and Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs (Hampstead Theatre/Pinter). His theatre acting work includes Art (UK tour); The Acid Test (Royal Court); La Cage aux Folles (Playhouse - Olivier nominated); Lust (Haymarket/Walnut Street, Philadelphia); Oleanna (Duke of York); Volpone (Almeida); Ashes (Bush); Lend Me a Tenor; Mr Cinders (Fortune - Olivier Award); Pal Joey (Fortune - Olivier nomination); The Lucky Chance (Royal Court) and Bits of Lenny Bruce (King’s Head). His film acting work includes The Machine; Broken; The Wee Man; Perfect Sense; The Chain; Local Hero; Providence; Star Wars Trilogy and The Man in the Iron Mask. His television acting work includes Victoria; The Life of Rock With Brian Pern; Inside No. 9; Parade's End; New Tricks (lead regular); Marchlands; Just William; Criminal Justice II; Law and Order UK; Enid; Breaking the Mould; No Holds Bard; The Passion; Robin Hood; Jekyll; Bleak House (Bafta & Emmy nominated); Sensitive Skin; Holby City (lead regular); Lucky Jim; The Fabulous Bagel Boys; Other People's Children; Bob Martin; The Ambassador; Cold Feet; Hornblower; Born Kicking; Boon and The Justice Game.
Casting for both productions will be announced in due course.
Priority Booking for Jude and The Firm is now open for members of Hampstead Theatre, including Under 30 members of the Downstairs Club. Public Booking opens Wednesday 6 March 10.30am.
For more information about Hampstead’s free membership club for Under 30s, please visit
https://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/about-us/the-downstairs-club/
HAMPSTEAD DOWNSTAIRS / CELIA ATKIN PRESENT
WILDERNESS
Written by Kellie Smith Directed by Anna Ledwich
21 March – 27 April 2019
Press Night: Wednesday 3 April 2019 7.45pm
‘We can do better – can’t we?’
Hampstead Theatre presents the world premiere of Kellie Smith’s breakthrough play Wilderness. This searing exploration of unconditional love and of the personal sacrifices it demands will be directed by Anna Ledwich, which will be her eleventh Hampstead Theatre Production. The cast includes Richard Frame, Natalie Klamar, Allison McKenzie and Finlay Robertson.
Having both been deeply scarred by their own parents’ separations, Joe and Anne never imagined they’d find themselves, years later, in the same position. Determined to place the interests of their son Alistair at the centre of their lives apart, they split with the firm objective of maintaining amicable relations at all costs. But a sudden change in circumstance triggers a chain of events that pushes their best intentions to the limit... Before they know it, they are both teetering dangerously close to the edge of an abyss.
Kellie Smith writes for theatre, film and radio and is currently developing ideas for TV. Her
short films To Know Him and The Big Day have both been BIFA nominated and To Know Him
was also nominated for a Royal Television Award. She has been shortlisted for the
Bruntwood Prize and Channel Four playwright in residence at the Royal Exchange Theatre.
Previously produced work for theatre includes Black Gold (Royal Exchange Studio); The
Sum of Parts (Liverpool Everyman) and Blackout (The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster). Her play
The Monstrum was part of NT Connections and she has written other plays for young people
including The Lost Things, which won Theatre Centre’s ‘Skylines Showcase’. Kellie has
written three afternoon plays for BBC Radio Four, the most recent being The Archivist.
Anna Ledwich began her directing career at Theatre503. She was awarded the Michael and Morvern Heller Director’s Bursary at Chichester Festival Theatre and was co-Artistic Director of Theatre on the Fly for Chichester’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations. Anna received the Gate Theatre/Headlong New Directions Award for her adaptation of Frank Wedekind’s Lulu and was nominated for the 2015 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre for Four Minutes Twelve Seconds at Hampstead Downstairs and the 2018 Olivier Award for Best Comedy for Dry Powder at Hampstead Theatre. Recent work includes Cookies (Theatre Royal Haymarket); Dry Powder and Labyrinth (Hampstead Theatre); Acceptance; No One Will Tell Me How to Start a Revolution; The Argument; Deluge; Donny’s Brain and The Empty Quarter (all Hampstead Downstairs); Kiss Me and Four Minutes Twelve Seconds (both Hampstead Downstairs/West End); The Stick House (Raucous Collective/Bristol Old Vic); Blue Remembered Hills and A Christmas Carol (both Chichester Festival Theatre); Dream Story (Gate) and How Does A Snake Shed Its Skin (Summerhall/National Theatre Studio). Anna’s adaptation of Beauty and the Beast premiered at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2017.
Richard Frame plays Alan/Peter/Policeman. His theatre work includes The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre); Blue Remembered Hills (Theatre On The Fly; Chichester); Pocket Comedy; Richard III; The Comedy of Errors; A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Merchant of Venice (all Propeller); London Assurance (National Theatre); I Love You Because (Landor Theatre); Absolute Beginners (Lyric, Hammersmith); Me and My Girl (UK tour); Promises, Promises (Sheffield Crucible); The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Our House (Cambridge Theatre); A Chorus of Disapproval and The Beggar’s Opera (both Bristol Old Vic); Love’s Labour’s Lost and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (both Regent’s Park); Sealife (New Vic Studio) and A Christmas Carol (Chichester Festival Theatre). Film work includes London Road and The Pool. Television work includes EastEnders; Outnumbered; Holby City; The Hollow Crown; Kingdom; MI High; Family Affairs; Wire in the Blood and Hearts and Bone.
Natalie Klamar plays Anne. Her theatre work includes Keith? (Arcola); Richard II (Almeida); Prom Kween (Aine Flanagan Productions); Othello (Shakespeare’s Globe); Cleansed and I Want My Hat Back (both National Theatre); Future Conditional (Old Vic); The Cherry Orchard (Young Vic); This May Hurt a bit (Out of Joint); All's Well That Ends Well; As You like It; Hamlet; King John; A Soldier In Every Sense and Richard III (all RSC); Town (Royal & Derngate) and Breakfast at Tiffany's (Haymarket). Television work includes Patrick Melrose; Grantchester; Vera; Holby City; Midsomer Murders; Misfits and Doctors.
Allison McKenzie plays Stephanie/Neighbour/Cafcass Officer. Her theatre work includes Two Noble Kinsmen; Seven Acts of Mercy and The Rover (all RSC); The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The White Witch (both Birmingham Rep); Macbeth (Trafalgar Studios); The Snow Queen and Hamlet (both Lyceum); Doctor in the House (UK tour); Witchcraft (Finborough); Macbeth (Nottingham Playhouse/Lyceum); Sexual Perversity in Chicago; Cabaret; All My Sons; The Playboy of the Western World and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (all Dundee Repertory) and James and the Giant Peach (Glasgow Citizens Theatre). Film work includes Swung; Airborne; 16 years of Alcohol; Club Le Monde and New Town Killers. Television work includes The Athena; The Victim; Press; Shetland; Beowulf; Line of Duty; MI High; Bob Servant; Rebus and River City.
Finlay Robertson plays Joe. His theatre work includes The Merchant of Venice (Almeida); Toast; The Vertical Hour and Casualties (all Park Theatre); Strong Arm (as author and performer - Edinburgh); An Invitation (Soho); Speed Death of the Radiant Child and Blown (both Plymouth Drum); Riot Pilot (Hackney Empire); The Night Heron (Royal Court); The Alchemist (Riverside Studios); Scream If You Want to Go Faster (Unlimited Theatre); Kissing Bingo (Finborough) and Weepie (Edinburgh). Film work includes Hammer of the Gods; Cocknies vs Zombies; F; The Story Of; The Disappeared; In A Day; Alfie; Vintage Blood; Black Dust and Be Good. Television work includes Unforgotten 3; Doctors; Silent Witness; Humans; New Tricks; The Curse of Edgar; Scott & Bailey; Body Farm; Taggart; Garrow’s Law; How Not to Live Your Life; Doctor Who; Persuasion; Life Begins; Robin Hood; Hotel Babylon; The Bill; The Wild West; Doc Martin; The Golden Hour; Ny-Lon; Prime Suspect and Peak Practice.
HAMPSTEAD THEATRE LISTINGS MAIN STAGE
COST OF LIVING
By Martyna Majok Directed by Edward Hall 25 January – 9 March
THE PHLEBOTOMIST
By Ella Road
Directed by Sam Yates
19 March – 20 April
JUDE
By Howard Brenton Directed by Edward Hall 23 April – 1 June
Previews, Mondays and matinees
Full Price: From £18
Under 30s/Students: £15/£10*
Seniors (matinees only): £22/20
Groups: For every 9 tickets get the 10th free Access: £16
Tuesday – Saturday evenings
Full price: From £25
Under 30s/Students: £15/£10*
Groups: For every 9 tickets get the 10th free Access: £16
All prices subject to change. Book early for the best prices.
*Under 30s and Student concession seats are available in Band A (£15) & Band C (£10)
DOWNSTAIRS
EDEN
By Hannah Patterson Directed by Matthew Xia Until 16 March
WILDERNESS
By Kellie Smith
Directed by Anna Ledwich 21 March – 27 April
THE FIRM
By Roy Williams
Directed by Denis Lawson 3 May – 8 June
Mon-Sat 7.45pm; Wed Mats 2.45pm; Sat Mats 3.15pm First Five Previews: All tickets £5
First twelve performance thereafter: £12
Remaining performances: £14
U30/students: £10
Jo Allan PR 7
Seniors: £10 (matinee only)
Jo Allan PR 8
