Two bits of theatre news before we slink away for a distinctly thespian-free weekend:
New Season, New Building for Young Vic
The Young Vic theatre has been on walkabout for the last two years while its original home has been demolished and rebuilt to a fabulous new design. Having toured shows to 41 theatres in 31 cities since the redesign started, the company is no doubt looking forward to settling back into its home on The Cut in Waterloo in October this year.
The original building was intended to be a temporary structure for housing the Young Vic company for no more than five years. That was in 1970; the company was still there in 2004 when Artistic Director David Lan brought architect Steve Tompkins on board to redesign an entirely new space. In October, the London theatre scene will be treated to a new main house that seats 500 and two entirely new spaces: the Maria which will seat 160 and is named after theatre designer Maria Bjornson and the Clare which will seat 80 and is named after theatre director Clare Venables.
In the inaugural programme, startling and sexy-sounding new and revived work is promised which suggests that the Young Vic only increased and intensified its reputation as a hotbed of new theatre talent while on walkabout. Things to look out for when booking opens include:
- an adaptation of DBC Pierre’s Booker Prize-winning novel Vernon God Little, to be directed by Rufus Norris
- the Big Brecht Fest: four short Brecht plays in new translations by Bremner, Martin Crimp, Biyi Bandele and Enda Walsh
- a revival of Thomas Otway’s restoration comedy The Soldier’s Fortune
- a revival of the company’s production Tobias and the Angel, an opera mixing professional singers and musicians with choruses and choirs from the local area
To keep up to date with the re-opening of the Young Vic and keep informed of the opening season, go to the Young Vic website here.
Poorly Patrick Puts Off West End Debut
We once thought he was invincible, dirty dancing his way into our pubescent hearts and minds but sadly, even the hardiest of film heroes succumb to chest infections. Patrick Swayze was due to make his West End debut in the much-loved Guys and Dolls but has been unable to rehearse for three weeks due to a bad chest infection.
His debut is now scheduled for 24 July and, like a true stage darling, has agreed to extend his run in the lead role of the musical by two weeks to 23 September, to compensate for his delayed start in the production. Swayze fans will get their fix and poor old Patrick will get his rest and recovery time. (He's 53. He's 53 years old! Is it wrong to still have a slight crush on him?)
