The Donmar Warehouse’s artistic director Michael Longhurst will direct the UK premiere of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Next to Normal next summer.
One of three new season productions announced by Longhurst and executive director Henny Finch as the prestigious London venue celebrates its 30th anniversary, Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey’s powerful rock musical will play the Donmar from 12 August until 7 October 2023.
Featuring music by Kitt (High Fidelity, If/Then) and book and lyrics by Yorkey (If/Then, The Last Ship – libretto co-writer with John Logan), the intimate exploration of family and loss won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and won three Tony Awards including Best Original Score and Best Performance For A Leading Actress Award for Alice Ripley. The musical debuted Off-Broadway in 2008, winning the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Score, and opened on Broadway in 2009.
Alongside the production of Next to Normal the Donmar will run a new project exploring mental health and wellbeing with young people in the theatre’s home boroughs.
The new season will also include the first major London revival in over 40 years of Lillian Hellman’s political thriller Watch on the Rhine directed by Ellen McDougall and the world premiere of Diana Nneka Atuona’s award-winning Trouble in Butetown directed by Tinuke Craig.
Announcing the three productions alongside details of the 3oth birthday celebrations, Longhurst said: “It is a privilege to be co-helming the Donmar as we approach this major milestone. I am grateful for the talent, tenacity and generosity of all those who have built that history.
“These shows kick off our birthday celebrations in classic Donmar style with an unearthed gem, a thrilling new play and later in the year, a long-awaited Broadway musical.
“Lillian and Diana’s plays offer counterpoint perspectives from across the Atlantic at a pivotal moment in our history, presenting one of the most seminal American female writers of the 20th century alongside an exciting new British female playwriting talent. And I can’t wait for us to blow the roof off the building with an extraordinary rock musical next summer. Here’s to the next 30!”
The Donmar will mark its 3oth anniversary milestone this autumn by releasing 3,000 £10 tickets for audiences aged under 30. Beginning with Watch on the Rhine which opens in December and continuing throughout the year, there will be £10 tickets available for every performance. The £10 offer has been made possible through the support of associate sponsor Barclays.
Commenting on the scheme, Richard Atkinson, marketing director at Barclays Payments, said: “We are incredibly proud of our long affiliation with the Donmar Warehouse. We can think of no better way to mark its thirtieth year than by supporting the Donmar by enabling thousands of people to see this remarkable season for just £10.”
At the centre of the celebrations will be a fundraiser in November with all three former artistic directors – Michael Grandage, Sam Mendes and Josie Rourke – as special guests, alongside Longhurst. Directed by Simon Evans, the event will feature performances from notable alumni reprising roles they played at the theatre. There will also be a free exhibition of production images across the theatre’s public spaces later in the year.
Alongside the productions on stage, the Donmar continues its innovative work with the local community, platforming the voices of local young people. The theatre’s schools programme also expands, working with 2,200 students to attend productions and devise work with leading theatre makers to be shared on the Donmar stage.
The Donmar’s commitment to skills development continues as the theatre welcomes the next cohort of CATALYST trainees for their year-long traineeships in arts administration roles. The Creative CATALYST programme also goes from strength to strength, with eight assistants working with the creative teams over the next year’s productions in roles including lighting, sound and design.
Following a successful pilot, Donmar’s LOCAL Young Writers programme runs from this autumn, with 16 young writers aged 16-19 developing new work led by Molly Taylor and a leading team of playwrights.
As part of the Donmar’s ongoing commitment to accessibility, over 1,000 free tickets will be available for audiences aged under 26 as part of the Donmar’s YOUNG+FREE scheme.
Every production will have a BSL performance, alongside its captioned and audio described performance offer.
Angela Thomas
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