Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s 2023 summer season will feature major productions of La Cage Aux Folles and Once On This Island alongside newly commissioned Robin Hood: The Legend Re-written.
The season will open with Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s Once On This Island directed by Ola Ince. Based on the 1985 novel My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy which was in turn was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, the new production of the Caribbean-set musical which was first seen in the West End in 1995, will run from 10 May until 10 June 2023.
Written by Carl Grose (The Grinning Man) and directed by Melly Still, the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre commission, Robin Hood: The Legend Re-written will follow, running from 17 June until 22 July 2023.
The venue’s artistic director Timothy Sheader will take charge of the final production of the season, La Cage aux Folles. Featuring a book by Harvey Fierstein and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, the new production of the multi-award-winning musical will play the Open Air Theatre from 29 July until 16 September 2023.
The trio of productions will feature alongside three new shows aimed at younger audiences and families performed during the day. Work for younger audiences and families includes a brand new adaptation of Ben Okri’s Every Leaf A Hallelujah (22 May-10 June), adapted by Chinonyerem Odimba, The Tempest re-imagined for everyone aged six and over (30 June-22 July) revised and directed by Jennifer Tang in a co-production with the Unicorn Theatre, and Nicoll Entertainment’s Dinosaur World Live (11 August-3 September), written and directed by Derek Bond.
Announcing the new season, Sheader said: “Our 2022 season was big and bold; we were thrilled with how all three shows brought very different audiences to the Park. The 2023 season increases our commitment to commissioning and producing new work alongside our reimagined revivals and we are delighted to welcome Carl Grose and Chinonyerem Odimba to our stages.
“After the completion of a major capital project this winter the auditorium will be increased by a further 53 seats, all of which will be sold in the lower price bands. I am particularly excited that we can offer productions for children and families throughout the entirety of the season, engaging younger audiences with the magic of live performance. We look forward to you joining us next summer.”
Full creatives and casting for all productions will be announced at a later date.
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar embarked on the next leg of its North American tour on 13 October, with dates confirmed through to June 2023.
Angela Thomas
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