Monty Python’s innovative Terry Gilliam and renowned choreographer Leah Hausman will co-direct a reimagined production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s magical musical Into The Woods at The Old Vic in 2022.
Announced as part of The Old Vic: Back Together season, a hybrid digital and live programme, which is due to begin in July, the Old Vic/Scenario Two co-production will run from 16 April until 9 July 2022.
Long-time collaborators on major opera productions with leading international companies including the English National Opera, Gilliam and Hausman will bring their unique vision to the classic fairy tale-inspired musical.
With music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by Lapine, Into The Woods debuted on Broadway in 1987 with a production that went on to win three Tony Awards including a Leading Actress in a Musical Award for Joanna Gleason for her performance as the Baker’s Wife.
The original West End production in 1990 was nominated for seven Olivier Awards, winning two – the Best Actress in a Musical Award for Imelda Staunton who also played the Baker’s Wife and the Best Director of a Musical Award for Richard Jones.
Into The Woods will be the final production in a reopening season that includes an adaptation of Judith Kerr’s best-selling children’s book When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit. One of four new commissions, the first instalment in Kerr’s Out of Hitler Time trilogy of semi-autobiographical books is being adapted for the stage with book and lyrics by Caroline Bird and music by Miranda Cooper and Nick Coler.
Commenting on the reopening season, the Old Vic’s artistic director Matthew Warchus said: “We are absolutely delighted to be reopening our doors to live audiences and rebooting in person all of the other important work that The Old Vic engages in alongside its main stage productions.
“It’s particularly gratifying to be able to play our part in bringing theatre freelancers (including writers, directors, designers, choreographers, musicians and performers) back to work after an impossibly challenging period.
“There were times during the last year when the neon sign on the front of our building, declaring ‘We’ll Be Back’, seemed less confidently assertive and more poignantly hopeful… even over-optimistic. But through astonishing efforts and support from friends old and new, we’ve made it to reopening. We don’t take that for granted. We feel incredibly fortunate to be back. Very grateful to all those who made it happen. And very excited to be Back Together.”
Angela Thomas
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