The UK premieres of the hit Broadway comedy Something Rotten! and a new musical adaptation of Patrick McCabe’s novel Breakfast On Pluto look set to be among the highlights of Sean Foley’s first full season as artistic director of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
Foley will also direct his first show as artistic director, the Tony Award-winning Something Rotten! which will make its UK debut in Birmingham from 8-31 October 2020. Foley’s creative team for the production will include the choreographer of Six, Carrie-Ann Ingrouille.
Conceived by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick, Something Rotten! features a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell and music and lyrics by Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick.
Set in 1595, the musical comedy follows the fortunes of brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom as they struggle to make a name for themselves as playwrights in the shadow of William Shakespeare’s ‘rock star’ status.
The show debuted on Broadway in 2015 where it was nominated for ten Tonys with Christian Borle winning the award for Best Featured Actor In A Musical for his performance as Shakespeare.
Directed and co-created by Des Kennedy, the world premiere production of the musical version of McCabe’s Breakfast On Pluto will play Birmingham from 3-26 September 2020 following its debut run at the Galway International Arts Festival (9-26 July) and a season at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin (30 July-15 August). It arrives at London’s Donmar Warehouse from 2 October until 21 November.
Written by Bob Kelly with a score composed by Duke Special, the musical is produced by Landmark Productions and Galway International Arts Festival and co-produced by Birmingham Repertory Theatre in association with the Donmar Warehouse.
The Broadway production of Something Rotten!
Commenting on the production, artistic director Foley said: “I’m thrilled to be opening my very first full season of work for The REP with the UK premiere of Breakfast on Pluto.
“This new musical, co-produced with Landmark Productions and Galway International Arts Festival and in association with The Donmar Warehouse, promises to be a touching, funny, vibrant, thrilling and contemporary piece of work. I am also delighted to continue our producing relationship with Landmark Productions, presenting the very best of Irish and international theatre.”
The autumn and winter 2020/2021 season will also include the return of much-loved Christmas show Nativity! The Musical and the seasonal favourite The Snowman. Presented by Birmingham Repertory Theatre in association with Jamie Wilson, the successful stage version of the hit film Nativity! will play The House from 17 November 2020 until 3 January 2021 while The Snowman will take up residence from13-17 January 2021.
As part of a major re-investment in creating work, Birmingham Repertory Theatre has also announced a range of new associates and two new associate companies – award-winning director and choreographer Drew McOnie’s The McOnie Company and Told By An Idiot led by Birmingham born artistic director Paul Hunter.
Angela Thomas
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