Plenty of Excitement for Next Stage Theatre Company
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Sir Dave Hare, Next Stage Theatre Company's Patron since 2000
Next Stage Theatre Company has enjoyed the patronage of Sir David Hare since 2000. Hare is one of Britain's leading playwrights and it has been a pleasure for Next Stage actors and directors to have worked on and produced a number of our patron's highly-acclaimed works over the last 25 years.
In keeping with this tradition, and as part of the company's Silver Anniversary celebrations, Next Stage Director Alison Paine is bringing to the stage of The Mission Theatre, the company's production of Plenty written by David Hare in 1975 and widely regarded as one of his best plays. It will be performed by a talented, 11-strong cast of both new and old members. Full of passion, contrast and cutting humour, it is (as ever with Hare) an accessible and entertaining insight into British politics, equally scathing and satirical. Although it was written in 1975, Plenty's themes of political chaos, betrayal, moral outrage and a country searching for a new identity could not be more topical. It is fascinating in 2019 to note the modern resonances throughout a play written 44 years ago - notably Hare's take on the political confusion and duplicity of Suez, which culminated in international humiliation and the resignation of the prime minister. If you see no other, this must be the one play you see in Brexit week!
Marc Bessant as Raymond Brock, Hayley Fitton-Cook as Alice Park and Liz Wilson as Susan Traherne
Next Stage Theatre Company first produced one of their patron's plays - The Secret Rapture in 1995. Following this the company went on to perform Hare's iconic Skylight in Bath, September 1999, before touring the production to The Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, March 2000. Before Next Stage opened in Scarborough members of the company had had the chance to meet and talk with Alan Ayckbourn, then Artistic Director of the SJT, and David Hare. Next Stage's production of Skylight was the first David Hare play to be produced at the SJT.
Artistic Director, Ann Ellison and members of Next Stage with Alan Ayckbourn and David Hare in Scarborough (1999)
Skylight (2000)
In December 2001 Next Stage produced Amy’s View; in September 2004, The Blue Room and in September 2014, The Judas Kiss .
As Next Stage Theatre Company approaches it's 25th Birthday on May 18th 2019, Artistic Director Ann Ellison BEM was delighted to receive the following from Sir David Hare:
“All best wishes to the wonderful Next Stage on its 25th Anniversary, and most especially for its production of Plenty.
I send congratulations.
David Hare”
Thank you Sir David for all your support and your acknowledgment of what Next Stage has achieved in the last 25 years.
