CONSTELLATIONS TO TRANSFER TO THE DUKE OF YORK'S THEATRE AS PART OF WEST END SEASON

Published on Tue 22 May 2012
Continuing the season of transfers, Royal Court Theatre Productions and Ambassador Theatre Group announce the third in a set of sell-out new plays by the U.K's finest writers under Artistic Director Dominic Cooke's tenure into the heart of the West End.

CONSTELLATIONS TO TRANSFER TO THE DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE AS PART OF WEST END SEASON

CONSTELLATIONS
By Nick Payne
Directed by Michael Longhurst

Starring Sally Hawkins and Rafe Spall in an explosive new play about free will and friendship

Friday 9 November 2012 – Saturday 5 January 2013
Press Performance: Friday 16 November 2012

Continuing the season of transfers, Royal Court Theatre Productions and Ambassador Theatre Group announce the third in a set of sell-out new plays by the U.K’s finest writers under Artistic Director Dominic Cooke’s tenure into the heart of the West End.

Following Posh by Laura Wade and Jumpy by April De Angelis, the Royal Court and Ambassador Theatre Group team up again on Nick Payne’s critically acclaimed Constellations, opening at the Duke of York’s Theatre on 9 November 2012 with press night on 16 November.

Payne’s extraordinary play about friendship and love seen through shards of infinite possibility stars Sally Hawkins and Rafe Spall and is directed by Michael Longhurst. Described by the critics as “an astonishingly fine new play” (Daily Telegraph) and “taut and intensely touching” (Independent on Sunday) and nominated for a South Bank Sky Arts Award, Constellations captivated audiences on its Royal Court debut.

Artistic Director of the Royal Court Dominic Cooke said:

“When Nick Payne’s exceptional play Constellations came to us in autumn last year, I knew it was something special. We quickly rearranged our season to squeeze in a four week slot in our tiny 90-seater studio in January. It’s exactly the kind of play that the Royal Court was made for – it’s formally exciting with an emotional boldness that dazzled audiences and resulted in an unprecedented demand for tickets.

Transferring plays from the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs is always a balancing act. We want as many people as possible to see our work but need to retain the intimacy of the smaller theatre, so it is fantastic to work with ATG to achieve this at the Duke of York’s in a superb addition to our Royal Court West End season.”

Howard Panter Joint CEO and Creative Director of Ambassador Theatre Group added:

“With Posh off to a smashing start in previews with a queue to buy tickets trailing down St Martins Lane, we are delighted the Royal Court season continues with another fantastic example of the best in British new writing. I managed to snag a seat for Constellations when it was on Upstairs at the Court and it was clear this play is something very exciting – more people need the chance to see it. It is a wonderful third play for the season, which shows a real range in talent and storytelling beginning with Posh which opens on Wednesday.”

Sally Hawkins plays Marianne. She previously appeared in the Royal Court productions of Jez Butterworth’s The Winterling and Country Music by Simon Stephens. Other stage work includes the The House of Bernarda Alba at the National Theatre and Mrs Warren’s Profession on Broadway. On film her credits include Jane Eyre, Submarine, Made In Dagenham, Never Let Me Go and Mike Leigh’s Happy-Go-Lucky for which she won several international awards including a Golden Globe for Best Actress.

Rafe Spall plays Roland. He appeared in DC Moore’s Alaska at the Royal Court and other stage work includes Nick Payne’s If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet at the Bush Theatre, John Gabriel Borkman at the Donmar Warehouse and he is currently filming I Give It A Year for Working Title/Studio Canal. On television he stars in Channel 4’s Pete Versus Life and appeared in Hugo Blick’s The Shadow Line on BBC Two. His film credits include One Day, Anonymous, Hot Fuzz and Ridley Scott’s Prometheus.

Nick Payne won the prestigious George Devine Award in 2009 with his play If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet. This was produced at the Bush Theatre in October 2009, directed by Josie Rourke and will be produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York in Autumn 2012 starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Nick was a member of the Young Writers Programme at the Royal Court and made his debut at the Court in September 2010 with Wanderlust. He is currently under commission at the Donmar Warehouse, the Royal Court and Manhattan Theatre Club.

Director Michael Longhurst is a recipient of the Jerwood Directors Award (2007) at the Young Vic and a Fringe First in 2005. Mike will direct Nick Payne’s play If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet for the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York in Autumn 2012 starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Previously Mike directed the world premiere of Stovepipe by Adam Brace. This Hightide production, in collaboration with the National Theatre and the Bush Theatre, was featured in The Sunday Times as one of the top ten ‘Theatre Events of the Decade’. Other credits include Remembrance Day at the Royal Court, On The Beach as part of The Contingency Plan at the Bush Theatre, On The Record at the Arcola, dirty butterfly (winner of the Jerwood Directors Award at the Young Vic), 1 In 5 as part of Daring Pairings at Hampstead Theatre and Fringe First Award winner Guardians at the Edinburgh Festival.

Constellations was first produced in January 2012 at The Royal Court as part of the Royal Court’s Jerwood New Playwrights programme, supported by the Jerwood Charitable Foundation.

Cast:
Marianne Sally Hawkins
Roland Rafe Spall

Creative Team:
Writer Nick Payne
Director Michael Longhurst
Designer Tom Scutt

LONDON LISTINGS INFORMATION – Royal Court at the Duke of York’s Theatre

Dates: POSH plays until Saturday 4 August 2012
JUMPY plays Thursday 16 August to Saturday 3 November 2012
CONSTELLATIONS plays Friday 9 November 2012 to Saturday 5 January 2013

CONSTELLATIONS
Performances: Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm
Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm

Ticket prices: £10, £25, £37.50. Concessions and group discounts apply (Students £25 / Seniors £29.50 in advance, £25 on the door). See website for full details.

Tickets on sale to Royal Court Supporters and Friends and ATG Theatre Card holders, Tuesday 22 May at 12pm. General public sale from Wednesday 23 May at 12pm.

Access Performances: tbc.

Address: Duke of York’s Theatre, St. Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4BG

Box Office: 0844 871 7623*
Website: www.royalcourtatdukes.com

Royal Court Theatre Box Office: 020 7565 5000*
Website: www.royalcourttheatre.com

*Booking fees apply

For further information, please contact: Jo Allan, Jo Allan PR
jo@joallanpr.com / 020 7243 6176 / 07889 905 850