New Play Announcement: Harrogate

In October 2016 the Royal Court Theatre, house, and HighTide will present the acclaimed HighTide production of Al Smith’s Harrogate in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court Theatre before undertaking a national tour. Smith’s hit play is directed by Royal Court Associate Director (International) Richard Twyman and premiered at HighTide Festival 2015.

It tells the story of a father struggling to confront his obsessions head-on without destroying his family. The play explores how we perform versions of ourselves depending on what company we keep, and how we project onto others versions of the people we want to see. From lover, to father, to husband, one man craves the past – but knows his desire for it will destroy his family.

‘Each one of us is gonna sit down one day and not be able to stand up, like we’ve disappeared to ourselves.’

Al Smith is a graduate of the BBC Writers Academy and was previously a Pearson Playwright in Residence at the Finborough Theatre. He is currently under commission to the Royal Court Theatre and the Gate Theatre.
Theatre credits include Harrogate (HighTide), Radio (Soho/59E59 New York City), The Astronaut Wives Club (Soho), The Bird and Enola (Underbelly) and Sport (Finborough Theatre).
Smith writes regularly for radio and television. Awards include the inaugural BFI Wellcome Trust Screenwriting Prize

Richard Twyman is an Associate Director at the Royal Court. For the Royal Court his credits include Told From The Inside – Goats and The Final Return, You For Me For You, Fireworks, The Djinns of Eidgah, Phil in Space, PIIGS and A New Song.
Other theatre credits include Harrogate (HighTide), Henry IV Pt II (RSC), Ditch (Old Vic Tunnels / HighTide), Sixty-Six Books (Bush Theatre) and Give Me Your Hand (the Irish Rep, New York).

Harrogate runs at the Royal Court 20 Oct – 29 Oct 2016. With press night on Monday 24 October, 7pm.
To book tickets see here