CURVE ANNOUNCES ARTISTIC DIRECTOR NIKOLAI FOSTER’S INAUGURAL SEASON

Leicester’s Curve theatre today announces the inaugural season from new Artistic Director Nikolai Foster. Curve shows directed by Foster include a new production of Tennessee Williams’ seminal work A Streetcar Named Desire, opening on 20 October, with previews from 16October, and running until 8November. The production features Charlie Brooks as Blanche (recently seen in Curve’s production of Beautiful Thing, at the Liverpool Playhouse in Our Country’s Good, and best known for her long-running role in EastEnders) and Stewart Clarke (Assassins, Menier Chocolate Factory, The Return of the Soldier, Jermyn Street Theatre, Ghost, UK Tour) as Stanley.

Nikolai Foster also directs David Wood’s stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches, co-produced by Rose Theatre Kingston,from 9 December – 10 January (press night 16 December) – a tremendously terrifying treat for the whole family. Prior to the run at Curve, the production will play in Hong Kong, and following the run will tour across the UK, including to Manchester, Swindon and Plymouth. This continues Curve’s commitment to creating exciting work for young theatregoers and their families

Curve will also be premièring a major new production of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, an adaptation by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award-winning playwright Richard Greenberg. The classic tale written by Truman Capote and so memorably portrayed by Audrey Hepburn in the iconic 1961 film, is being given a new lease of life by director Nikolai Fosteras a stage play with music in a new production starring the multi award-winning Pixie Lott as Holly Golightly.

Artistic Director Nikolai Foster said today, “I am proud to present this new season of work at Curve, my first as Artistic Director. Drama, dance and music all feature prominently, an eclectic slate of work which supports our commitment to developing new and diverse audiences for the future. I am looking forward to directing one of the greatest plays ever written and know Charlie Brooks and Stewart Clarke will bring something original and contemporary to Williams’ masterpiece, A Streetcar Named Desire. After entertaining young audiences, our production of Roald Dahl’s The Witches will fly to Hong Kong, before visiting venues throughout the UK. And I know Pixie Lott will electrify Leicester audiences in our production of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. All of us at Curve are hugely excited to welcome such a talented group of artists and companies to Leicester over the coming months, and sharing work created in our great region with audiences across the UK and further afield.”

Other Curve productions in the new season are Oliver!, the Christmas musical for 2015, and the smash-hit musical comedy Hairspray, which returns for just 13 performances inSeptember ahead of a  UK tour, both directed by Paul Kerryson. Following the huge success of Murmur & Inked in 2014, award-winning dancer and Curve Associate Artist Aakash Odedra brings the world première of his new double bill, Echoes & I Imagine to Curve (9 – 10 October).

Other season highlights include the launch of the new UK tour of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins. Globe Theatre on Tour make their first visit to Curve with Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing whilst A New Adventures’ dazzling production of Sleeping Beauty, directed by Matthew Bourne, with music by Tchaikovsky comes to the Curve, back by popular demand after smashing box office records across the UK and the USA. Chotto Desh – a mesmerising dance theatre performance adaptation of Akram Khan’s DESH, especially for children, will be thrilling audiences in December. Directed by Sue Buckmaster and co-presented by MOKO Dance, the show will be accompanied by a programme of MOKO Dance family activities before and after each showing. Curve will also be at the heart of Leicester’s Diwali celebrations, and will host a week-long season of work including Nupur Arts Nartan, Confidance, Whose Sari Now? and Strictly Balti.

As a result of continued and increasing audience demand for its work, in September 2015 Curve is adding an additional 99 seats to its Theatre. Alongside the organisation’s reputation for exceptional facilities and expertise, the additional capacity strengthens Curve and Leicester’s as a first choice venue for the world’s best producers to open major new musicals and productions.

Curve Chief Executive Fiona Allan commented “It has been wonderful working with Nikolai for the last few months – I absolutely believe he is perfect Artistic Director for Curve – and this is one of the strongest seasons of work we have produced and presented. In the four years I’ve been here Curve has seen year on year increases in audiences – so much so that we have to increase the size of our Theatre so that more people can experience our productions. I will leave in October knowing that Curve now has a reputation as a major regional producing theatre, with an incredibly loyal and supportive audience base, genuine connections with our local community, and a strong financial position.”