The Union Theatre have announced new productions coming to the London venue in 2016, which includes the UK professional debut of Fear and Misery of the Third Reich, the first UK revival of Road Show and an adaption of William Shakespeare’s Queen Lear.
Fear and Misery of the Third Reich is the black comedy by German playwright Bertolt Brecht which explores how the rise of Nazism affected the ordinary people of Germany and asks the question of not only how it happened, but whether it could it happen to us?
‘In an interlinked series of snap shots from Hitler’s Germany children inform on parents, justice becomes a joke, old loyalties mean nothing and mere survival demands ruthless cunning.’
In a translation by John Willet, the production will be directed by Phil Willmott who also appears on stage as a member of the cast. The rest of the cast includes: includes Jeryl Burgess, Harriet Grenville, Christopher Laishley, Tom Williams, Mark Desmond, Joshua Ruhle, Tori Louis, Clara Francis, Ben Kerfoot and Feliks Mathur.
It also has set and costume design by Nik Corall, lighting by Jack Weir and sound by James Nicholson.
Fear and Misery of the Third Reich will run at the Union Theatre in Southwark, South London from 6th to 30th January 2016.
The Union Theatre then presents the Phil Willmott Company in the first ever UK production of Road Show, which has only been seen in London once before. The musical, which features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by John Weidman, made its UK debut in summer 2011 when the New York production transferred to the Menier Chocolate Factory.
‘At the turn of the last century old Pa Meisner sends his sons, the charming and ruthless Wilson and the thoughtful, unambitious Addison off to make their fortune. The ill matched pair embark on the story of their lifetime across the U.S. stopping off at some of the key moments which shaped modern America.’
The Union Theatre’s revival of the musical is directed by Phil Willmott, with set design by Nik Corall, choreography by Thomas Michael Voss, lighting by Jack Weir, costumes by Nik Corall and Sasha Regan and sound by James Nicholson. Featured in the cast are Howard Jenkins as Addison Meisner, Andre Refig as Wilson Meisner, Steve Watts as Pappa Meisner, Cathryn Sherman as Mamma Meisner and Joshua LeClair as Hollis.
Road Show will run at the Union Theatre from 3rd February to 5th March 2016.
Following that later in the year is a new version of William Shakespeare’s Queen Lear, adapted and directed by Phil Willmott and produced by Union Theatre, Phil Willmott Company and Sasha Regan.
‘The old woman finds it impossible to retire gracefully and as her mental faculties begin to fail she’s cast out by her eldest children, as their sister prepares to lead a French invasion in retaliation. Meanwhile the Duke of Gloucester’s equally ruthless son plots to steal his brother’s inheritance and the younger generations align in a savage plot to mercilessly destroy their parents. But will they succeed?’
Ursula Mohan stars as the title character in Queen Lear, which is set to run at the Union Theatre from 20th September to 8th October 2016.