New season at Park Theatre announced, featuring a translated play by Simon Callow

The inaugural season of work to be performed at the Park Theatre next year has been announced. The season will feature a 10^th anniversary revival production of Clybourne Park, the English language world premiere of La Cage Aux Folles (The Play) and the London transfer of RAGS The Musical.

Speaking about the new season, artistic director Jez Bond says: "We're bringing a wealth of new writing to the stage - in terms of both UK and world premieres. We are proud to be collaborating with a diverse range of artists to present a variety of plays."

In Park200, Hope Mill Theatre's production of RAGS The Musical will receive its London transfer from January 2020. Following a group of Jewish immigrants who arrive on the shore of Ellis Island, the musical is an epic saga in testament to America's immigrant past, with lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. RAGS will begin previews on 9^th January, ahead of an opening night on 14^th January and will run to 8^th February 2020.

The English language world premiere of La Cage Aux Folles (The Play) will be staged at the Park Theatre for a six week run. Originally written by Jean Poiret, Simon Callow's translation follows a nightclub owner in St Tropez whose son's engagement causes a stir in the local community. Ahead of the production, Callow says: La Cage aux Folles is a great - and brilliantly funny - play about living the life you want to live." La Cage Aux Folles (The Play) begins previews on 12^th February, ahead of a press night on 19^th February and will run to 21^st March 2020.

Oliver Kaderbhai directs the 10^th anniversary production of Bruce Norris' Pulitzer Prize-winning Clybourne Park. Examining the impact of racial relations in 20^th century America, Clybourne Park asks whether the same issues continue to fester in society. Clybourne Park begins previews on 25^th March with a press night on 30^th March and runs to 2^nd May 2020.

Exploring the consequences of the Windrush scandal, Archie Maddocks' A Place for We focuses on the relationships between London communities. Directed by Michael Buffong, the play follows funeral director Clarence and a fifth-generation pub owner as they try to adapt to their surroundings in order to survive. A Place for We begins previews on 6^th May, ahead of a press night on 12^th May and runs to 6^th June 2020.

The first season to be presented at the Park Theatre in 2020 concludes with the world premiere of The Garden of Words, based on the anime of the same name by Makoto Shinkai/CoMix Wave Films. Using emotive animation found in anime through visual storytelling, Alexandra Rutter directs a play that explores loneliness, romance and the impact of invisible disabilities. The Garden of Words opens from 15^th July ahead of an official press night on 23^rd July and runs to 15^th August 2020.

Four productions have been announced to be staged at Park90, including Andy Dickinson's Shackleton and his Stowaway, the world premiere of Time and Tide and Corpse! by Gerald Moon. The season continues with Carey Crim's Never Not Once, The Still Room by Sally Rogers and Burkas and Bacon Butties, co-written by Shamia Chalabi and Sarah Henley.

^{Photo credit: Alan Stanton (Flickr) under CC 2.0}