Young Vic to reopen in July, new season of work announced

James Graham's new play will receive its world premiere in December.

The Young Vic will reopen its doors for live performances this summer, with a new season of work announced today. New productions include Changing Destiny, directed by Young Vic artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah, as well as a new play by James Graham.

The season begins with Ben Okri's Changing Destiny, which is an adaptation of a 4,000 year old Egyptian poem about Sinuhe, the Warrior King. Changing Destiny marks Okri's playwriting debut, but Okri is an award-winning writer whose works include The Famished Road and Starbook. Kwame Kwei-Armah, with scenic and costume design by architect David Adjaye and Adjaye Associates. Changing Destiny runs from 9 July - 21 August.

The Maria theatre at the Young Vic will reopen in August with Jessica Siân's Klippies. Set in South Africa, two teenage girls come together at school to navigate their guilt of their country's legacy. Diyan Zora will direct Klippies, with casting to be announced. Klippies runs from 4 - 13 August.

Cush Jumbo will then star in Hamlet, now opening two days earlier from 25 September - 13 November. The Shakespearean tragedy will be transformed, with Greg Hersov directing the tale of power, politics and desire. Further casting for Hamlet is to be announced.

Rounding off the season is James Graham's Best of Enemies, which will be presented as a collaboration between the Young Vic and Headlong. Jeremy Herrin directs Graham's newest work, inspired by television debates in late 1960s America. Best of Enemies runs from 2 December - 22 Jan. 2022.

In an interview with The Guardian, Kwei-Armah said that: "plans to livestream all of its future productions... It is not in any way a replacement for live theatre, not in any way something I think will compete with the live experience. It is about access." 

^{Photo credit: Young Vic (Photo by Ewan Munro on Flickr under CC 2.0)}