News

19 October 2023

We are thrilled to announce casting for J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, in a new version by Evan Placey, with music and lyrics by Vikki Stone and directed by Lucy Morrell. Kaine Ruddach will play the role of Peter, joined by Michelle Bishop (Hook/Mrs. Darling), Hilary Maclean (Gran), and Dominic Rye (Smee/Mr. Darling). Peter Pan runs from Friday 1 December 2023 until Sunday 7 January 2024 with Press Night on Thursday 7 December 2023.

The cast also features forty local young people from Rose Youth Theatre who will perform in two alternate casts. The Rose Youth Theatre company includes: Akira Dias, Alex Forster, Amelie Abbott, Ariana Shute, Arun Stewart, Audrey Johnston, Ava Harris, Bryn Wilson, Cameron Eggleston, Casper Groombridge, Cecily Cleave, Chloe Nichols, Diren Chhabra, Dylan Corchete-Quan, Ella Waldmann, Ellie Searle, Emily Porter, Ethan Harcourt, Eva Rouse, Fedor Skorodelov, Florence Datta, Hannah Grigg, Isla Griffiths, Jack Bartlett, Jack Fernie,, Jasmine Procter-Tarabanov, Jemima Leason, Josh Pritchard-Chase, Leah Wingfield, Leon Horton, Luke Groarke, Mimi Forster, Minaii Barrowes, Mischa Rudling, Naira Malik, Penny Bennett, Rebeca Lanaway Gonzalez, Scarlett Coburn, Shona Maggo and Viola Johnson.

Further creative team includes Oli Townsend (Set & Costume Designer), Emma Chapman (Lighting Designer), Aidan Jones (Sound Designer), Bradley Charles (Movement Director), Josh Mathieson (Associate Director and Voice Coach), Ellie Collyer-Bristow CDG (Casting Director), Claire Llewellyn of Rc-Annie Ltd (Fight & Intimacy Director), and Jody Robinson (Musical Director), Judith Hope (Puppet Director).

Lucy Morrell said: “I am delighted to be making this show alongside the best creative team anyone could ask for. I adore the original story of Peter Pan and Evan new adaptation is beautiful. Woking with our large ensemble of young people and fantastic professional actors is an absolute joy! I can’t wait for audiences, young and old, to see this festive, magical treat.”

5 October 2023

We are delighted to announce today our exciting Spring 2024 season, continuing our commitment to international collaboration and supporting artist development:

- The world premiere stage adaptation of the multi award-winning children’s book The Boy at the Back of the Class opens at the Rose on 8 February and then embarks on a UK tour with the Children’s Theatre Partnership.Based on the novel by Onjali Q. Raúf, adapted by Nick Ahad and directed by Monique Touko, The Boy at the Back of the Class is a timely, humorous and heart-warming story about the power of kindness, engaging children and their families in discussions around refugee rights.

- New play Succession Theme is My Ringtone by Joe Kerridge plays from 15 - 17 February in the Rose Studio, directed by 2021/22 Peter Hall Emerging Artist Fellow Layla Madanat.

- Zinnie Harris’ acclaimed production of Macbeth (An Undoing) comes to the Rose in March in an international collaboration with The Royal Lyceum Edinburgh and Theatre for a New Audience in New York.

- Based on Rachel Bright and Jim Field’s bestselling children’s story about finding your roar, The Lion Inside runs at the Rose from 28 March in a brand-new adaptation for the stage by Sarah Punshon, who directs, with music and lyrics by Eamonn O’Dwyer.

- Atri Banerjee’s bold reimagining of Tennessee Williams' semi-autobiographical masterpiece, The Glass Menagerie, plays in April as a co-production with Alexandra Palace Theatre and Belgrade Theatre in association with the Royal Exchange Manchester.

- Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler favourite Zog and the Flying Doctors, which returns to the Rose, and a new stage adaptation of their beloved book Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book will also delight young audiences.

20 April 2023

We are thrilled to announce our Autumn 2023 season: 

The world premiere of Shooting Hedda Gabler by Nina Segal after Henrik Ibsen, directed by Jeff James, a Rose Original Production, opens on 4 October, with previews from 29 September, until 21 October 2023.

Arthur Miller’s timeless masterpiece, A View From The Bridge comes to the Rose from 31 October to 11 November in a new Rose Theatre co-production with Headlong,, Chichester Festival Theatre, and Octagon Theatre Bolton .

A thrilling adventure awaits as Peter Pan flies into the Rose for Christmas in a new version by Evan Placey, with music and lyrics by Vikki Stone and directed by Lucy Morrell. Opening on 7 December, with previews from 1 December 2023, until 7 January 2024.  Packed with song, dance, magic and featuring members of the talented Rose Youth Theatre.

Also visiting the Rose, Tall Stories’ enchanting adaptation of the much-loved Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler book, The Gruffalo’s Child, returns from 24 - 29 October 2023.

Rose Artistic Director Christopher Haydon said: 'I’m delighted to announce an autumn season that features Rose Original Productions from some of the freshest and most exciting new voices in theatre. Director Jeff James returns after his smash hit production of Persuasion to direct Shooting Hedda Gabler, Nina Segal’s radical new adaptation of Ibsen’s classic. And I can’t wait to share a new remarkable take on Arthur Miller’s A View From the Bridge. As ever, our Christmas show will bring together professional performers and members of our exceptionally talented Rose Youth Theatre; what better story to tell with this mix of artists - younger and older - than that of Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up? Evan Placey, who is adapting, is a writer I have wanted to work with for years, and I can’t wait to see the magic that he, composer and lyricist Vikki Stone, and director Lucy Morrell, work on this classic adventure. I am proud that the Rose remains committed to providing great nights out in Kingston at an affordable price to families and theatre goers from all walks of life.'

8 August 2023

We are so excited to announce the full cast and creative for Shooting Hedda Gabler, playing at the Rose from 4 October with previews from 29 September.

Antonia Thomas (The Good Doctor) leads a cast of six as Hedda, alongside one of Norway’s leading stage actors Christian Rubeck (Succession) and Avi Nash (Silo) who both appear for the first time on a British stage as Henrik and Ejlert. They are joined by Anna Andresen as Berta, Matilda Bailes as Thea, and Joshua James as Jørgen. The casting director is Sam Jones CDG.

Further creative team also announced today includes Rosanna Vize (Set Designer), Milla Clarke (Costume Designer), Hansjörg Schmidt (Lighting Designer), Kieran Lucas (Composer & Sound Designer), Ingrid Mackinnon (Intimacy & Movement Director), and Amy Crighton (Assistant Director).

Director Jeff James said: 'I'm so excited to start rehearsals with this amazing company of actors. Nina's daring and hilarious play reimagines Ibsen's Hedda Gabler in an utterly original way and working with this stellar cast I hope we're going to make something really special for the Rose's audiences.'

Shooting Hedda Gabler is a Rose Original Production in association with The Norwegian Ibsen Company. A radical and affectionate adaptation of Hedda Gabler, written by Nina Segal and directed by Jeff James (Persuasion), Ibsen's classic is reimagined in this new play about doing whatever is necessary to get the shot.