PRESS RELEASE
Theatre Royal Brighton
Where the magic never ends…..
Theatre Royal Brighton Productions launches under the artistic direction
of Christopher Luscombe
Maria Aitken and Philip Franks are Associate Directors
Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) is delighted to announce a new theatre
company, Theatre Royal Brighton Productions, which will present classic
drama both on tour and in the West End, under the Artistic Direction of
Christopher Luscombe, with Associate Directors Maria Aitken and Philip
Franks.
Christopher Luscombe says of the new company: “I’m delighted to have this
opportunity to create shows for one of my favourite theatres. All actors and
directors have a fondness for the Theatre Royal Brighton, and the distinctive
magic of both the playhouse and the city. Brighton has a great tradition for
outstanding theatre, and we hope to build on it. I can’t wait to get started.”
Theatre Royal Brighton Productions will present three plays during its first
year, beginning in May 2012, with each production opening at Theatre Royal
Brighton before going on a nationwide tour of the country’s best playhouses and
then to London. The intention is to deliver the highest quality theatre with the
cream of British talent in established, and, on occasion, rarely seen plays.
Artistic Director Christopher Luscombe began his career as an actor, his work
including seven years with the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as
appearances at the National Theatre and in the West End. His recent credits as
director include The Merry Wives of Windsor at Shakespeare’s Globe, When We
Are Married in the West End, which received an Olivier nomination for Best
Revival, and the UK Tour of Spamalot for ATG. His acclaimed production of The
Madness of George III opens at the Apollo Theatre in January.
Maria Aitken has played leading roles for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the
National Theatre and the Old Vic, and has starred in more Noël Coward plays on
the West End stage than any other actress. She has directed many plays in UK
regional theatres and in the West End, including The 39 Steps, which has been
running for over five years. She made her Broadway directorial debut with The 39
Steps, earning her a Best Director Tony nomination, and her production
of Terence Rattigan’s Man and Boy, starring Frank Langella, is
currently running on Broadway to critical acclaim.
Philip Franks is best known for his starring roles in television series The Darling
Buds of May and Heartbeat. In theatre, he divides his time equally between
acting and directing. His acting credits include Hamlet for the RSC, Journey's End,
Noises Off and Art in the West End, and recently Hector in The History Boys
directed by Christopher Luscombe. His directing credits include The Cocktail Party
(Edinburgh International Festival), Private Lives for the National Theatre, and The
Duchess of Malfi (West End). Productions at Chichester include Nicholas
Nickleby (also West End and Toronto), Taking Sides and Collaboration (also West
End), The Master Builder and The Deep Blue Sea.
Theatre Royal Brighton, with a rich and varied history spanning 200 years, is
one of the country’s best loved playhouses. By the end of the nineteenth century,
it had established itself as the Actors’ Theatre, where every leading player,
including the Kemble and Siddons Families, Sarah Bernhardt, Edmund Kean,
David Garrick and Sir Henry Irving, graced the stage. Ibsen premiered a UK
production of A Doll’s House here. Through the twentieth century, the theatre
grew in stature and national reputation. Rattigan, Coward and Orton plays
opened as a try-out date before a West End run. Artists who have created
unforgettable performances here include Noël Coward, Judi Dench, Edith Evans,
John Gielgud, Alec Guinness, Laurence Olivier, Michael Redgrave, Ralph
Richardson, Margaret Rutherford and Paul Scofield.
As part of the ATG Family, which includes Sonia Friedman Productions and First
Family Entertainment, Theatre Royal Brighton Productions will extend the tradition
of presenting the best and brightest talent working in theatre today to audiences
across the United Kingdom.
Theatre Royal Brighton Productions will be produced by Howard Panter, Adam
Speers and Evanna White for Ambassador Theatre Group.
For further information please contact:
Rachel Knowles
Theatre Royal Brighton
rachelknowles@theambassadors.com
01273 764409