Iranian-German playwright Nassim Soleimanpour and director Omar Elerian have launched There & Then, an impartial theater firm whose inaugural manufacturing brings “White Rabbit Pink Rabbit” again to London’s West Finish on its fifteenth anniversary, in affiliation with producer Nica Burns.
The format locations a unique artist on stage every week, who’s given a sealed envelope containing a script they’ve by no means learn, which they have to then carry out chilly, with none preparation or directing recommendation. The lineup revealed to date contains David Harewood on June 8; David Tennant on June 15; Jo Joyner on June 22; Asim Chaudhry on June 29; Luke Thompson on July 6; Jodie Whittaker on July 13; Kathryn Hunter on July 20; Kunal Nayyar on July 27; Archie Madekwe on September 21; and Riz Ahmed on September 28. Different castings can be introduced. The manufacturing runs on the Duchess Theater from June 8 to November 2.
Soleimanpour wrote the play whereas he was banned from touring exterior Iran. It was established in 2011 and has since recorded over 4,000 productions in over 25 languages. The West Finish manufacturing is by Matilda James CDG.
Soleimanpour and Elerian’s decade-long inventive partnership has produced initiatives together with “Echo” on the Royal Courtroom Theater and “Nassim” on the Bush Theatre. Government producer Roz Coleman and manufacturing advisor Malú Ansaldo spherical out the corporate’s core crew. Along with its personal productions, There & Then intends to collaborate with artists and communities at completely different phases of their careers on a world foundation. The corporate is individually organizing a second world tour of “Echo,” with Immanuel Bartz serving as producer on that challenge.
Soleimanpour mentioned: “We’re all manufactured from the tales we dare to inform and the silences we lastly give voice to. What started as a leap into the unknown with ‘White Rabbit Pink Rabbit’ has grow to be, by means of years of collaboration with Omar Elerian, a standard theatrical language and the inspiration of this new firm, and we’re thrilled that our first manufacturing can be in affiliation with Nica Burns and Nimax as we share this subsequent chapter with audiences.”
Elerian added: “I’m extraordinarily excited to embark on this new inventive chapter in collaboration with my accomplice in crime, Nassim Soleimanpour. Collectively, we sit up for introducing one thing new and unconventional to the West Finish, assured that London audiences will embrace the exhilarating and electrified nature of our work – rooted in presence, immediacy and a spirit of the unknown. In these fragile and unsure instances, we hope to reaffirm the Threat, creativeness and the enduring energy of storytelling stays one among our most important and transformative strengths.
Coleman mentioned: “I’ve at all times labored alongside artists who push the boundaries of what is anticipated, and There & Then is a pure subsequent chapter. The size of ambition and lightness of contact encourage me, and the return of ‘White Rabbit Pink Rabbit’ opens the door to one thing a lot greater. With ‘Echo’ touring Europe this spring and a rising physique of latest work taking form, I am proud to be part of constructing an organization with this style of vary and hustle. We’re simply getting began.
Burns added: “I’m delighted to welcome two distinctive artists performing collectively for the primary time with their new firm – playwright Nassim Soleimanpour and director Omar Elerian – throughout our first Monday night residency on the intimate Duchess Theatre. Every efficiency of ‘White Rabbit Pink Rabbit,’ a sold-out @sohoplace hit in 2024, is as distinctive as every of our outstanding performing firms, who solely seem as soon as. Positively value seeing twice.