ALMEIDA NEWSLETTER - Almeida Theatre

ALMEIDA NEWSLETTERISSUE TWENTY-ONE SPRING 2007TWO WEEKS INTO REHEARSALS FOR THE ALMEIDA’S FORTHCOMINGPRODUCTION OF THEODORE WARD’S BIG WHITE FOG, ARTISTIC DIRECTORMICHAEL ATTENBOROUGH EXPLAINS WHY HE WAS DRAWN TO THISLITTLE-KNOWN PLAYMy brilliant Artistic Associate Jenny Worton has, I believe, made a realdiscovery. As a part of her extensive play reading she came across Big WhiteFog and it now receives its European Premiere at the Almeida.It was the first full-length play written by Theodore (Ted) Ward, in 1937 andis the moving and inspiring story of an extended family fighting to make endsmeet in Chicago across eleven years from 1922-33.Arguably the first great play written by an African-American, it premiered inChicago the following year and was then the initial play presented by theNegro Playwrights Company (in 1940) in New York – founded by Ward, PaulRobeson, Langston Hughes and Richard Wright, amongst others. Wardcontinued to be a major figure in American theatre, culminating in his awardwinningOur Lan’ being produced on Broadway.Ted was raised in the Deep South, the sixth of eleven children. At the age ofthirteen, when his mother died, he ran away from home and travelled northon the railroad, working variously as a boot-black, bell-hop and barber shopporter before ending up in prison amidst the Prohibition and the GreatDepression. On being freed, Ward was encouraged to continue writing andto move from poetry and short stories to drama.The moment I read Big White Fog, I wanted to direct it. The breadth andhumanity of its accurate and moving portrait of a community during thisturbulent moment in history are astonishing. Tellingly, as with There Came AGypsy Riding, it has proved to be extremely attractive to top-notch actors.I am thrilled to announce that we have assembled such a cast, whichincludes Danny Sapani (Max Stafford Clark’s magnificent Out Of JointMacbeth), Jenny Jules (highly acclaimed for her performance in the recentFabulation at the Tricycle) and leading American actress Novella Nelson(seen at the Young Vic and the Lyric Hammersmith in the award-winningRaisin In The Sun).I believe Ted Ward ranks alongside America’s very finest playwrights and myhope and intention is that our production will firmly establish him in suchelevated company.Danny Sapani (Photo: Klaus Kalde)Jenny Jules (Photo: Simon Annand)Novella Nelson(Photo courtesy ofGeorgia Oetker)

A Chain PlayON 23 MARCH 2007, THE ALMEIDA HOSTED A COMPLETELY UNIQUE EVENT;A PLAY SEQUENTIALLY WRITTEN BY SIX WRITERS CLOSELY ASSOCIATEDWITH THE THEATRE WAS PERFORMED FOR THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME ATTHE ALMEIDA’S MAJOR ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENING.Samuel Adamson, Moira Buffini, David Hare, Charlotte Jones, Frank McGuinness and Roy Williams wereeach commissioned to write a link of the play, the finished product remaining a closely guarded secret untilthe event. Directed by Tom Cairns, the cast was Michele Austin, Jenny Jules, Alastair Mackenzie, DannySapani, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and Jodie Whittaker. After the performance, the creative team and A Chain PlayBenefit Commitee celebrated their magnificent achievement with a star-studded audience of Almeida friendsand supporters, eating, drinking and dancing the night away in the theatre foyer and auditorium.Pictures: Clockwise from top left; Helen McCrory and Damian Lewis; Chair of the Almeida Board Rick Haythornthwaite and ArtisticDirector Michael Attenborough; Chain Play writers Roy Williams, Samuel Adamson and Frank McGuinness; guests in theauditorium with Lez Brotherston’s set for Dying For It. (Photos: Bridget Jones).A Chain Play was generously supported by Coutts & Co. To hear exclusive interviews from the creative team,please visit www.coutts.com/almeida

Projects newsDuring the last two weeks of March 2007, the Almeida welcomedaudiences of over 1000 students from the local area to watchmatinee performances of Out Of The Fog, a play speciallycommissioned in response to Big White Fog.Out of the Fog draws on the themes and lives of the youngercharacters in Big White Fog, who face a future clouded by the racismand financial impoverishment of 1920s and 30s Chicago. Our newversion is set in London in the present day, and was writtenspecifically for Islington students. It was developed by the Almeida'sWriter in Residence, Roy Williams, and Rebecca Manson Jones, theDirector of Almeida Projects, with the help of dozens of local youngpeople.Directed by Matt Wilde, Out Of The Fog was performed by aprofessional cast on the Almeida stage to audiences of young peoplefrom over 15 schools. All the students who visited the theatre tookpart in introductory workshops at their schools, designed to givethem an insight into the play's plot, characters and themes.A new initiative called ‘Bring the Family’ will be piloted alongside BigWhite Fog. Young people who have been involved with Out Of TheFog will be given special passes entitling them to revisit theproduction with ‘families’ (the term will be used loosely) for a heavilysubsidised ticket price. The young people will be responsible forundertaking the booking and collection of tickets at the Box Office,and having visited the theatre, will be able to host their parents, findtheir own seats and introduce the production.Development team updateLast month, the Development department said goodbye totwo fantastic team members: following the birth of baby Jakein July 2006, Liz Fowler decided to remain at home in order toconcentrate on her family in the medium term; Jenny Davies,Head of Development during Liz’s maternity leave, has movedon to take up the role of Director of Development at thePhilharmonia Orchestra. They will both be much missed andwe wish them the very best of luck.Nicole Charles and Emmanuel Idowu in rehearsal for Out Of The Fog (Photo: Bridget Jones)We are thrilled to announce that Kirsten Holmes will bestepping into the role of Head of Development at the Almeida.Kirsten has been fundraising for the Almeida for over fouryears, and was previously Deputy Head of Development.Following her appointment, Susie Parker will be the principalcontact for the Circle of Supporters. Please don’t hesitate tocontact Susie with any membership queries on 020 7288 4930or email sparker@almeida.co.ukThe Development team will all be on hand at our forthcomingSupporters Evenings to answer any questions you may haveover a glass of wine - we look forward to seeing you there!The Development team (from left to right) - Despina Tsatsas,Development Co-ordinator (Corporates and Events); Sarah Ben-Tovim, Senior Development Manager; Susie Parker, DevelopmentOfficer (Individual Giving); Kirsten Holmes, Head of Development

Sponsorship newsTHIS YEAR, COUTTS ANNOUNCED ITS COMMITMENT TO A 5TH YEAR AS PRINCIPAL SPONSOR OF THEALMEIDA, TAKING THEIR INVESTMENT IN THE THEATRE TO OVER £1 MILLION IN TOTAL.The Almeida Theatre Coutts & Co partnership took effectwhen the newly refurbished theatre opened in 2003 andbegan initially as a vehicle for client entertainment. It hassince expanded to incorporate brand visibility, theatrebased development workshops for employees andbusiness development opportunities on both sides.Coutts has provided vital financial support to the theatre,facilitating greater artistic freedom and enabling the theatreto mount its ambitious programme with security andconfidence.The Almeida Coutts partnership has now become one ofthe bank’s foremost arts sponsorships and continues along tradition of supporting the arts. Over time, Coutts hasenjoyed a close relationship with many famous artists,including Frederic Chopin, Sir Henry Irving and CharlesDickens.One of the most ground-breaking developments of thepartnership has been the creation of a short film, ‘Portraitof a Bank’ that represented the Coutts & Co brand, as seenby its employees. After exploring staff perceptions of theorganisation at all levels and sections of the company,director Boz Temple Morris explored the brand identityfrom the personal perspective of six individuals. The filmcan be viewed online at www.coutts.com/portrait.This year, Coutts have also extended their sponsorship bysupporting the Almeida’s unique benefit, A Chain Play (seeoverleaf).Sarah Deaves and Michael Attenborough (Photo: Bridget Jones)Sarah Deaves, Chief Executive of Coutts & Cocommented:“We are proud to be the Principal Sponsor of the Almeidafor the fifth consecutive year. During the last four yearswe have become huge fans of their work – theproductions are always cutting edge and of the highestquality, the theatre and the Almeida team continue tosurprise and delight our clients.”Artistic Director Michael Attenborough commented:“The Almeida Theatre, in its current form, would simplynot be possible without the support of Coutts. Our bold,adventurous play choice means taking expensive risks,and our artistic programme is therefore enabled byCoutts’ hugely loyal generosity. We are, it goes withoutsaying, incredibly grateful to them.”BOOKING NOW OPEN FOR:BIG WHITE FOG by Theodore Ward: 11 MAY - 30 JUNE 2007ALMEIDA OPERA SEASON: 5 - 22 JULY 2007TO BE ANNOUNCED:PRIORITY BOOKING FOR OUR AUTUMN 2007 SEASONBook tickets at the Box Office 020 7359 4404Book online www.almeida.co.ukAlmeida Theatre Company LtdAlmeida Street, London N1 1TARegistered Charity No. 282167