The Park Theatre in North London has announced its 2023-2024 Autumn/Winter season.
The new season will explore a range of themes from cultural heritage to toxic masculinity as well as a variety of uplifting and comic work.
Their festive programme includes a comic retelling of epic sci-fi novel The Time Machine starring The Goes Wrong Show’s Dave Hearn, and 21 Round for Christmas about the chaos of Christmas dinner.
Newly announced for the Autumn, Park90 season begins with Edinburgh Fringe favourite Candy (22 August to 9 September 2023) from Reboot Theatre Company, making its London debut. This one-man comedy drama explores identity, toxic masculinity and the complexity of love as single Northerner Will starts falling for his best friend in drag.
Another dark comedy to hit the Park90 stage, is the UK premiere of The Nag’s Head (17 to 28 October 2023), featuring original music from folk band Good Habits, and real paranormal accounts from rural England, to explore the story of three estranged siblings who return home after the death of their father.
Following on in Park90, Passing (1 to 25 November 2023) shines a light on the biracial experience in modern day as Rachel desperately tries to hold on to her Indian heritage after her grandad falls ill.
Tightrope Theatre’s powerful drama Ikaria (28 November to 2 December 2023) is presented on the Park90 stage in a punchy and thoughtful love story about finding salvation in someone else, while also exploring men’s mental health.
These new shows join the previously announced Park90 and Park200 Autumn shows: the global premiere based on the stereotype-defying Anime and novel The Garden of Words (10 Augusts to 9 September 2023) in Park200; Sorry We Didn’t Die at Sea (13 to 30 September 2023), an absurdist and political piece offers a story of migration where the roles are reversed; It’s Headed Straight Towards Us (13 September to 20 October 2023) by Adrian Edmondson and Nigel Planer in Park200; and The Interview (27 October to 25 November 2023) in Park200, an exploration of that interview between Princess Diana and Martin Bashir by writer and broadcaster Jonathan Maitland.
This Christmas, The Time Machine – A Comedy (30 November to 30 December 2023) takes centre stage at Park200.
Starring Michael Dylan (Wilf), Dave Hearn (founding member of the Olivier Award-winning Mischief Theatre, The Goes Wrong Show) and Amy Revelle (Offside), this play within a play is a fast-paced and hilarious retelling (loosely based) on H G Wells’ post-apocalyptic science fiction novel.
Also exploring the concept of time, 21 Round for Christmas (6 to 23 December 2023), running adjacent in Park90, is a comical and chaotic one-woman show about memory, friendship and regrets.
Kicking off the new year at Park Theatre is the UK premiere of the feel-good comedy that inspired the Netflix hit, Kim’s Convenience (8 Jan – 10 Feb), in Park200.
This hilarious and heartfelt comedy drama tells the story of the Kim’s and their family-run Korean convenience store in Toronto, written by and starring Ins Choi. The show pays homage to generations of immigrants who have made Canada the country that it is today.
The final show in the season will be Philip Ridley’s Leaves of Glass (16 Jan – 10 Feb) at Park90, which returns to the venue after its sell-out success and critical acclaim earlier this year.
Artistic Director Jez Bond said: “Following our splendid 10th anniversary gala in the spring, it’s fantastic to be moving into our Autumn / Winter season in this landmark year with such an eclectic programme, including some comedy gems to lighten the darker months. We’re continually humbled by the support of so many who bought tickets to the gala event and bid in the auction to help support Park Theatre, as well as to all audiences who have supported us over the decade. Not withstanding this effort, of course, our fundraising efforts must continue to ensure our future resilience. In Park200 it’s a pleasure to welcome back Original Theatre who follow their production of The Interview with The Time Machine – A Comedy, a fabulous Christmas comedy adventure. We’re also excited to be partnering for the second time with Adam Blanshay Productions to stage Ins Choi’s Kim’s Convenience, the feel-good comedy that inspired the Netflix hit. Meanwhile Park90 presents the Edinburgh Fringe hit Candy, spooky new comedy The Nag’s Head, the world premiere of comedy-drama Passing and a short London run of the powerful drama Ikaria which tours the UK – along with 21 Round for Christmas, a laugh-out-loud one woman show, for the festive period. Finally, it’s a rare event to welcome back a show that’s already played on our stage but after the sell-out success and critical acclaim of Leaves of Glass we are giving those who missed it the first time (or want to see it again) the chance to experience this engrossing drama.”
