Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has announced its new season for Summer 2024 – the final season for outgoing artistic director Tim Sheader, who is off to the Donmar Warehouse.
Since this month, Sheader is now replaced by director and choreographer Drew McOnie, who will programme Regent’s Park from the 2025 season onwards. James Pidgeon was appointed the venue’s Executive Director in 2021.
The 2024 summer season will open with Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (or What You Will) from 3 May to 8 June 2024, directed by Owen Horsley.
Also, the new Leeds Playhouse & Regent’s Park musical version of Roald Dahl’s The Enormous Crocodile will transfer to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from 17 May to 8 June 2024.
The show will play during the daytimes for those aged 4+, and has a book and lyrics by Suhayla El-Bushra, music by Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab and additional music and lyrics from Tom Brady. The show is developed and directed by Emily Lim, with co-direction and puppetry design by Toby Olié.
A stage adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic story The Secret Garden will play from 15 June to 20 July 2024, in a new version written by Holly Robinson and written by and directed by Anna Himali Howard.
Finally a new production of classic musical Fiddler on the Roof will play from 27 July to 21 September 2024, directed by Jordan Fein.
The musical that features songs including ‘If I Were A Rich Man’, ‘Tradition’ and ‘Matchmaker’, has a book by Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick.
Already announced is a Spring production coming to Regent’s Park – the world premiere stage adaptation of Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman’s Bear Snores On, from 23 March to 21 April 2024, directed by Cush Jumbo and Katy Sechiari.
The show has a book by Cush Jumbo and Katy Sechiari, and music & lyrics by Harry Blake. Made for families aged 4+, the show will be in a new and specially created indoor pop-up space within the theatre’s grounds.
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Executive Director & Joint Chief Executive, James Pidgeon, and artistic director, Tim Sheader, said in a statement today: “Following the announcement of Bear Snores On at the end of last year – marking the first time in our 92-year history that we’re producing a project in the spring – we’re now thrilled to be sharing our 2024 summer season with you. This year’s summer season includes a Shakespeare comedy revival; a new commission of a literary favourite, continuing our commitment to the development of new work; a revival of a musical classic which this year celebrates its 60th birthday; and a new musical for ages 4+, produced in collaboration with Roald Dahl Story Company and Leeds Playhouse. Whilst Drew McOnie, our new Artistic Director, begins work on plans for 2025 and beyond, we very much look forward to welcoming you to Regent’s Park this summer for Tim’s seventeenth and final season which continues to celebrate the magic and power of togetherness that comes with telling stories under a shared sky.”
Currently on a major tour of the UK is the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s acclaimed production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar, until August 2024.
Also, a new UK tour of its 2022 summer production of new musical 101 Dalmatians, based on Dodie Smith’s classic tale, starts at the New Wimbledon Theatre in London in June 2024.
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