Arthur Miller, K Pop and an Asian festival are coming

Broken Glass

This March Watford Palace Theatre will be producing a revival of Broken Glass, a family drama set in Brooklyn in 1938 , from one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century Arthur Miller. The play will be directed by Richard Beecham.

Broken Glass tells the story of Phillip & Sylvia Gellburg who are living increasingly separate lives. Phillip is obsessed with getting ahead, in a real estate company where he is the only Jew. Sylvia is disturbed by news of Kristallnacht from Germany. In a single night, the Nazis destroyed thousands of Jewish homes and businesses, smashing windows and burning synagogues. Haunted by these images, she becomes ill and is unable to move. Phillip takes her to see the popular and attractive Dr Harry Hyman, whose ‘talking cure’ has unexpected consequences.

Arthur Miller is one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, author of Death of A Salesman, A View From The Bridge, The Crucible and All My Sons. Broken Glass was first performed in 1994 and was nominated for a Tony that same year. In 1995 it received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play.

Until March 24.

The Free9

A gang of North Korean street orphans dream of freedom, K-pop bands, South Korean game shows and ice-cream. Making the perilous journey across China to a safer country further south, the nine are haunted by lost relatives and the lingering fear of being returned. Who can they trust? Where will they seek refuge? And what will freedom taste like? 

A topical new play about hope, escape and cultural difference by In-Sook Chappell, inspired by the true story of the Laos 9 and all of the forgotten inside North Korea. The Free 9 will be performed by members of the Palace Youth Theatre for National Theatre Connections 2018. Suitable for 11+

Mar 28 and 29.

Brighton Rock

Following the critical success of their co-production of E.M.Forster’s The Machine Stops, Pilot Theatre will once again join forces with York Theatre Royal to premiere Tony-Award Nominee Bryony Lavery’s (Frozen, Stockholm and Beautiful Burnout) new adaptation of Graham Greene’s iconic 1938 novel of sin and redemption Brighton Rock.  

Directed by Pilot Theatre’s new Artistic Director Esther Richardson and featuring a soundtrack composed by the acclaimed singer, musician and composer Hannah Peel.

As two seventeen-year olds, Pinkie and Rose get embroiled in a vicious gang war in Brighton where one brutal murder leads to the next. The police are impassive - but the courageous and life embracing Ida Arnold wants the truth. Nothing scares her. Whatever the cost, she’ll see justice is done.

Written in 1938, Graham Greene’s classic novel of good and evil was first adapted for the stage at the Garrick Theatre with Richard Attenborough playing Pinkie, a role he resumed in the iconic 1947 film version. In 2010 Greene’s novel was remade, setting it in 1964, with Sam Riley, Andrea Riseborough and Helen Mirren. In 1993 Vicky Featherstone directed David Hurlock’s stage adaptation of the novel at West Yorkshire Playhouse and in 2004 John Barry and Don Black wrote a musical version which ran at the Almeida Theatre.

April 24 to 28.

British Asian Festival

Rifco Theatre Company and Watford Palace Theatre bring you three days of British Asian arts and culture. The festival line-up will feature exhibitions, stand-up comedy, new plays, children and family activities and film screenings.  There will be delicious South Asian snacks and meals on offer in the Café and every night DJs will be playing Bhangra, Bollywood and British Asian tunes in the Green Room Bar. Come join us for a vibrant festival celebrating British Asian talent! Curated by Pravesh Kumar, Artistic Director, Rifco Theatre Company. More information to come soon.

May 4 to 6.

Mountains: The Dreams of Lily Kwok

Helen has grown up in the UK, but always felt a piece of her story was missing.

Visiting her mother’s birthplace of Hong Kong for the first time, she is determined to find out who she really is and where she belongs. Amidst the skyscrapers and bustling streets, she meets her grandmother, Lily Kwok, and steps into her past where she discovers shocking family secrets that will change her life forever.

This stylish and evocative new play by award winning writer In-Sook Chappell, tells the extraordinary story of the women behind the famous Manchester restaurant Sweet Mandarin. Based on Helen Tse’s bestselling family memoir of passion, sacrifice and survival across three generations held together with one lifeline- food.

The performance includes live cooking on stage.

May 16 to 19.

Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road, WD17 1JZ. Details: 01923 235455