Vinay Patel adapts Cherry Orchard as part of new ETT season

Jade Anouka, Sabrina Mahfouz and Jamael Westman are among the writers lined up for a new series of monologues to be staged by English Touring Theatre as part its forthcoming season, which also includes a version of The Cherry Orchard by Vinay Patel.

Mixed, monologues for mixed race characters and written by mixed race writers, aims to “kickstart the artistic interrogation of mixed race identity in contemporary Britain”. 

It is curated by Ben Quashie, and other writers in the series include Javaad Alipoor, Lydia Ayame Hiraide, Mei Mei Macleod, Grace Savage and Testament, with more to be announced.

Also announced is a new version of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard adapted for the stage by Patel. This piece is co-commissioned by ETT and the Yard Theatre and co-produced with HOME, Manchester. Directed by James Macdonald, the production opens this autumn at the Yard, ahead of performances at Home in Manchester.

Previously announced Oscars Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest opens the season.

Directed by Denzel Westley-Sanderson, the show opens in September at Leeds Playhouse,  then tours to Cambridge Arts Theatre, New Wolsey Theatre, Northern Stage, Liverpool Playhouse and Rose Theatre, supported by a grant from The Royal Theatrical Support Trust.

The season continues with the 80th-anniversary staging of Brecht’s The Good Person of Szechwan. Adapted by Nina Segal with Anthony Lau directing, it is the first time in UK history the production will be led by a predominately East Asian cast and creative team. 

ETT will co-produce with Sheffield Theatres and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, with both venues hosting runs in Spring 2023 before touring nationally. 

Also featuring in the season is the second series of F**ked Up Bedtime Stories (for Adults), a new writing podcast commissioned and produced by ETT. Writers include Chris Bush, Kwame Owusu and Yasmin Joseph.

ETT artistic director Richard Twyman and executive producer Holly Gladwell said: “This season of work sees ETT get back to making and touring large-scale work for audiences nationally: reaching communities in their local area with stories that explore contemporary English and the world around us. Bold, ambitious work that refracts our contemporary world through the lens of classic stories and looks forward with new writing and cutting-edge immersive digital storytelling."

Season at a glance

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Directed by Denzel Westley-Sanderson
September 5 to November 12, with press night on September 8

The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Vinay Patel
Directed by James Macdonald
September 5 to November 19, with press night on September 13

The Good Person of Szechwan by Bertolt Brecht, adapted by Nina Segal
Directed by Anthony Lau
March 11 2023 to May 13 2023, with press night on 15 March

Mixed 
Curated by Ben Quashie
Mixed will be published and made available to Drama students in 2023

F**ked Up Bedtime Stories (for adults)
The second series will be released in autumn 2022

Adult Children Co-created by Ella Hickson, Sacha Wares and ScanLAB Projects
September 23 to 25