Kingston's Rose Theatre has announced its Spring 2024 season producing five major performances, focusing on themes of displacement, vulnerability and family ties.  

Productions will tour dozens of venues around the country as well as abroad. Many of the shows will run concurrently ensuring that the Rose's work will extend into new communities. 

Christopher Haydon, Artistic Director, said "We are totally committed to our enduring family audiences and so are producing two Rose Original family productions across February half-term and Easter 2024."

The first is a world premiere of Nick Ahad's adaptation of Onjali Q. Raúf's best-selling book for children, The Boy at the Back of the Class. This will be directed by the exciting young director Monique Touko. 

Haydon said: "It's a thrilling adventure about a group of children who come to the help of a refugee boy who has newly arrived in their class. I'm so pleased to be collaborating with the Children's Theatre Partnership to bring this vital show to theatres across the UK amid a political climate that is increasingly characterised by hostility and cruelty towards some of the most vulnerable people on earth." 

Rose Theatre will also be partnering with local charity Refugee Action Kingston throughout the production and ahead of the UK tour.   

Poster. (Photo: Supplied)

The second Rose Original for family audiences is Sarah Punshon and Eamonn O'Dwyer's adaptation of the popular children's book The Lion Inside, by Rachel Bright and Jim Field.  

Based on the multi-million selling book, it tells a heart-warming story about confidence, self-esteem, and a shy little mouse who sets out on a journey to find his roar.   

A short post-Valentine stint is the Rose original new play Succession Theme is My Ringtone by breakthrough playwright Joe Kerridge.  

Directed by 2021/22 Peter Hall Emerging Artist Fellow Layla Madanat, the play follows the relationship between a young refugee and his caseworker over a few days where circumstances spiral out of control. This new piece of work is a funny yet eye-opening insight into the UK's refugee system and its shortcomings. 

Rounding off the season the season, the Rose is Zinnie Harris' blistering reimagining of Shakespeare's most revered play, Macbeth (an undoing). The retelling of the classic Scottish play puts the iconic Lady Macbeth at the heart of the narrative. By putting her front and centre, it begs the question – have we really heard the whole story? 

The Rose is producing the piece as part of an international collaboration with the Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh and Theatre For A New Audience in New York.  

Following this, Geradline Somerville (Gosford Park) stars in Atri Banarjee's visionary production of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. The play is a poetic portrayal of a family on the brink of change. This intimate and intense memory play explores the complex web of love and loyalty that binds families together. 

First wowing audiences at the Manchester Royal Exchange, the Rose is remounting with Alexandra Palace Theatre and Belgrade Theatre. 

The Kingston theatre has also announced the Rose Directing Fellowship, a new talent development scheme in partnership with the Drama League in New York.

Haydon said: "I am also delighted to announce a brand-new [scheme]...which will form the basis for a long-term exchange program for emerging directors between the UK and the US. 

"All of this, combined with our current partnership with the Norwegian Ibsen Company on Shooting Hedda Gabler, demonstrates a huge commitment on our part to being outward looking and internationalist in all that we do.  

"The Rose is a home to artists, audiences and humans from across the world. We are a theatre that celebrates our differences rather than fearing those who come to our shores."