Theatre News

Nick Giles announces final season at Shoreditch Town Hall

Giles has announced he will be stepping down as director of the theatre

Nick Giles
Nick Giles
© Dan Wooller for WhatsOnStage

Nick Giles has announced his final season as artistic director of Shoreditch Town Hall, with highlights including the return of Kneehigh with their new adaptation of Günter Grass’ novel The Tin Drum.

The season begins in May with Idiot Child, who make their debut at the venue with What if the Plane Falls Out of the Sky (17 to 20 May), a story-led piece about fear, anxiety, and how we cope with impending doom.

The new season will see the return of several companies and artists that have been regulars during Giles' tenure including live artist Greg Wohead (17 to 20 May), and Nigel Barrett and Louise Mari (Margate/Dreamland, 19 and 20 May).

Shoreditch Town Hall's two commissioned pieces include Fair Field by Penned in the Margins (7 and 8 July). A multi-arts production about politics, faith and how to be a good person. Fair Field is inspired by the medieval poem Piers Plowman, and will be presented on stage, in the street and online. Kazzum's The Boy, the Bees and the Blizzard is a new production for children and will run from 8 to 18 November.

Dare 2017: The Future Starts Now will be a festival of 'playful and inventive new performance' on 29 and 30 September.

Finally, following their production of Dead Dog in a Suitcase in 2015, Kneehigh return to Shoreditch Town Hall with their new adaptation of The Tin Drum from 5 to 23 December. Written by Carl Grose, the piece is composed by Charles Hazlewood and directed by Mike Shepherd.

On his final season, Giles said: "This season brings together an eclectic mix of adventurous artists, new performance, music and comedy.

"This has been my ambition from the start: bringing the building to life with work made for, inspired by, or at home in our unique spaces."