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Almeida World Premieres Barry’s Whistling Psyche

The Almeida Theatre (pictured) will present the world premiere of Irish playwright Sebastian Barry’s latest play this spring. Whistling Psyche, directed by Robert Delamere, opens 12 May 2004 (previews from 7 May) and continues until 7 June.

In a cold dark night in an old waiting room, two supposed strangers are eager to reach their destinations. Both share a passion for reform but while Florence Nightingale is honoured, Dr Barry receives posthumous notoriety for a very different reason.

A novelist and poet as well as a dramatist, Barry’s many previous plays include The Stewart of Christendom, Our Lady of Sligo and Hinterland, all directed by Max Stafford-Clark in the UK. His translation of Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba was staged at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre in 2003.

Director Delamere’s recent credits include An Accidental Death of an Anarchist, In Arabia We’d All Be Kings, A Russian in the Woods, The Modernists and The Force of Change. Further creative and casting details for Whistling Psyche have not yet been announced.

Come the summer, the Almeida’s annual opera season, running from 1 to 18 July 2004, will celebrate the birthdays of Harrison Birtwistle (70th), Michael Nyman (60th) and John Woolrich (50th). The season includes the first London performances of Birtwistle and Nyman’s newest operas (The Io Passion and Man and Boy: Dada, respectively) and a specially commissioned song cycle by Woolrich, who is Almeida Opera’s concerts director.

Currently at the Almeida, Anthony Page’s British premiere production of Edward Albee’s The Goat or, Who is Sylvia?, starring Jonathan Pryce, continues until 13 March 2004. It’s followed by Festen (The Celebration), David Eldridge's new stage version of the 1998 Dogme film, which runs from 25 March to 24 April 2004 (previews from 18 March). Its cast, directed by Rufus Norris, includes Jonny Lee Miller, Jane Asher and Tom Hardy (See News, 22 Jan 2004).

- by Terri Paddock

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