Orange Tree stages three-part Middlemarch & Pianist

The Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond has announced its autumn/winter season, featuring a three-part stage adaptation of Middlemarch and Neil Bartlett’s adaptation of The Pianist.

The season opens in September with the world premiere of Susan Glaspell’s 1943 play Springs Eternal, helmed by the venue’s long-serving artistic director Sam Walters.

Set in New York State, author Owen is married to Margaret, but his ex-wife Harry is still very much present following her husband Stewie’s elopement with the much younger Dottie. The effect of World War II resonates as a damaging revelation about Owen and Harry’s son emerges.

Next in the season will be a new three-part adaptation of George Eliot’s Middlemarch from Geoffrey Beevers, who also directs. Part One opens in October, Part Two in November and Part Three in December, and all three play in repertoire from late December until February.

The three parts, entitled Dorothea’s Story, The Doctor’s Story and Fred & Mary each stand alone, but all three plays together tell the full story. Geoffrey Beevers has been involved with the Orange Tree since its first season in 1972, and he is currently appearing in The Audience at the Gielgud Theatre.

The final production in the season will be the London premiere of Neil Bartlett’s The Pianist, which will play a limited run in January 2014.

Based upon the memoirs of Wladyslaw Szpilman, which also formed the basis of Roman Polanski’s 2002 Oscar-winning film, The Pianist is the harrowing story of one man’s time in the Warsaw Ghetto during the Nazi occupation.

The production uses Szpilman’s original text and the music of Chopin, and is narrated by actor Peter Guinness, with international concert pianist Mikhail Rudy.

Further details of the season will be announced in June, and public booking opens in July.