Stratford East Stages New Musical Clockwork Orange

The adaptation, by New Yorkers Ed DuRanté (words) and Fred Carl (music), runs from 13 September to 1 October 2011 (previews from 3 September) and promises to “return to the original source of Anthony Burgess’ book and importantly, his last chapter of redemption and hope”.

A Clockwork Orange has been adapted many times in many forms, including a 1990 Royal Shakespeare Company ‘play with music’ production that featured a score by Bono and the Edge. Its most famous incarnation remains Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 film version starring Malcolm McDowell as Alex.

For this new adaptation, newcomer Ashley Hunter will play the troubled teenage protagonist, alongside Darren Hart, Susan Lawson Reynolds, Richard Lloyd-King, Sonny Muslim as Georgie, Marcus Powell, Kirris Riviere, Raphael Sowole and Vanessa Sylvester.

Composer Fred Carl said: “‘The last chapter of A Clockwork Orange, which was omitted from the first American editions of the novel and does not appear in Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 film, was an important reason why we accepted the commission from Theatre Royal Stratford East.”

Carl co-led (with Robert Lee) the musical theatre-writing workshop which featured in Channel Four series Rappin’ at the Royal and is artistic associate of the theatre.

A Clockwork Orange is being directed by Dawn Reid (The Harder They Come), and will see the historic Stratford East stage transformed into a traverse configuration for the first time. Movement direction is by Sadler’s Wells associate Jonzi D.