Jonathan Church announces inaugural summer season at Theatre Royal Bath

Jonathan Church has announced his first season as artistic director of Theatre Royal Bath.

Five plays make up his inaugural season, which kicks off with David Hare's Racing Demons, starring David Haig as Lionel Espy. The show runs from 21 June and looks at the role of the church in modern Britain.

The theatre will also host the UK premiere of Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest, directed by Simon Phillips from 21 July to 12 August. This is a new stage adaptation of Hitchcock's film by Carolyn Burns which premiered in Melbourne. Cast is yet to be announced.

In August, Henry Goodman will star in the world premiere of Alan Franks' play Looking at Lucian in the Ustinov Studio directed by Tom Attenborough. Goodman plays famous portrait painter Lucien Freud in the piece which runs from 3 August to 2 September.

Church will direct a revival of Alan Bennett's play The Lady in the Van from 16 August to 2 September. The play was recently made into a film starring Maggie Smith.

Also coming to Bath is Edward Fox in the touring production of Hugh Whitemore's play Sand in the Sandwiches which recently announced it would transfer to the West End in May. The show runs in Bath from 11 to 15 July.

Church said: "I'm extremely proud to be the new director of Bath’s summer seasons and hope to continue Peter Hall’s tradition of bringing great artists to Bath and to balance the familiar with the new. "