Regent’s Park Plans for Christmas & Commissions???

Timothy Sheader’s debut season as artistic director of the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park gets under way this week (See News, 11 Jan 2008), but he’s already planning well beyond the 2008 summer repertoire. In an interview with Roger Foss in the June issue of our sister print title What’s On Stage magazine, Sheader reveals that, as part of the summer 2009 season, he has commissioned the first play specifically for the Open Air. “It’s an adaptation of a well-known movie, although I can’t reveal any more just yet. I’m looking for plays that are big and robust and will fill our epic-scale stage.”

What’s more, Sheader is even considering presenting Christmas shows in Regent’s Park for the first time! A brave move indeed for an open-air venue. As if summer showers weren’t enough to contend with, what about the winter weather? “Well, you have to be ambitious, otherwise what’s the point?” asks Sheader. Give that man a gold star!