Southwark Playhouse announces inaugural productions at new venue

Southwark Playhouse has announced the first two productions in its new Elephant & Castle home.

The first production in the 240-seat main space The Large will be Tanzi Libre, directed by former artistic director Ellie Jones, which will run from 21 May – 22 June 2013 (previews from 15 May).

The play will be the first major London revival in over 30 years of Claire Luckham‘s Trafford Tanzi. The title of the play changes depending on the setting, with Tanzi Libre referring to the incorporation of the Mexican Lucha libre style of wrestling to the production.

In a South London wrestling ring, Tanzi and her love interest, Dean Rebel, have more than just their titles to fight for when they’re pitted against each other for the ‘fight of the decade’. Following Tanzi’s life from the moment she was born until she falls in love, discovers the realities of the wrestling world and invents her signature move, the deadly Venus Flytrap, Tanzi Libre is a touching and thrilling story that takes place within a full-size professional wrestling ring complete with live DJ and an all-singing, all-wrestling cast.

Casting and further creative details are to be announced.

The 120-seat studio The Little will open with the London premiere of the Fringe First Award-winning Juana in a Million, which will run from 27 May – 15 June 2013 (previews from 22 May).

Juana in a Million is a one-woman show exploring true stories of immigrants to the UK. Mexican writer-performer Vicky Araico Casas brings to life a cast of characters, lending immediacy to her own immigrant experience and that of many others.

To celebrate the opening of the theatre’s new home, at 77-85 Newington Causeway, the venue will be offering 1000 free tickets across the run of Tanzi Libre for Southwark residents. With a maximum of two tickets per household, tickets will be bookable by phone.

Southwark Playhouse was forced to leave its London Bridge premises in January to make way for the redevelopment of London Bridge station. The new venue, a temporary home, will have its own cafe, rehearsal rooms and a dedicated space for education work.