Sheffield Crucible Announces 40th Anniversary Season

The Crucible theatre, Sheffield has announced a diverse range of shows and events to celebrate its 40^th anniversary.  At the heart of the programme is a new revival of Othello (15 September - 15 October), starring The Wire's Clarke Peters and Dominic West, directed by Sheffield Theatres' artistic director, Daniel Evans.

Evans also stars in The Pride (23 June - 16 July) and this year's Crucible musical, Stephen Sondheim's Company (29 November - 7 January).  Other shows in the new season include the European premiere of One Monkey Don't Stop No Show, in conjunction with Eclipse Theatre takes place 10-24 September, and a series of plays in collaboration with Paines Plough, dubbed the Roundabout Season.

The Roundabout Season sees the world premieres of three plays, utilising a purpose-build 150-seat portable in the round auditorium. The shows, Nick Payne's One Day When We Were Young (5-15 October), Duncan Macmillan's Lungs (19-29 October) and Penelope Skinner's Untitled (16-26 November) will star the same four actors, with Untitled commissioned specifically for the ensemble.

As part of the Crucible's celebrations, the company is launching the Sheffield People's Theatre, a new cross-generational company for those aged 12 and over, who will perform their first production, Lives in Art 3-12 November.  There are also several special events throughout November at the theatre, which will be publishing a book of its history to coincide with celebrations.

Artistic Director Daniel Evans said today, "I'm thrilled that the first part of our anniversary season will see two major revivals on the Crucible stage, while in the Studio we're concentrating on new partnerships with Eclipse Theatre and Paines Plough.  Shakespeare's Othello comes to the Crucible stage for the first time in September and I'm delighted to be working with Clarke Peters and Dominic West on the production. In November, we'll also be launching a brand new initiative, Sheffield People's Theatre, which will see a new play devised by the people of Sheffield for the people of Sheffield on our main stage.  In such a time of economic uncertainty, particularly in the arts sector, I'm looking forward to celebrating the history and future of this unique theatre."