TS Eliot US/UK Exchange Present Seven New Short Plays on The Old Vic Stage

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50 of America's top young theatre artists are coming to London as part of The Old Vic's 2011 TS Eliot US/UK Exchange programme and presenting seven new short plays on The Old Vic stage. From college graduation angst to the perils of living in a major metropolis, the plays offer a series of contrasting, tragic-comic perspectives on life in America.

The performances take place on Friday 3rd June at 3pm. Tickets are free and can be reserved by emailing exchangetickets@oldvictheatre.com.

The TS Eliot US/UK Exchange is a unique programme designed to nurture the best young British and American theatre practitioners. Supported by the T.S. Eliot Estate, and hosted in partnership with The Vineyard Theatre in Manhattan, the programme offers 21-30 year old artists the unrivalled opportunity to engage in a week of cultural activity and artistic development, culminating in a showcase of original work on The Old Vic's 193-year old stage.

At the beginning of May, 46 British artists travelled to New York to learn from senior Manhattan theatre practitioners and presented new work at the legendary Vineyard Theatre. When the Americans arrive in London for the return trip at the end of this month, they will enjoy meetings with representatives from many of London's top theatre's including the Royal Court, The National Theatre, the Donmar Warehouse and the Bush.

Kevin Spacey, Artistic Director at The Old Vic said: "The TS Eliot US/UK Exchange shows The Old Vic's dedication to encouraging transatlantic collaboration. Last year's programme was an extraordinary success and we have found another exciting team to forge lasting creative partnerships across the Atlantic. There is no doubt that relationships created on this project will bear fruit for many years to come."

Steve Winter, Director of Old Vic New Voices at The Old Vic said: "We were thrilled to see the impact that the project had on 2010's participants, widening their creative horizons and instilling a new-found sense of ambition and possibility. We know that the same transatlantic success is in store for 2011's company who are all exceptional artists in their field."

This year's American team are:

Writers:

Jonathan Caren (2011 Lila Acheson Wallace Playwriting Fellow at The Juilliard School; The Recommendation at The Old Globe, 2012)

Joshua Conkel (MilkMilkLemonade)

Dipika Guha (2011 playwriting graduate, Yale School of Drama)

Janine Nabers (Current P73 Playwriting Fellow, Annie Bosh is Missing at 2011 Sundance Theater Lab)

Lila Rose Kaplan (Wildflower at Second Stage Uptown)

christopher oscar peña (New York Theatre Workshop Emerging Artist Fellow)

Joe Tracz (FX's Lights Out, Ars Nova Play Group)

Directors:

Krystal Banzon (2010 LGBT Point Scholar, 2007-2008 Fulbright Scholar)

Mary Birnbaum (Artistic Director of art.party.theater.company, 2010-11 Juilliard Directing Fellow)