Catch-22, Richmond Theatre

Joseph Heller’s famous satirical novel, with its now ubiquitous title, is getting a stage outing this summer at Richmond Theatre. Concluding a national tour, this short run offers audiences their only opportunity to see this hotly anticipated production in the capital.

Catch-22 is set during the Second World War and follows the absurd experiences of Captain John Yossarian, a US Army Air Forces bombardier. Fighting in a terrifying conflict that is impossible to get out of, Yossarian is troubled by the elusive, self-contradictory “catch” of the title – namely, that crazy pilots can be grounded, but asking to be grounded displays concern for one’s safety and is therefore a demonstration of sanity. The novel is known for its circular, non-chronological narrative style, so we’re intrigued to see how this will be translated for the stage.

This dramatisation, written by Heller himself, is directed by the acclaimed American director Rachel Chavkin. Chavkin is best known over here through her theatre company The TEAM, whose thrilling, epic productions have wowed audiences several times over at the Edinburgh Fringe. They were last seen in London at the National Theatre with their award-winning show Mission Drift, a fast-paced journey through 400 years of American capitalism, which was one of Culture Whisper’s theatre highlights of 2013.

This new production comes to Richmond from Newcastle’s Northern Stage, whose new artistic director Lorne Campbell has stated his commitment to bringing the best international theatre-makers over to the UK. If her work with The TEAM is anything to go by, Chavkin is one theatre-maker we hope to see more of in this country, and we can’t wait to see how she makes her mark with this new directorial venture.