The Harold Pinter Theatre has been closed for over a year now, having prematurely lowered the curtain on Conor McPherson’s fresh take on Uncle Vanya in compliance with the first sudden lockdown. Hurrah, because the West End venue is due to reopen this May with an surprise three-part season, Reemerge, featuring performances from well-known screen stars as well as up-and-coming talent, and sharing directorship across the board in a similar vein.
First in the series is Walden, a debut play by Amy Berryman, bolstered by the direction of Ian Rickson (Jerusalem, Uncle Vanya) and a leading performance by actor Gemma Arterton (Tamara Drewe, Quantum of Solace). The three-hander also stars Lydia Wilson, who shone in the Almeida’s recent production of The Duchess of Malfi, and Fehinti Balogun, known for his roles in Juliet, Naked and The Importance of Being Earnest.
The futuristic-sounding story follows Nasa botanist Cassie (Wilson), who returns from a year-long escapade on the Moon to find herself in a remote woodland cabin, where her estranged twin sister and former Nasa architect Stella (Arterton) has built a new life with climate activist Bryan (Balogun). Will the sisters manage to patch up the old rivalry that drove them apart?
Following Walden is another debut, Yasmin Joseph’s Notting Hill Carnival-set J’Ouvert (Wednesday 16 June - Saturday 3 July). After which, Emma Corrin makes her West End debut on the Harold Pinter Theatre stage in Anna X (Friday 9 July - Wednesday 4 August), Joseph Charlton’s new play about two fresh-faced fashion workers struggling to keep up with New York’s social elite.
| What | Walden, Harold Pinter Theatre |
| Where | Harold Pinter Theatre, Panton Street, London, SW1Y 4DN | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Covent Garden (underground) |
| When |
22 May 21 – 12 Jun 21, Performance times TBD |
| Price | £5+ |
| Website | Click here for more information and to book |
