Pulitzer Prize-winner Annie Baker’s masterpiece Circle Mirror Transformation is coming to HOME in Manchester at the beginning of March.
In its first major revival since the acclaimed Royal Court production (2013),Circle Mirror Transformation’s five-strong cast will feature some of the UK’s most distinguished names from stage and television, comprising actress and writer Amelia Bullmore of Scott & Bailey, Twenty Twelve, The Crucible fame as Marty, Sian Clifford as Theresa; Con O’Neill as Schultz; Yasmin Paige as Lauren; and Anthony Ofoegbu as James.
In a small town in Vermont, New England, five unlikely strangers come together in their community centre for a creative drama class for adults. The free-spirited Marty, recently divorced Schultz, former actress Teresa, the self-conscious high school student Lauren, and Marty’s quiet husband James.
Over six weeks of drama exercises and games ranging from the hilarious to the heart-breaking, their lives become entangled and transformed in the most humorous and
moving ways.
Annie Baker, the winner of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for drama, is considered one of the most talented and sought-after playwrights to have emerged in recent years.
Circle Mirror Transformation, her second play, won the 2010 Obie Award for Best New Play, and was voted one of the top 10 plays by the New York Times, Time Out, and the New Yorker.
Bijan Sheibani was Artistic Director of Actors’ Touring Company between 2007-10,
and an Associate Director of the National Theatre between 2010-15. He has most
recently directed a critically acclaimed production of Inua Ellams’ new play
Barber Shop Chronicles at the National Theatre.
Walter Meierjohann, Artistic Director: Theatre, HOME, says: “I cannot emphasise enough how thrilled we are to host a production by Annie Baker – I see her as the most exciting contemporary American playwright. Her very musical ear for dialogue, her emphasis on ordinary people, and her beautiful heightened naturalistic plays, make her a Chekhov of the 21st century.
“In a season where we programmed People Places & Things (which had a strong link to Chekhov’s The Seagull) and Uncle Vanya, it is befitting that we now look at Circle Mirror Transformation, a Chekhov for our times. I’m also very excited to welcome Bijan Sheibani to HOME. He is a very talented director who has worked extensively at the National, and at the Young Vic, where we met during my time there as Associate Director. I cannot wait to see him bring Circle Mirror Transformation to life on our stage with an extraordinary cast.”
Fri 2 Mar 2018 – Sat 17 Mar 2018
