The Nuffield Theatre announced today a new exciting team of Associate actors, as part of its celebration of its 50th Anniversary. Samantha Bond, Laura Carmichael, Tom Hiddleston and Celia Imrie are joining the Nuffield team as associate actors.
Originally finding fame on the Nuffield main stage in the world premiere of
Daisy Pulls It Off, Samantha Bond said “I spent the most glorious nine months at the Nuffield Theatre in 1982-83. I am thrilled to now be an Associate Actor and look forward to supporting Sam Hodges and the Company at the beginning of their next ‘awfully big adventure!’ Happy 50th birthday!”
Tom Hiddleston said “Sam Hodges has made an extraordinary habit of revolutionising theatre-making in my generation. He founded the HighTide Festival, a crucial platform for new writers to produce and present their first plays, and revitalised the Criterion Theatre in the West End with exciting new programming. His first season at Nuffield has been unerringly strong. The work speaks for itself. Nuffield feels revitalised with fresh, new creative ambition. It’s going from strength to strength and I am proud to support it every step of the way.”
Celia Imrie said “I am very flattered to be invited to be an Associate Actress of Nuffield, I am looking forward to being a part of an adventurous new chapter where we can do work that has never been seen before, and give the audiences delicious surprises along the way.”
In addition to this news, The Nuffield also announced the listings for the upcoming season in the theatre, which includes four newly commissioned plays. One of the biggest hits of last season A Number, directed by Nuffield Associate Michael Longhurst and designed by Nuffield Associate Tom Scutt, continues its success as it will return to the theatre for a limited two week run in April, before it transfers to the Young Vic Theatre in London. The new commissions include a co-production with Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, the world premiere adaptation of Coen Brothers’ film The Hudsucker Proxy. The Nuffield Youth Theatre will perform production of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials, while the season will begin with The Saints, a play which revolves around the footballing history of Southampton. The Snow Queen and The Best Christmas Present in the World round out the Nuffield Productions for the 2014-2015 season.
Creative and Executive Director Sam Hodges said “For our 50th birthday season, we wanted to programme work which reflects our ambitions for the next half century. It’s a season which places a strong emphasis on commission and new work, a season which develops new partnerships with some of the country’s leading theatres, which marks what I hope will be the start of a regular presence for our work in London, and a season of work which speaks to the city – whether directly, through a play about its football club (The Saints), or psychologically, through a play which speaks to its industrial past and legacy, a play about man versus big business (The Hudsucker Proxy). It crucially continues our commitment to make work beyond our main house with not only the return of our bespoke small-scale studio but the installation of a new open-air, mini stadium in the city centre, to host our summer festival of work. In both cases, our ambition to create sustainable, long-term new dimensions for Nuffield work which can and will return.”
Other shows visiting the Nuffield this season includes Othello, 1984, Three Men in a Boat, and The Events.
