NEWS: London's Bridge Theatre reveals Autumn season of socially-distanced plays.

Ralph Feinnes and Imelda Staunton included in the theatre's ambitious Autumn re-opening schedule.

The Bridge Theatre in London has revealed plans to reopen this autumn with a season of monologues and socially distanced audiences.

The theatre will reduce its capacity to 250 seats and, in the result of cancellations or delayed reopening, automatic refunds will be given.

Yolanda Mercy will perform her one-woman play Quarter Life Crisis, directed by Jade Lewis and formerly adapted for radio, for six performances across October. Poet and playwright Zodwa Nyoni's Nine Lives will be performed by Lladel Bryant and directed by Alex Chisholm, with seven shows being mounted at the end of October.

Across September and October, the central London venue will present live versions of its recently recorded series of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads, which is available to watch now on iPlayer. The list of performers and shows are listed below:

Monica Dolan in The Shrine directed by Nicholas Hytner
Tamsin Greig in Nights in the Gardens of Spain directed by Marianne Elliott
Lesley Manville in Bed Among the Lentils directed by Nicholas Hytner
Lucian Msamati in Playing Sandwiches directed by Jeremy Herrin
Maxine Peake in Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet directed by Sarah Frankcom
Rochenda Sandall in The Outside Dog directed by Nadia Fall
Kristin Scott Thomas in The Hand of God directed by Jonathan Kent
Imelda Staunton in A Lady of Letters directed by Jonathan Kent

Designs are by Bunny Christie, with lighting by Jon Clark, video designs by Luke Halls, sound by Gareth Fry and music by George Fenton.

The venue will also present Inua Ellams' and Fuel's production of An Evening with an Immigrant five times at the end of September, with music selection by DJ Sid Mercutio.

As previously reported, Ralph Fiennes will take on the role of David Hare in Hare's new monologue (all about contracting Covid) when the venue hopes to reopen at the end of August.

Nicholas Hytner will direct, with designs by Bunny Christie, lighting by Jon Clark, sound by Gareth Fry and music by George Fenton. The show will be mounted on a variety of days and dates from the end of August, with a full schedule available below
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The venue said today: "As you'll know, the Government is embarked on a phased return for the performing arts. We are hoping that we will get the green light to open with a reduced capacity of 250 seats and stringent safety measures, and we are inviting audiences from today to book seats with the assurance that, of course, if the season is delayed there will be automatic refunds for any performances that can't go ahead."

"We are all excited at the prospect of re-opening The Bridge after a hiatus of five and a half months but, needless to say, the safety of audiences and the well-being of all those who work at the Bridge remain our chief concern."

Please consult The Bridge Theatre's website for full schedule, prices and how to book.