A whodunnit with an incredible cast of celebrity guests headlines Park Theatre’s Spring 2022 season
Almost 40 celebrities will take to the Park200 stage completely unrehearsed to play the Inspector in a brand new farcical whodunnit as part of a vital fundraiser for Park Theatre in February and March 2022. The actors, presenters and comedians will have their lines fed to them via earpiece as they attempt to crack the case of a stolen diamond, avoid the furniture and stagger their way to justice. The first Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] in 2019 saw incredible spontaneous moments from a moustachioed Gillian Anderson, to Ronan Keating breaking into song, to Gyles Brandreth ad-libbing in Hungarian. Celebrities will once again place themselves at the mercy of the earpiece – many returning, as well as some new faces – to support Park Theatre’s fundraiser following a difficult 18 months for theatre. Confirmed names so far include Clive Anderson, Gillian Anderson, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Gyles Brandreth, Michelle Collins, Adam Hills, Harry Hill, Ross Kemp, Joanna Lumley, Lee Mack, Stephen Mangan, David Mitchell, Tanya Moodie, Clark Peters, Meera Syal and Johnny Vegas. Following the show, the audience will be given the chance to ask the celebrity questions about what they’ve just seen.
Originally due to run March to May 2020, Clybourne Park will make its long-awaited return (16 Mar – 23 Apr). Winner of both the Tony and Olivier Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for author Bruce Norris, the satire about prejudice and the politics of race and real estate spans decades, starting in 1959 when Russ and Bev move to the suburbs and have sold their house to the neighbourhoods first Black family. Years later, the roles are reversed when a white couple buy the house in the now predominately Black neighbourhood. This new production comes back to London following sell out runs at the Royal Court and West End.
Taking a further look back into history, Ghosts of the Titanic (9 Mar – 2 Apr) is a new play exploring conspiracy theories, cover ups and a search for the truth in the days after the fateful sinking. After the loss of her fiancé, Emma Heyer tries to uncover reasons for his death as the cries of 'fake news' and distraction tactics try to steer her away from the murky truths of those who might have benefited. Bringing the season up to the present day, Another America (6 – 30 April) sees three friends escape the internet and the real world in the wake of an election, the consequence of which still threatens to topple Democracy as we have come to know it. Also set in America, and a finalist for the Eugene O’Neill Award, Never Not Once (9 Feb – 5 Mar) is a new drama about Eleanor, a student with the best moms in the world but a desire to find out who her father is. When her boyfriend hires a private detective to find him, secrets get uncovered and past traumas re-emerge.
Artistic Director Jez Bond says: “We had such a great response to Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] in 2019 that we have brought it back with a whole new murder mystery and another astonishing slate of guest performers. As a theatre venue that receives no regular public subsidy fundraisers like this are vital to our survival, and the number of high-profile people who have offered to give their time and put themselves in the nerve wracking position of acting a role they have never seen before is absolutely humbling. I honestly cannot wait. We’re also delighted to welcome back Clybourne Park and Never Not Once after their pandemic cancellations, and completing the bill are two terrific pieces of new writing in Ghosts of the Titanic and Another America. We’re still riding high after reopening, thrilled to be welcoming audiences through our doors and looking forward to another great variety of shows for 2022.”
Park Theatre presents exceptional theatre in the heart of Finsbury Park, boasting two world-class performance spaces: Park200 for predominantly larger scale productions by established talent, and Park90, a flexible studio space, for emerging artists. In eight years, it has enjoyed eight West End transfers (including Daytona starring Maureen Lipman, The Boys in the Band starring Mark Gatiss, Pressure starring David Haig and The Life I Lead starring Miles Jupp), two National Theatre transfers, twenty-five national tours, five Olivier Award nominations, has won Offie Awards for Best New Play and Best Foodie Experience and won a Theatre of the Year award from The Stage. Park Theatre are grateful to all those who have donated to the Park Life fund, supporting the venue through the pandemic.
Listings information
Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4 3JP
9 February – 30 April 2022
www.parktheatre.co.uk | 020 7870 6876*
* Telephone booking fee: 10% capped at £2.50 per ticket
Park200
Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 2 | A special fundraising run presented by Park Theatre
Written by Jez Bond and Mark Cameron, directed by Jez Bond
Cast includes: The voices of Ian McKellen & Emma Thompson and a different celebrity guest appearing live each night
A luxury cruise far from civilisation, an impending storm and poison aplenty. When a diamond is stolen and the bodies start to pile up, the clock starts ticking for our illustrious Inspector. Can they finally bring the elusive Crimson Hand to justice? With murder, blackmail and inflatable parrots, this murder mystery spoof has one hell of a twist. And no one’s called Oliver.
Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 2 not only features the voices of Ian McKellen and Emma Thompson but also a different celebrity in each performance stepping in as the Inspector without any rehearsal and without ever having seen the script!
Gargantuan guests - including Gillian Anderson, Clive Anderson, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Gyles Brandreth, Michelle Collins, Adam Hills, Harry Hill, Ross Kemp, Joanna Lumley, Lee Mack, Stephen Mangan, David Mitchell, Tanya Moodie, Clarke Peters, Meera Syal and Johnny Vegas – will have their lines fed to them live onstage via an earpiece as they attempt to crack the case, avoid the furniture and stagger their way to justice. We won't be announcing which date each of our celebrity friends is playing the Inspector - the mystery is who will walk through the door at your performance!
After the show hear from our celebrity in a 'behind the scenes' conversation, when it's your turn to do the interrogation.
All guests are kindly donating their time to support this special fundraising run, so every penny raised will go towards keeping Park Theatre inclusive and accessible for all. Line up subject to last minute change, strictly limited run.
Mon – Sat 7.30pm, matinees Wed, Thu & Sat 3pm | £85 - £44 (Limited £10 tickets released on the day) | Running time TBC | 12+
Park 90
Never Not Once | A UK Premiere presented by Blue Touch Paper Productions in association with Park Theatre
By Carey Crim, directed by Katharine Farmer
A searing new drama about the families we choose and the secrets that can pull them apart.
All-American student Eleanor has the best moms in the world. She’s bright, funny and completely happy apart from one small thing: she wants to know who her father is. When her boyfriend Rob hires a private investigator to help find him, the family are forced to confront an unexpected and explosive answer to the question “Where do I come from?”
Winner of the Jane Chambers Award for Feminist Writing and finalist for the Eugene O’Neill Award in America, this poignant and important story is all about facing the traumas of the past and finding unexpected grace.
Mon – Sat 7.45pm, 3.15pm matinees Thurs & Sat | £20 - £12 (£9 access concs) preview 9 - 10 Feb, £10 Park Up (16 – 26 yrs) throughout the run | Running time 90 mins | Age recommendation 15+
Parent & Baby £12 Thurs 24 Feb 1pm | Captioned Weds 2 Mar 7.45pm
Park90
Ghosts of the Titanic | A World Premiere presented by Brill Productions in association with Park Theatre
Written by Ron Hutchinson, directed by Eoin O’Callaghan
On 10th April 1912, Titanic, the world’s fastest and most luxurious ship, set sail. On board, Emma Heyer’s fiancé Henry has landed his dream job with the ship’s orchestra. But by 14th April the ‘unsinkable’ Titanic is at the bottom of the ocean and 1500 are dead. Tormented by conflicting theories as to why the ship sank and who might have benefited as a result, Emma decides to find out what really happened. A decision which leads her to the edge of her sanity.
In the 36 hours after the Titanic sank, the cries of 'fake news' and distraction tactics were already in play. Did the Titanic really hit an iceberg? Was the ‘unsinkable’ Titanic in fact an over-engineered liability rushed into service to satisfy a powerful and impatient owner? Was news of its loss delayed to allow its insurers time to hedge their losses, thereby removing any chance of a rescue?
Ron Hutchinson’s new play delves into the heart of this compelling story.
A World Premiere from the author of the multi award-winning stage plays, Rat in the Skull and Moonlight and Magnolias.
Mon – Sat 7.45pm, matinees Thurs and Sat 3.15pm | £18 (£16.50 concs), preview 9 Mar £14.50 | Running time 2hr 10 (inc interval) | 14+
Captioned Thurs 17th March 7.45pm
Park200
Clybourne Park | Presented by Trish Wadley Productions and David Adkin in association with Park Theatre
Written by Bruce Norris, directed by Oliver Kaderbhai
Following sell out runs at the Royal Court and in the West End, Clybourne Park returns to London in a new production of the award-winning play. Winner of both the Tony and Olivier Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for author Bruce Norris, Clybourne Park is a razor-sharp satire about prejudice and the politics of race and real estate.
In 1959, Russ and Bev are moving to the suburbs after the tragic death of their son and have sold their house to the neighbourhood’s first black family.
Decades later, the roles are reversed when a young white couple buys the lot in what is now a predominantly black neighbourhood, signaling a new wave of gentrification. In both instances, a community showdown takes place – are the same issues festering beneath the floorboards fifty years on?
Directed by Oliver Kaderbhai, this outrageous comedy has never been more relevant more than a decade after it first played in London.
Mon – Sat 7.30pm, matinees Thurs and Sat 3pm | £32.50 - £16.50 (conc.), previews 16 – 18 Mar £18.50 | 2hrs 20 mins (inc interval) | 14+
Audio description Sat 16 Apr 3pm, touch tour 2pm
Park90
Another America | A World Premiere presented by Oli Sones and Emma Halstead in association with Park Theatre
Written by Bill Rosenfield, directed by Joseph Winters
Another America? Isn’t one enough? In the wake of an election the consequence of which still threatens to topple Democracy as we have come to know it, three friends escape the internet and the real world to ride from Venice California across a country divided by ideologies & economics embarking on a pilgrimage to the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield Massachusetts. By the end of their journey they’ve discovered not just a different version of themselves but of their country as well.
“Ride til you find what you’re looking for.”
Slyly subversive, Another America is a buoyant journey of discovery of one country's fragile common humanity.
Bill Rosenfield’s (“A heartfelt memory play” 46 Beacon - The Stage) exuberant theatrical road trip, directed by Joseph Winters (former Resident Director of the Almeida Theatre and Artistic Director of Shipwright), features 3 actors playing 36 characters of different genders, races and passions. Using a minimum of props and a maximum of chutzpah to celebrate man’s endless quest to answer the big questions, to explore our common humanity, and in the end to ignite the audience’s imagination.
Mon – Sat 7.45pm, matinees Thurs and Sat 3.15pm | £20 - £12 (£9 access concs) | Running time 2hr 15 (inc interval) | 14+
Captioned Thurs 14 April, 7.45pm
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