Sir Trevor Nunn, John Malkovich and acclaimed US director Michael Rudman lead new season at Kingston’s Rose Theatre

Two-time Oscar nominee John Malkovich will make his London directoral debut with the UK premiere of Stranger Than Fiction screenwriter Zach Helm’s Good Canary from September 16 to October 8.

Hard hitting and provocative, the award-winning show tells the story of a novelist on the verge of a huge publishing deal while his wife struggles with addiction and mental illness.

John Malkovich said: “I’m delighted to be working at the Rose and very pleased to be working again on the Good Canary, and to be finally working on the play in its native language.”

Sir Trevor Nunn, who directed The Wars of the Roses in Kingston last autumn, returns from May 13 to June 5 to mark 400 years since Shakespeare’s death with a production of his play King John.

Read more: 

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• 'The worst thing that can happen is that you look like a tool': Angellica Bell interviews The Wars of the Roses star Rufus Hound
• Rising star Robert Sheehan discusses working with Sir Trevor Nunn in The Wars of the Roses in Kingston

It is number 36 in the acclaimed Shakespearean director’s effort to direct all 37 of the Bard’s plays.

In October, the Rose will get its first ever taste of Arthur Miller as Tony Award winning US director Michael Rudman brings All My Sons to the stage from October 28 to November 19.

The new shows add to those already announced in the Rose’s spring season, including the London premiere of Maxine Peake’s play Beryl and Peter Whelan’s The Herbal Bed.

The Rose’s chief executive Robert O’Dowd said: “It’s a huge honour for the Rose to be continuing our journey in this way – producing brilliant plays with some of the most exciting artists from both the theatre and film worlds.

“We feel enormously privileged to have both John Malkovich making his London directorial debut with Zach Helm’s Good Canary and another great American director Michael Rudman presenting his take on Arthur Miller’s classic All My Sons. 

“And following last year’s extraordinary The Wars of the Roses, we are also delighted to be welcoming back Trevor Nunn to direct the epic King John.”

Tickets are on sale now. Go to rosetheatrekingston.org

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