The Jamie Lloyd Company announces Emilia Clarke to star in THE SEAGULL

The season, directed by Jamie Lloyd, opened this month with the critically acclaimed production of Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac, freely adapted by Martin Crimp and starring James McAvoy - running until 29 February 2020; and closes with Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, in a version by Frank McGuinness with Jessica Chastain which opens on 18 June, with previews from 10 June and runs until 5 September 2020.

As part of its continued commitment to audience development, The Jamie Lloyd Company, supported by British Airways, are offering 15,000 free tickets to first time theatre-goers and 15,000 £15 tickets for under 30s, key workers and those receiving job seeker’s allowance and other government benefits across the season.

Emilia Clarke said today, “I am over the moon to be playing Nina in Jamie Lloyd’s interpretation of The Seagull. I’ve long been a fan of the singular vision he brings to each of his masterful productions and the way he approaches classical texts. We are so lucky to be working with Anya’s brilliant adaptation, as she brings a light touch of modernity to this beautifully crafted play. I cannot wait to get stuck in with these two visionaries.”

Anya Reiss added, “It’s a cliché, but the classics really do age and change with you, so I’m thrilled to get another chance to work on The Seagull. I’m even more excited to work with Jamie and Emilia.”

‘We need the theatre, couldn’t, couldn’t do without it. Could we?’

A young woman is desperate for fame and a way out. A young man is pining after the woman of his dreams. A successful writer longs for a sense of achievement. An actress wants to fight the changing of the times. In an isolated home in the countryside where dreams are in tatters, hopes dashed, hearts broken and there is nowhere left to turn, the only option is to turn on each other.

Following on from their critically-acclaimed, five-star production of Cyrano de Bergerac, The Jamie Lloyd Company’s second show in the Playhouse Season sees Anya Reiss propel Chekhov’s tale of ambition, love, loneliness and fame into the 21st century.

Anya Reiss’ playwriting credits include Oliver Twist (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Uncle Vanya (St James’ Theatre), Spring Awakening (UK tour), Three Sisters (Southwark Playhouse), and The Acid Test and Spur of the Moment (Royal Court Theatre); and as screenwriter her credits include Ackley Bridge and EastEnders.

Emilia Clarke plays Nina. Her theatre credits include Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Cort Theatre, New York). Her television credits include as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones; and for film, Spike Island, Dom Hemingway, Terminator: Genisys, Me Before You, Solo: A Star Wars Story and Last Christmas.

Jamie Lloyd directs. His credits as Artistic Director of the company include Cyrano de Bergerac (Playhouse Theatre), Betrayal (Harold Pinter Theatre/Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Broadway), One For The Road, The New World Order, Mountain Language, The Lover, The Collection, Landscape, A Kind of Alaska, Monologue, Party Time, Celebration, A Slight Ache, The Dumb Waiter (Pinter at the Pinter, Harold Pinter Theatre), Doctor Faustus (Duke of York’s Theatre), The Maids, The Homecoming, The Ruling Class, Richard III, The Pride, The Hothouse, Macbeth (Trafalgar Studios). Other theatre credits include Evita (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre – Evening Standard Award for Best Musical).

With design by Soutra Gilmour. Further cast and creative team to be announced.