Orange Tree Theatre announces new season including Roger Allam and Anna Chancellor

Orange Tree Theatre has unveiled its full 2025 season, featuring six new plays, including four world premieres, two rediscoveries, and a classic comedy.

The season includes productions by established writers and emerging voices, alongside the launch of a new initiative to engage younger audiences: OT Under 30 Nights.

The season opens with the world premiere of Howard Brenton’s Churchill in Moscow, directed by artistic director Tom Littler and starring Roger Allam. Running from 3 February to 8 March, the play imagines a meeting between Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin in the Kremlin during World War II. This marks Brenton and Littler’s sixth collaboration.

Following this, April De Angelis’ Playhouse Creatures will be revived from 15 March to 12 April, directed by Michael Oakley, with Anna Chancellor leading the cast. This production will later transfer to Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and Theatre Royal Bath.

In April, the venue will present the London premiere of Ben and Imo by Mark Ravenhill, originally produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company and playing from 19 April to 17 May. Directed by Erica Whyman, the play stars Samuel Barnett and Victoria Yeates.

The first half of the year concludes with a revival of Terence Rattigan’s In Praise of Love, directed by Amelia Sears (24 May to 5 July).

The second half of the season begins with Poor Clare by Chiara Atik, directed by Blanche McIntyre. Two more world premieres follow: Richard Eyre’s adaptation of Dance of Death by August Strindberg, and Hedda, a new play by Tanika Gupta, inspired by Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler.

The season closes with Tom Littler directing a 250th-anniversary production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The Rivals and Alice in Wonderland, a new play by Chinonyerem Odimba inspired by Lewis Carroll’s novel. Dates for the second half of the season, as well as further casting and creatives, are to be revealed.

The theatre’s community outreach will continue with its Shakespeare programmes for primary and secondary schools, including Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet, and Macbeth, in partnership with Guildford Shakespeare Company. The OT Young Company will also participate in the National Theatre’s Connections festival.

The new OT Under 30 Nights initiative aims to engage younger audiences by offering discounted tickets, a free drink, and post-show talks. The first event will be for the JMK Award-winning production of Guards at the Taj on 8 November, featuring a post-show panel with cast members and creatives.

Priority booking for the season opens on 16 October for Churchill in Moscow, Playhouse Creatures, Ben and Imo, and In Praise of Love, with general on-sale from 28 October. Further booking details for the rest of the season will be announced later.