Actors will tread the boards at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond next month.

The theatre in 1 Clarence Street reopens on May 22 when its Recovery Season begins with five productions.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, April 30 at 10am, bringing audiences to the theatre for the first time in 14 months.

So what's on?

Orange Tree artistic director Paul Miller opens the season with Short Shaws – two short plays by Bernard Shaw: How He Lied to Her Husband and Overruled.

Bryony Lavery's Last Easter, which was midway through rehearsals when the theatre closed in March 2020, will finally receive its London premiere, directed by Tinuke Craig, from July 3.

The theatre is teaming up with JMK Award to present the winning production from an emerging director of a contemporary play from August 28.

Actors Touring Company artistic director Matthew Xia will return to direct the UK premiere of Rice by Asian-Australian writer Michele Lee, and Paul Miller's production of Terence Rattigan's While the Sun Shines returns from November 20.

Each of these productions will also be fimed by The Umbrella Rooms and live-streamed with OT On Screen.

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More than 3,500 tickets will be available for anyone at £15 across the season.

Richmond Theatre

Richmond Theatre is a part of the Ambassador Theatre Group which has suspended performances at its UK venues until Sunday, May 16.

Soon after, a number of shows are due to take place at the town centre theatre off Richmond Green. These include:

• The Illegal Eagles, June 13
• The Johnny Cash Roadshow, June 15
• Menopause the Musical 2, June 26
• Kevin Clifton - Burn The Floor, July 7
• Re-Take That: Take That Greatest Hits The Sing-a-long, July 10
• Richard and Adam, August 5
• Milton Jones in Milton: Impossible, September 12

In an update on March 16, Steve Joyce of Richmond Theatre said: "This time last year no one would have thought that theatres could be closed for so long due to Covid-19.

"When we closed my heart stopped. It is rare that shows cancel, especially at such short notice and at the time we thought this might be for a few weeks now we have reached the year mark.

"Richmond Theatre is the heart of the community and I feel proud to work in a venue which is loved by so many people, including myself.

"Moving forward, we can now see a light at the end of the tunnel as the vaccine is rolled out. This means it's only a matter of time until we can re-open our doors safely to welcome back our customers, who truly value Richmond Theatre and the brilliant shows we offer.

"I have greatly missed working over the past year, as there is nothing more special than seeing a standing ovation at the end of a performance, knowing that I had a part to play in making this happen."

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