Billie Piper will be making her way back to the West End later this year in Simon Stone’s adaptation of Federico Garcia Lorca’s Yerma. It’s only been two years since her last stint on the London theatre scene in Richard Bean’s Great Britain, which earned her a lot of critical praise, so she should be all set to impress once again in her latest stage production.
The fact that she’s also a much-over former Doctor Who sidekick – Rose Tyler, who time hopped with both Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant – will only add to the ticket sales for the Young Vic show. However, with a West End credits list that has seen her pick up the award for Best Actress at the What’s On Stage Theatre Awards, along with nominations in the Lawrence Olivier Award and London Evening Standard Theatre Awards, she’s got more than enough stage presence to hold her own without it.
Tickets, dates and show times
The modern-day take on Yerma opens at the Young Vic on Thursday the 28th July 2016 with a two month run until the 24th September 2016. Performances will be Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm, with a few exceptions when the production will take a break on the 29th August, 12th September and the 19th September. There will also be Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm (except 30th July, 3rd, 10th & 27th August, and the 8th & 21st September).
Tickets are on sale now from the Young Vic box office (020 7922 2922) and range from £10 to £35 for the main show, and £10-£20 for the previews between 29th July and the 3rd August.
Story
Yerma is the story of a young woman who is unable to have children, but becomes desperate to overcome the odds, which are stacked firmly against her. Simon Stone brings the story right up to date from its previous rural Spain origins to locate it in London of today, which asks the question, have the times really changed all that much.
Cast
At the moment, Billie Piper is the only cast member announced, but with thirteen characters in Lorca’s play there will be more names to add to the cast list from the Young Vic shortly.
Production
In addition to Stone writing and directing the new take on the tragedy, the production also includes design from Lizzie Clachan, costumes by Alice Babidge, light direction from James Farncombe and music & sound by Stefan Gregory. Julia Horan will be completing the casting for the show.
First impressions
Yerma will be one of the year’s most powerful productions and it provides a great opportunity to see Billie Piper acting live on stage, having built a reputation for impressing on the West End. Yes, Whovians will need to refocus their mindset every now and again to stop imagining that it’s Rose up there on stage at the Young Vic this summer, and that the TARDIS will be touching down any minute to stop her from doing anything too extreme, but for everyone else it should be a gripping drama.
