“THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE IN NEW YORK CITY WHERE YOU CAN SEE INNOVATIVE AND EXCITING BRITISH THEATER!”
— ISABELLE, FACEBOOK —
“I LOVE BRITS! I WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO SEE THESE SHOWS IF 59 DIDN’T BRING THEM OVER.”
— ARNOLD, MEMBER SINCE 2022 —
“IT RANGES FROM FUN, UNIQUE, AND ICONIC TO HEART WRENCHING, BEAUTIFUL STORIES. I CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF BRITS!”
— SURVEY RESPONSE DURING BRITS 2023 —
“SOME OF THE BEST SHOWS I’VE EVER SEEN. I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO BRITS!”
— BARBARA, MEMBER SINCE 2014 —
In 2004, our founding artistic director, Elysabeth Kleinhans, blazed a trail by embarking on a mission to create our inaugural Brits Off Broadway Festival. She traveled to Scotland each year searching for the finest talent the UK had to offer.
Fast forward to 2017, my first year as artistic director, as we stood side-by-side in the heart of Edinburgh. Elysabeth energetically rambled through the maze of cobblestoned streets, unveiling her tips, secret passageways, past exploits, and her finest discoveries. It was a true passing of the baton, and the grand tradition marches on.
Every August, I embark on a theatrical pilgrimage to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to unearth hidden gems to share with you. Upon arrival, I hit the ground running, devouring daily reviews from The Guardian, The Scotsman, and The Stage. Time is tight, and the pressure is on! My already packed schedule morphs into a Rubik’s Cube as I add more shows, frantically snagging tickets for sold-out performances before my flight home.
During this ten-day, 30-show whirlwind, a powerful theme resonated this year: the immense impact that an extraordinary individual can have. Their stories portrayed unwavering determination and courage, each person sparking a wave of positive change.
This season’s characters are all about making big differences; join us to experience their glorious stories unfolding on our stages!
VAL DAY
Artistic Director
ABOUT THE COMPANIES
OUT OF THE FOREST THEATRE
Out Of The Forest Theatre is a multi-award-winning ensemble-based company. They take misremembered or forgotten stories from history, set them to folk music, and use them as a lens to better understand today. Irreverently presented, knee slapping, historical theatre with a modern revisionist twist. www.outoftheforesttheatre.com
SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND
Something for the Weekend are producers, promoters, general managers and tour bookers based in the heart of London’s West End who present theatre, new writing, circus, dance, improvisation, musicals and comedy in the West End, on tour around the UK, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and also overseas. www.sftw.info
THEATER A MAY 2 – JUNE 2
OUT OF THE FOREST THEATRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND PRESENTS
BY SASHA WILSON AND JOSEPH CULLEN
DIRECTED BY HANNAH HAUER-KING WITH LAWRENCE BOOTHMAN, JOSEPH CULLEN, CLARE FRAENKEL, DAVID LEOPOLD, AND SASHA WILSON
The year is 1943 and Bulgaria has just told Hitler where to stick it.
Europe’s major powers are at war and King Boris III must choose a side or be swept away. A raucous and poignant tale in which a bunch of underdogs use every trick in the book to outwit the Nazis and save nearly 50,000 Jewish lives.
Award-winning Out Of The Forest Theatre’s irreverent comedy - featuring live music inspired by Bulgarian and Jewish folk tunes - tells the incredible true story that the world forgot.
FIRST LOOK $27 (incl. $2 fee)
THU, MAY 2 AT 7:00 FRI, MAY 3 AT 7:00
PREVIEWS $38 (incl. $3 fee)
SAT, MAY 4 — THU, MAY 9
REGULAR $66—$86 (incl. $6 fee)
59E59 MEMBERS $50
“FOR ALL ITS FUN AND GAMES, IT IS A PLAY WITH REAL STING.”
— THE GUARDIAN —
THEATER B APRIL 24 – MAY 19
SOHO THEATRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH BARROW STREET THEATRICALS AND JEAN DOUMANIAN PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS
WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY BEN TARGET DIRECTED BY ADAM BRACE AND LEE GRIFFITHS
Facing the absurdities of life is no easy task for two intergenerational roommates with problems of their own. LORENZO is the true story of how multi-awardwinning stand-up comedian Ben Target gave up his career to move in with his favorite elderly uncle and become his live-in caretaker.
Frustrations quickly arise between Ben and this mischievous octogenarian. This life-affirming story tackles death, caregiving, and grief in a brave and lighthearted way. Target’s witty and energetic style keeps the show flowing through the popular mediums of storytelling and live carpentry, a combination not seen on the world stage since Nazareth (circa 30 AD).
FIRST LOOK $27 (incl. $2 fee)
WED, APRIL 24 AT 7:15 THU, APRIL 25 AT 7:15
REGULAR $44 (incl. $4 fee)
59E59 MEMBERS $30
SOHO THEATRE
Soho Theatre is a charity and social enterprise, driven by a passion for the work they produce, the artists they work with and the audiences they attract. They have a thriving variety of artists and talent development programmes, artists under commission and in development, and two new writing awards including the national Verity Bargate Award for new playwrights. www.sohotheatre.com
“BEN TARGET GIVES A MASTERCLASS IN STORYTELLING THEATRE HERE, WITH THE AUDIENCE COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY GRIPPED THROUGHOUT.”
— BROADWAYWORLD —
“AN ENERGETIC AND PASSIONATE PERFORMANCE... PULLING NO PUNCHES IN ITS PORTRAYAL OF RACIST RAGE AND PROSELYTIZING.”
— THE GUARDIAN —
A&R FILM MEDIA PRESENTS
WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY
RODREGUEZ KING-DORSET
A black Caribbean diplomat. A white far-right party leader. A white government official. Based on the 2018 real-world controversy that shook Britain, they each explain the “Windrush Scandal” from wildly opposing perspectives.
Half a million people migrated to Britain from the Caribbean between 1948 and 1973. In 2018 new immigration laws were passed and thousands of this so-called Windrush generation were deprived of their liberty, wrongfully deported, dismissed from their jobs, lost their homes, and denied services such as healthcare after decades of being citizens of the UK.
In a powerful, stripped-down performance, Rodreguez King-Dorset plays all three characters, switching nimbly between each one. Windrush Secret doesn’t shy away from the legacy of empire, imperialism, or the outcry of broken promises a nation makes to its people. The result is a provocative unmasking of a horrific calamity in history that forced a nation to look in the mirror and reconsider its path.
A&R FILM MEDIA
A&R Film Media works in collaboration with voluntary sector organisations. They pride themselves as having the reputation for being highly innovative and trusted storytellers with integrity. Their mission is to make compelling and engaging co-production content for theatre and TV distribution. THEATER C MAY 1 – 18
REGULAR $32 (incl. $2 fee)
59E59 MEMBERS $25
THEATER B
22 – JUNE 9
TWILIGHT THEATRE COMPANY AND SMOKESCREEN PRODUCTIONS PRESENT
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY BERT COULES
WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY TIM
MARRIOTT
Watson. An old soldier with a few bruises and a cracking story to tell.
1894. Watson is alone. His beloved wife Mary and the great Sherlock Holmes are both gone. But London seethes with false reports and rumors. It is time to set the record straight.
So Watson tells his tale... a tale of long buried secrets, betrayal, and death. For there is a shadow in the gutters of London. A spider’s web of poisonous intrigue lies across the city. Someone is playing a long game and Holmes and Watson face their greatest ever challenge. But as Watson unravels the story, is the game really over?
ABOUT THE COMPANIES
TWILIGHT THEATRE COMPANY
FIRST LOOK $27 (incl. $2 fee)
WED, MAY 22 AT 7:15 THU, MAY 23 AT 7:15
REGULAR $44 (incl. $4 fee)
59E59 MEMBERS $30
Twilight Theatre Company’s mission is to develop, workshop, and produce new work by theatre artists and to tell stories that deepen our awareness, encourage compassion and ignite conversation. www.twilighttheatrecompany.org
SMOKESCREEN PRODUCTIONS
Smokescreen seeks to create powerfully engaging drama, provoking conversations and encouraging audiences to consider issues from a different perspective, to change attitudes and create a lasting effect. We undertake meticulous research, working alongside charities and including residencies and site visits. We seek to raise awareness and illuminate issues, which some may find challenging or difficult, framed in a theatrical setting that aims to be richly entertaining. www.smokescreenprods.com
“A FRESH, DEEPER LOOK AT WATSON IN AN ABSORBING EXAMPLE OF GREAT THEATRE. DON’T MISS IT.”
— BROADWAYWORLD —
“A REAL SENSE OF HISTORY AND CULTURE”
— THE EDINBURGH REPORTER —
BLUE FIRE THEATRE CO. PRESENTS
BY J.J. LEPPINK
DIRECTED BY LAURA KILLEEN PERFORMED BY LOTTIE WALKER
For centuries women have stoked the fires of rebellion and change in the East End of London.
REGULAR $32 (incl. $2 fee)
59E59 MEMBERS $25 THEATER C
Sara Wesker was an ardent trade unionist organizer and activist who galvanized a traditionally compliant workforce. She marched in 1936, sang on the picket lines, and took part in the Battle of Cable Street against Oswald Mosley’s Fascist Blackshirts. This is her story.
Featuring protest songs sung by the “Singing Strikers of 1928,” Chopped Liver & Unions delves into Sara’s personal story, how she worked hard, played hard, and remained committed to the fight for equality her entire life. A tale from a century ago but very much a play for today.
BLUE FIRE THEATRE CO.
Specialising in small scale plays about heritage and entertainment. Their belief is that we learn from the past best through the eyes of an individual’s lived experience and our plan is to tell the untold stories that everyone needs to hear. www.bluefiretheatre.co.uk
THEATER B JUNE 12 – 30
TWILIGHT THEATRE COMPANY AND SMOKESCREEN PRODUCTIONS PRESENT
BY TIM MARRIOTT DIRECTED BY MARGARETT PERRY
WITH TIM MARRIOTT AND ALEX SUNDERHAUS
An annual performance review that goes horribly wrong.
Department head Nicky wants to get on with her job; her boss has other ideas.
This dark comedy is a power play of manipulation, subtext, and subterfuge, exploring the explosive consequences that can arise out of a seemingly innocent conversation.
FIRST LOOK $27 (incl. $2 fee)
WED, JUNE 12 AT 7:15 THU, JUNE 13 AT 7:15
REGULAR $44 (incl. $4 fee)
59E59 MEMBERS $30
ABOUT THE COMPANIES
TWILIGHT THEATRE COMPANY
Twilight Theatre Company’s mission is to develop, workshop, and produce new work by theatre artists and to tell stories that deepen our awareness, encourage compassion and ignite conversation. www.twilighttheatrecompany.org
SMOKESCREEN PRODUCTIONS
Smokescreen seeks to create powerfully engaging drama, provoking conversations and encouraging audiences to consider issues from a different perspective, to change attitudes and create a lasting effect. We undertake meticulous research, working alongside charities and including residencies and site visits. We seek to raise awareness and illuminate issues, which some may find challenging or difficult, framed in a theatrical setting that aims to be richly entertaining. www.smokescreenprods.com
“A CLASSICALLY STRUCTURED TWO-HANDER THAT CAPTURES THE UNJUSTIFIABLE, OFTEN UNACCOUNTABLE, BEHAVIOR ENABLED BY OFFICE HIERARCHIES THAT WOULDN’T BE TOLERATED ANYWHERE ELSE”
— THE SCOTSMAN —
“WOOF KNOWS EXACTLY HOW TO HOLD YOUR ATTENTION, AND ACHIEVE A COMEDY OF SUPPRESSED DISTRESS.”
— THE TELEGRAPH —
THEATER C JUNE 12 – 30
SOHO THEATRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH SHARED EXPERIENCE PRESENTS
WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY
DIRECTED BY HAMISH McCOLL
Dottie & Dottie are an English couple who have been together so long that they share the same pet name. But when Dottie’s neuroscientist husband falls ill, she must deliver a lecture on his behalf.
The journey takes her to a conference in Pontresina, Switzerland, where Nietzsche once holed up. The great thinker looms in the background as Dottie struggles to translate her husband’s rational analysis of the human mind in a way that she and the world can understand. This philosophical adventure asks what is the self, what is thinking, what is the body? And in a godless universe, how do we connect with this thing called the soul?
Actor and author Emily Woof (The Full Monty) gives an expressive performance full of humor and joy, and makes use of mixed media storytelling techniques, simple props, and dance to unspool a surreal investigation of what it means to be a fully-integrated human.
SOHO THEATRE
REGULAR $32 (incl. $2 fee) †
59E59 MEMBERS $25
Soho Theatre is a charity and social enterprise, driven by a passion for the work they produce, the artists they work with and the audiences they attract. They have a thriving variety of artists and talent development programmes, artists under commission and in development, and two new writing awards including the national Verity Bargate Award for new playwrights. www.sohotheatre.com
SHARED EXPERIENCE
Shared Experience produces work characterised by thrillingly distinctive performance styles which celebrate the union of physical and text-based theatre. Since 1975, we have continually worked to excite and inspire people with the unique delights of live performance and unpredictability of the stage. www.sharedexperience.org.uk
2 discounted tickets for every show
2 complimentary tickets to the next Primary Stages show
59E59 Theaters Member events
59E59 Theaters Member gifts
Exclusive member-only presales and booking
2 complimentary drinks at our E:Bar
Discounted tickets to every Primary Stages production
Priority access to Primary Stages Developmental Programming
Discount to Primary Stages ESPA classes
Primary Stages Member gifts
ALL MEMBERS RECEIVE THESE GREAT BENEFITS:
• SAVE on single tickets
• ACCESS THE BEST SEATS with exclusive member-only ticket presales
• Enjoy FLEXIBLE & FREE TICKET EXCHANGES when plans change last minute
• Take advantage of NO BOOKING FEES
• Make a night of it with DISCOUNTS & DEALS on parking, local restaurants, and more!
Launched in 2004, this groundbreaking initiative has established itself as the only Off Broadway theater festival dedicated exclusively to showcasing the vibrant world of independent British theater.
Over the past two decades, Brits Off Broadway has become a vital platform, fostering cultural exchange and providing a launchpad for the most exciting voices from the UK. These innovative companies bring their raw talent and fresh perspectives to New York audiences, enriching the city’s theatrical landscape.
Brits Off Broadway has consistently garnered rave reviews, solidifying its reputation as a must-see event for theater lovers.
“A HIGHLIGHT OF THE THEATRICAL YEAR IN NEW YORK...CONSISTENTLY PROVIDES SOME OF THE MOST DARING AND INNOVATIVE THEATER.”
- The New York Times
Wednesday, April 24
7:15 LORENZO
Thursday, April 25
7:15 LORENZO
Friday, April 26
7:15 LORENZO
Saturday, April 27
2:15 LORENZO
7:15 LORENZO
Sunday, April 28
2:15 LORENZO
Tuesday, April 30
7:15 LORENZO
Wednesday, May 1
7:15 LORENZO
7:30 Windrush Secret
Thursday, May 2
7:00 Boris III
7:15 LORENZO
7:30 Windrush Secret
Friday, May 3
7:00 Boris III
7:15 LORENZO
7:30 Windrush Secret
Saturday, May 4
2:00 Boris III
2:15 LORENZO
2:30 Windrush Secret
7:00 Boris III
7:15 LORENZO
7:30 Windrush Secret
Sunday, May 5
2:00 Boris III
2:15 LORENZO
2:30 Windrush Secret
Tuesday, May 7
7:00 Boris III
7:15 LORENZO
7:30 Windrush Secret
Wednesday, May 8
7:00 Boris III
7:15 LORENZO
7:30 Windrush Secret
Thursday, May 9
7:00 Boris III
7:15 LORENZO
7:30 Windrush Secret
Friday, May 10
7:00 Boris III
7:15 LORENZO
7:30 Windrush Secret
Saturday, May 11
2:00 Boris III
2:15 LORENZO
2:30 Windrush Secret
7:00 Boris III
7:15 LORENZO
7:30 Windrush Secret
Sunday, May 12
2:00 Boris III
2:15 LORENZO
2:30 Windrush Secret
Tuesday, May 14
7:00 Boris III
7:15 LORENZO
7:30 Windrush Secret
Wednesday, May 15
7:00 Boris III
7:15 LORENZO
7:30 Windrush Secret
Thursday, May 16
7:00 Boris III
7:15 LORENZO
7:30 Windrush Secret
Friday, May 17
7:00 Boris III
7:15 LORENZO
7:30 Windrush Secret
Saturday, May 18
2:00 Boris III
2:15 LORENZO
2:30 Windrush Secret
7:00 Boris III
7:15 LORENZO
Sunday, May 19
2:00 Boris III
2:15 LORENZO
Tuesday, May 21
7:00 Boris III
Wednesday, May 22
7:00 Boris III
7:15 Watson
7:30 Chopped Liver & Unions
Thursday, May 23
7:00 Boris III
7:15 Watson
7:30 Chopped Liver & Unions
Friday, May 24
7:00 Boris III
7:15 Watson
7:30 Chopped Liver & Unions
Saturday, May 25
2:00 Boris III
2:15 Watson
2:30 Chopped Liver & Unions
7:00 Boris III
7:15 Watson
7:30 Chopped Liver & Unions
Sunday, May 26
2:00 Boris III
2:15 Watson
2:30 Chopped Liver & Unions
Tuesday, May 28
7:00 Boris III
7:15 Watson
7:30 Chopped Liver & Unions
Wednesday, May 29
7:00 Boris III
7:15 Watson
7:30 Chopped Liver & Unions
Thursday, May 30
7:00 Boris III
7:15 Watson
7:30 Chopped Liver & Unions
Friday, May 31
7:00 Boris III
7:15 Watson
7:30 Chopped Liver & Unions
Saturday, June 1
2:00 Boris III
2:15 Watson
2:30 Chopped Liver & Unions
7:00 Boris III
7:15 Watson
7:30 Chopped Liver & Unions
Sunday, June 2
2:00 Boris III
2:15 Watson
2:30 Chopped Liver & Unions
Tuesday, June 4
7:15 Watson
7:30 Chopped Liver & Unions
Wednesday, June 5
7:15 Watson
7:30 Chopped Liver & Unions
Thursday, June 6
7:15 Watson 7:30 Chopped Liver & Unions
Friday, June 7
7:15 Watson 7:30 Chopped Liver & Unions
Saturday, June 8 2:15 Watson
7:15 Watson
Sunday, June 9 2:15 Watson
Wednesday, June 12
7:15 Appraisal
7:30 Blizzard
Thursday, June 13
7:15 Appraisal 7:30 Blizzard
Friday, June 14
7:15 Appraisal 7:30 Blizzard
Saturday, June 15
2:15 Appraisal 2:30 Blizzard
7:15 Appraisal 7:30 Blizzard
Sunday, June 16 2:15 Appraisal
2:30 Blizzard
Tuesday, June 18
7:15 Appraisal
7:30 Blizzard
Wednesday, June 19
7:15 Appraisal
7:30 Blizzard
Thursday, June 20
7:15 Appraisal 7:30 Blizzard
Friday, June 21
7:15 Appraisal 7:30 Blizzard
Saturday, June 22 2:15 Appraisal 2:30 Blizzard 7:15 Appraisal 7:30 Blizzard
Sunday, June 23 2:15 Appraisal 2:30 Blizzard
Tuesday, June 25
7:15 Appraisal 7:30 Blizzard
Wednesday, June 26
7:15 Appraisal 7:30 Blizzard
Thursday, June 27
7:15 Appraisal 7:30 Blizzard
Friday, June 28
7:15 Appraisal 7:30 Blizzard
Saturday, June 29
2:15 Appraisal 2:30 Blizzard 7:15 Appraisal 7:30 Blizzard
Sunday, June 30 2:15 Appraisal 2:30 Blizzard