First Look: The Waves Opens Tonight at Jermyn Street Theatre

Flora Wilson Brown's new adaptation of Virginia Woolf's The Waves opens tonight at Jermyn Street Theatre, following previews from 16 April.

The first production images have landed ahead of press night, offering a glimpse of the staging Levai and Wilson Brown have built inside the theatre's 70-seat space. It looks stripped back and performer-led, with attention placed firmly on the six actors and the text.

First published in 1931, The Waves has drawn theatre-makers for decades. Katie Mitchell's 2006 production at the National Theatre is among the best known. Wilson Brown's version receives its world premiere tonight, bringing her own reading to the novel's six-voice structure.

The adaptation follows six friends from childhood to adulthood: Louis, Susan, Neville, Jinny, Bernard and Rhoda, played by Archie Backhouse, Breffni Holahan, Pedro Leandro, Syakira Moeladi, Tom Varey and Ria Zmitrowicz. The cast work as an ensemble, moving between voices rather than playing fixed characters throughout.

Levai has previously worked at the National Theatre, the Young Vic and the RSC. Wilson Brown returns to Jermyn Street, where her play The Beautiful Future is Coming also ran.

The full creative team includes Set Designer Tomás Palmer, Costume Designer Anett Black, Lighting Designer Lucía Sánchez Roldán, Composer and Sound Designer Joseff Harris, Movement Director Ken Nakajima and Casting Director Jatinder Chera.

The Waves runs until 23 May. Relaxed performances on 30 April and 12 May; captioned performance on 11 May.

Tickets from £18 at jermynstreettheatre.co.uk.

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