New season at York Theatre Royal starts with The Diary Of Anne Frank (From York Press)

New season at York Theatre Royal starts with The Diary Of Anne Frank

10:58am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Theatre

AS the lights finally fade on The York Family Robinson tomorrow night, thoughts turn to the new season at York Theatre Royal, one that will be dominated by a production outside the theatre.

The York Mystery Plays, as you surely know already, will be mounted by the Theatre Royal, Riding Lights and York Museums Trust in the York Museum Gardens from August 2 to 27.

If that is the primary creative force this year, it is important to stress that the play, or rather other plays, must go on, be they Theatre Royal and Pilot Theatre shows or visiting productions.

The year could not have a more potent start: the Theatre Royal has linked up with the Touring Consortium Theatre Company – the same London and York partnership that toured To Kill A Mockingbird last spring – to present The Diary Of Anne Frank.

Teenager Anne Frank’s personal account of hope, courage and survival, while hidden from the Nazis with her Jewish family in a secret annexe in Amsterdam from 1942 to 1944, has been adapted for the stage by Wendy Kesselman.

Directed by Yorkshireman Nikolai Foster, fresh from his triumphant Annie at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, the production will star Christopher Timothy as Otto Frank, 32 years after he played Christ in the York Mystery Plays.

National Holocaust Day on January 29 had already concentrated minds on the issues at hand, and Theatre Royal chief executive Liz Wilson is aware of the significance of staging the play in a city where Clifford’s Tower casts such a shadow.

“Any city, every city, has a history of intolerance and we don’t need to point our finger at past generations,” she says. “We can see intolerance today, and that’s why presenting this play is important.”

As with To Kill A Mockingbird, Foster’s production will go out on the road, spreading the Theatre Royal’s good name wherever it goes.

“It’s very important for us and for our profile to take our name around the country,” says Liz.

“Hopefully, the Touring Consortium will be our partners over the next three years, probably in this post-pantomime slot, where previously we followed light entertainment with entertainment by going straight on to York Light Opera’s show,” says Liz.

The Touring Consortium takes shows to number one venues that “don’t necessarily present shows such as this”. “What we’re trying to do is develop audiences in places that don’t usually get high-quality drama,” says Liz.

“Doing productions with the Touring Consortium also allows us to do plays that we couldn’t do on our own, such as having a cast of 21 for ‘Mockingbird’ last year and 11 in the cast this time.”

Partnerships will play an increasing role in sustaining the future of our theatres in these financially straitened times, and the Theatre Royal has shown an admirable flexibility as well as a willingness to experiment under the artistic directorship of Damian Cruden.

“This theatre has always survived on a mixed economy of work,” says Liz. “We pretty much re-invent ourselves every year, which keeps things interesting here.”

The Diary Of Anne Frank will run at York Theatre Royal from February 17 to March 3 before going out on tour. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk