Richmond’s Orange Tree Theatre has revealed its upcoming season for 2019.

The season begins with COUGAR, a new play by Rose Lewenstein. Co-produced with English Touring Theatre, Lewenstein’s new play is about what, and who, we consume. COUGAR reunites director Chelsea Walker and designer Rosanna Vize following their hit production of LOW LEVEL PANIC in 2017. COUGAR runs at the venue from 1st February to 2nd March.

From 8th March, Matthew Xia makes his Orange Tree debut by directing a new revival of Athol Fugard’s 1961 play BLOOD KNOT. The play, set in apartheid South Africa, follows the journey of two brothers with wildly contrasting life experiences of the times. BLOOD KNOT runs until 20th April.

In April, Zoe Cooper returns to Orange Tree following her highly successful JESS AND JOE FOREVER with OUT OF WATER, a new play directed by Guy Jones. Commissioned jointly by the Orange Tree and the RSC, OUT OF WATER is a play about gender, wild swimming, and how we define who we are. The piece runs at the venue from 27th April to 1st June.

Artistic director Paul Miller will direct the first major London revival in a generation of Terrence Rattigan’s WHILE THE SUN SHINES. Playing from 7th June to 27th July, Rattigan’s Blitz-set comedy follows what happens to the Earl of Harpenden on the eve of his wedding. Miller’s previous production of Rattigan’s FRENCH WITHOUT TEARS played two sold out runs at the Orange Tree Theatre.

Rounding out the season, the venue’s Directors’ Festival runs between 2nd and 10th August. 2019 presents four emerging directors: Ellie Goodall, Georgia Green, Wiebke Green and Gianluca Lello.

The season goes on sale from 7th December. COUGAR is on sale now.