Artistic director Nadia Fall has revealed plans for her new season at Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Opening the season from 25th September to 2nd November will be the London premiere of Katori Hall’s OUR LADY OF KIBEHO. Directed by James Dacre, the play transfers to Stratford following its acclaimed UK premiere at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate in January 2019. Hall’s piece is based on the fascinating true story of a young girl in 1980s Rwanda who claimed to see the Virgin Mary.

From 10th to 26th October, touring company Paines Plough will bring their pop-up theatre Roundabout to the Theatre Square, in front of Theatre Royal Stratford East. Paines Plough and the Welsh-based Theatr Clwyd will present three new plays performed in repertory at the temporary venue. The plays include Charley Miles’ DAUGHTERHOOD, Nathan Bryon’s family show DEXTER AND WINTER’S DETECTIVE AGENCY and Daf James’ ON THE OTHER HAND WE’RE HAPPY. All three plays are directed by Stef O’Driscoll.

From 6th to 9th November, Ballet Black return to Theatre Royal Stratford East for a fourth consecutive year. 2019’s TRIPLE BILL features work from Mthuthuzeli November, Sophie Laplane and Martin Lawrance.

Stratford East’s annual pantomime returns in 2019 with DICK WHITTINGTON. The production features book and lyrics by David Watson, music and lyrics by Robert Hyman and direction by John Haidar. The panto runs at the East London venue from 23rd November to 11th January 2020.

Eclipse Theatre makes it Stratford East debut in the new year with their production of THE GIFT, written by Janice Oko and directed by Dawn Walton. Running from 29th January to 15th February 2020, the outrageous comedy promises to explore imperialism, cultural appropriation and tea drinking. THE GIFT makes its London premiere in a co-production with Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre.

From 18th April to 16th May 2020, Artistic Director Nadia Fall writes and directs WELCOME TO IRAN, a new play premiering in Stratford prior to a run at the National Theatre. WELCOME TO IRAN features verbatim testimonials, offering a real-life snapshot into the people and culture of Iran today.

Rounding out the season is a revival of Roy Williams’ seminal play SUCKER PUNCH. Marking ten years since its premiere at the Royal Court, Roy Alexander Weise (NINE NIGHT) directs a new staging of the play at Theatre Royal Stratford East between 19th June and 25th July 2020. Williams’ award-winning play is set in a boxing gym in 1980s Britain, where two black men, Leon and Troy, are trying to figure out their place in the world.

As announced last week, the theatre’s production of EQUUS, which ran at the venue earlier this year, will transfer to the West End’s Trafalgar Studios for a limited run this summer.

Tickets for Theatre Royal Stratford East’s new season go on general sale from 31st May.