West End Theatre Company Launches with Unprecedented Unrehearsed Production
A revolutionary new theatre company has announced its inaugural production featuring an extraordinary roster of acting talent, including David Tennant, Jodie Whittaker, and Riz Ahmed. The innovative venture, named There & Then, will present the daring play White Rabbit Red Rabbit in a format that defies conventional theatrical practice.
The Unrehearsed Format That Defies Convention
The production's unique structure sees a different performer take to the stage each Monday evening at London's Duchess Theatre, where they will be presented with a sealed envelope containing a script they have never previously seen. Without any rehearsal or directorial guidance, the actor must perform the material immediately and only once, creating what organizers describe as a "singular, unrepeatable experience."
The initial casting schedule reveals an impressive lineup:
- David Harewood opens the run on 8 June
- David Tennant performs on 15 June
- Asim Chaudhry appears on 29 June
- Luke Thompson takes the stage on 6 July
- Jodie Whittaker performs on 13 July
- Kathryn Hunter appears on 20 July
- Riz Ahmed performs on 28 September
Tickets are currently available for purchase, with further casting announcements expected in the coming weeks. The production will run weekly from 8 June through 2 November, offering audiences multiple opportunities to witness different interpretations of the same material.
The Creative Partnership Behind the Venture
The company represents the culmination of a decade-long collaboration between award-winning director Omar Elerian and Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour, who unveiled their partnership on Friday. Soleimanpour originally wrote White Rabbit Red Rabbit in 2011 during a period when he was prohibited from leaving Iran.
The playwright reflected on the journey, stating: "We are all made of the stories we dare to tell, and the silences we finally give a voice. What began as a leap into the unknown with White Rabbit Red Rabbit has, through years of collaboration with Omar Elerian, become a shared theatrical language and the foundation of this new company."
Elerian expressed his enthusiasm for their unconventional approach: "I am extremely excited to embark on this new creative chapter in collaboration with my partner-in-crime, Nassim Soleimanpour. Together, we look forward to introducing something fresh and unconventional to the West End, confident that London audiences will embrace the exhilarating high-wire nature of our work."
A Play with Global Resonance
Since its initial staging in 2011, White Rabbit Red Rabbit has been translated into more than 25 languages and performed worldwide. The play's description as a "singular, unrepeatable experience shaped entirely by how that performer embraces the unknown" has resonated with international audiences and performers alike.
The production is presented in association with renowned theatre producer Nica Burns, who praised the collaboration: "I am delighted to welcome two exceptional artists producing together for the first time with their new company to our first Monday evening residency at the intimate Duchess theatre. Every performance of White Rabbit Red Rabbit is as unique as each of our outstanding company of performers, who appear only once."
This groundbreaking approach to theatre represents a significant departure from traditional West End productions, emphasizing spontaneity, risk, and the raw power of performance without preparation. The company aims to reaffirm that in uncertain times, imagination and storytelling remain among our most vital and transformative forces.
