Into the Woods is going to the sticks with a regional theatre choosing to host Terry Gilliam’s interpretation of the musical after the Old Vic in London “cancelled” the former Monty Python.
Theatre Royal Bath, a regional powerhouse with a history of transferring productions to the West End and beyond, will now host Gilliam’s version of Stephen Sondheim’s musical next year.
It can also be revealed that in one of his final communiqués before his death aged 91 last month Sondheim made clear his continuing support for Gilliam despite his “cancelling” by the Old Vic.
In October the Old Vic announced that it had pulled Into the Woods, which was due to open in April. The theatre’s 12-strong “development group” of young writers and directors objected to Gilliam’s perceived views on trans rights and the #MeToo movement. Kate Varah, the theatre’s executive director, who has since moved to the same post at the National Theatre, met Gilliam and his co-director Leah Hausman to discuss the Old Vic’s “culture and values”. She then decided to cancel the musical.
The London theatre, which does not receive regular public subsidy but has a reputation for putting on groundbreaking work, is still reeling from its employment of Kevin Spacey as artistic director for more than a decade until 2015.
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During the Hollywood actor’s tenure, it subsequently emerged, a number of people associated with the theatre felt he had sexually harassed them. Spacey, 62, has denied any wrongdoing.
The Old Vic’s decision to cancel Gilliam, 81, widely respected for decades through his comedic work with Monty Python and subsequent films including Brazil, became the latest lightning rod in the “culture wars”. Prominent cultural figures including Sir Tom Stoppard defended the director, saying it was “society’s loss” if “artists like Gilliam” were thrown aside. Stoppard, 84, told The Times: “Anybody who expects Terry to occupy the middle ground in a nice safe way hasn’t been paying attention for 50 years. He is a remarkable artist.”
John Berry, whose production company Scenario Two has developed Into the Woods, said that Theatre Royal Bath had shown an interest in hosting the Sondheim musical within hours of the Old Vic withdrawing its support. Its run is due to start in August.
He said that Sondheim, who died in November and who is regarded as one of musical theatre’s greatest ever composers, had remained steadfast in his support for Gilliam. An email from his long-time friend Richard Pappas to Berry stated that Sondheim, and James Lapine, who wrote the book for Into the Woods, “wholeheartedly approve the idea of staging in Bath . . . Stephen mentioned that he was in Bath many years ago and looks forward to going back”.
Berry said: “They are big supporters of Terry Gilliam and were very quick to say yes when we asked for the rights.”
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He praised Theatre Royal Bath, which has one of the best track records of Britain’s regional theatres in securing West End transfers. Most recently its productions of David Mamet’s Oleanna and TS Eliot’s Four Quartets starring Ralph Fiennes have made the leap.
“I think it is perfect for us,” Berry said. “We get a chance to really test the production and then the plan is to bring it into town [London]. This is going to be really exciting. In some ways it is the perfect environment for Terry’s great vision. And Sondheim was thrilled when he knew we were going there.”
He declined to be drawn on the Old Vic’s decision on Gilliam, saying: “Creating art is about looking forward and looking at the positives.”
Another producer, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “Of course there are younger artists who have different views than older generations but does that mean inspirational artists like Gilliam have to get cancelled?”
Gilliam declined to comment.
