Happy 2020!

Ringing in a New Year, a new decade, inspires reflection and projection. So too does Lucy Kirkwood's new play The Children. Consider for a moment: What held meaning for you in the past year? What matters most in this next year (or ten) ahead? What do you hope to do? And as a result, perhaps, what will you leave behind?

The Children, hailed by The Guardian as "thoroughly gripping" and "profound," inspires more questions than answers. However, we've learned in the process—no matter where we are in our individual journeys, we can choose to make a difference. I wonder: What would happen if we accept the invitation opened, arguably a gauntlet thrown, by Kirkwood in The Children—what can and should we do now?

With care,

Inside The Children

Inside a secluded British seaside cottage, we experience the semblance of tranquility and normalcy. Hazel and Robin have comfortably retired from their past lives as nuclear engineers at the nearby power station. Their daily domestic rhythm belies the dark reality that beckons outside their door and all around. Enter Rose—their colleague of nearly forty years prior, who turns up unannounced with a fraught proposition.

Under the direction of Executive Artistic Director Abigail Adams, our production reunites People's Light veterans Janis Dardaris as Rose, Marcia Saunders as Hazel, and Graham Smith as Robin. They last collaborated together on the multiple-Barrymore Award-winning production of Morning's at Seven in our 2017-18 season, also under the direction of Abbey Adams.

In preparation for The Children, Abbey visited a dear friend who resides in a region not unlike Robin and Hazel's: a small town with a nuclear power plant along the coast of England. She absorbed the calm, beauty, and ominous juxtaposition of this idyllic landscape.

To the great surprise of playwright Lucy Kirkwood, Abbey stumbled upon the actual plant of inspiration (see below) that laid the backdrop for this play; a feat no other director or design team to this point has managed to do—and not for lack of trying!

The Children first premiered at London's Royal Court Theatre in 2016, then had a turn on Broadway, which The New York Times celebrated as "astonishing ... bristling with chills and suspense" and garnered a 2018 Tony Award nomination for Best Play.

The Children also won over the whole of our artistic cabinet at People's Light (a rather rare occurrence, actually). With taut and nuanced storytelling, darkly amusing characters of complicated history and depth, and compelling subject matter, Kirkwood's story is one we have been collectively eager to delve into and share.

"Through these characters, we see ramifications of unrestrained desire on both an intimate and global scale," says Abbey. "Their passions ultimately harmed themselves, their loved ones, and their country, but that hasn't quelled their wish for family, purpose, and joy."

Performances run January 15 – February 9 on the Steinbright Stage.

Enhance Your Experience

Curtain Call: Little Red Robin Hood

Another Panto in the books! Our sweet 16 was a delicious treat for audiences of all ages—some of whom made their own delicious treats when they got home!

"Another great Panto and Dame. We'd never heard of Blueberry Buckle despite years of pie and cookie baking. We looked in Mark Bittman's 'How to Bake Everything' and found a recipe. We baked it and ate it warm from the oven with ice cream—delicious! It's also good as a crunchy-top breakfast cake. Thanks for bringing this learning experience to us through the Panto."

Get the recipe

Cheers and thanks to our many community partners and performers for their inspired "pop-up performances" throughout the run of Little Red!

Great Valley Junior Patriot Cheer Squad & Flag Squad | Main Line Chinese Culture Center's King Fu performers | Upper Main Line YMCA Dancers (tap, ballet & pointe classes) | Ballet 180 students & faculty | New Directions Dance Team from the Charles A. Melton Arts & Education Center | St. Patrick School's Junior Varsity Cheerleaders | "The Lady Vikings and One Guy" from Upper Merion Area School District | Miquon School dancers | Acting Antics performers | The Phoenix Theatre dancers

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