The Park Theatre has unveiled five productions for its summer and autumn seasons, featuring the world premiere of Holy Fool and a stage adaptation of The Pianist. The diverse programme explores historical, cultural, and social themes through a range of theatrical styles.

The Park Theatre’s forthcoming season includes five new shows across its main spaces, with the world premiere of Holy Fool running from 27 August to 10 October in Park200. Written by Rosalind Adler and Lea Sellers and directed by Kate Fahy, Holy Fool focuses on composer Dmitri Shostakovich’s struggles to create art under Stalin’s regime, highlighting the tension between public conformity and private resistance.

Following Holy Fool, Park200 will also host a stage adaptation of The Pianist from 15 October to 28 November. Directed by Thom Southerland and based on Władysław Szpilman’s memoir, the production features Szpilman’s own music performed by actor-musicians. It depicts the cultural vibrancy of pre-war Warsaw and its devastation during the Second World War, with music arranged for the stage by Simon Lee.

Also at the Park Theatre from 22 July to 22 August is The Importance of Being Oscar, a solo play by Micheál MacLiammóir directed by Michael Fentiman and starring Alastair Whatley. The show explores Oscar Wilde’s life and legacy through excerpts of his work, providing insight into the celebrated writer’s influence and personality.

In the smaller Park90 space, The Talking Drum: Voices of the Andover Estate runs from 19 to 29 August. Created through collaboration with local residents and London Metropolitan University, this verbatim play challenges prevailing narratives about the estate, including those sparked by comments from Ann Widdecombe in 2007, and delves into issues of community identity.

Deafinitely Theatre presents a British Sign Language adaptation of Mike Bartlett’s Bull from 30 September to 24 October. Directed by Paula Garfield, the production employs a bilingual approach combining BSL, spoken English, and creative captioning to explore workplace bullying and power dynamics.

Alongside these new productions, the theatre will stage its celebrity-led fundraiser Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] with a Wild West theme from 11 May to 28 June, continuing its tradition of charity events.