London’s Old Vic has announced its new company in residence: Emma Rice’s Wise Children, which will also be the title of its first production. Wise Children, which will open the theatre’s 2018–2019 season, will be a new stage adaptation of Angela Carter’s novel of the same name, the story of twin chorus girls and their theatrical family.

The company marks a new undertaking for Rice, who announced last fall that she would be stepping down as artistic director of Shakespeare's Globe in April 2018. The current season is still under her artistic direction.

“I named my new company Wise Children after Angela Carter's seminal novel, which is set in South London and is a love letter to theatre,” commented Rice in a statement. “It makes total narrative and thrilling sense to start the Wise Children journey at The Old Vic! This iconic, independent and proudly innovative theatre has hosted Shakespeare and Variety, music and dance alike for almost 200 years and it is the perfect first home for my company and for our first production. It will come as no surprise that this first production will be an adaptation of the novel, Wise Children — 'What a joy it is to dance and sing!' I am following in extraordinary footsteps and grateful to artistic director Matthew Warchus and his team for welcoming Wise Children with such brave and open arms.”

Rice’s company will conceive, create, and present newly devised ensemble theatre at the Old Vic during its residency. Wise Children will also work in partnership with other venues to create work that will tour nationally and internationally, and will develop a training and apprenticeship scheme titled Emma Rice’s School for Wise Children.

For more information on the Old Vic, visit OldVicTheatre.com.

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