The Royal Shakespeare Company and Good Chance production of Kyoto, a dramatization of the signing of the historic 1997 Kyoto Agreement, will transfer to London's @sohoplace for a limited 16-week run next year.
Running January 9 through May 3, 2025, the production transfers directly from its critically acclaimed world premiere run in Stratford-upon-Avon. The London transfer will see Tony nominee Stephen Kunken (The Handmaid’s Tale, Billions) reprise his role as American oil lobbyist and master strategist Don Pearlman, after making his RSC debut in the play earlier this year.
Returning to the cast alongside Kunken will be Jenna Augen as Shirley Pearlman, Olivia Barrowclough as Secretariat, Jorge Bosch as Raul Estrada Oyuela, Nancy Crane as USA/Wirth/Eisenstat, Andrea Gatchalian as Kiribati/AOSIS, Togo Igawa as Hiroshi Ohki/Japan, Kwong Loke as Prof. Shukong Zhong/China, Dale Rapley as Bert Bolin, Raad Rawi as Mohammad Al Sabban, and Ferdy Roberts as UK/Prescott/Houghton, with additional casting to be announced.
This year marks 27 years since the signing of the Kyoto agreement, which took place December 11, 1997. The climate summit, which secured the world's first legally binding emissions targets, is an apt setting for a tense political thriller, pitting big oil, big money, and big egos against one another.
Written by Good Chance co-founders Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson (The Jungle, The Walk with Little Amal) and directed by Stephen Daldry (Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Billy Elliot, The Inheritance) and Justin Martin (Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Prima Facie), Kyoto features production design by Miriam Buether.
Said Daldry and Martin, “Kyoto tells the story of a miraculous moment of agreement in which the seemingly impossible became a reality. From the crucible of Kyoto emerged something extraordinary: a landmark moment in the history of climate legislation, which paved the way for much of the environmental progress we have witnessed in our lifetime. To bring Joe and Joe’s urgent and vital play to the heart of central London, feels entirely in keeping with the international nature of this collaboration, and we are delighted to be re-uniting with so many of the original company in our new home.”
The design team will be completed by costume designer Natalie Pryce, lighting designer Aideen Malone, sound designer Christopher Reid, video designer Akhila Krishnan, original music composer Paul Englishby, dramaturg Gemma Stockwood, and casting director Julia Horan.
Tickets go on sale to RSC, Good Chance, and Nimax priority bookers October 3 at 10 AM BST, with a general sale to follow October 4 at 10 AM BST. Visit SohoPlace.org.
