Review: Other Desert Cities at the Old Vic

Other Desert Cities

Old Vic

Reviewed on Monday 24th March 2014

A family come together on Christmas Eve and before too long the atmosphere turns sour. 

When your parents are showbiz royalty, your brother just wants a quiet Christmas and your aunt is a recovering alcoholic, it's hardly the best idea to present a memoir you have been writing for the past six years which reveals a pivotal moment in your families painful and explosive past to the world. However, that is exactly what Brooke Wyeth (played by the incredible Martha Plimpton) decides to do, providing the perfect recipe for a grippingly fierce piece of theatre, delving into a family's dark past and revealing some hidden secrets. 

The Old Vic announces Summer/Autumn Season; Kevin Spacey returning to Old Vic stage

The Old Vic has announced its programme for Summer/Autumn 2014. 

The CQS Space, The Old Vic in the round, will be home to the whole season of productions, continuing after Other Desert Cities which opens this month. The plays will be performed in the round, a transformation of The Old Vic’s auditorium first seen for the award-winning 2008 production of The Norman Conquests. 

In June 2014, Kevin Spacey stars in a compelling one-man play about the pioneering lawyer of 19th century America, Clarence Darrow, in a limited run in aid of The Old Vic, directed by Old Vic Associate Thea Sharrock, who returns following the success of Cause Célèbre. 

Full casting announced for UK premiere of Other Desert Cities at the Old Vic

Full casting has been announced for the UK premiere of Jon Robin Baitz’s play, Other Desert Cities. The production opens at the Old Vic on Monday 24th March (previews from 13th March) and runs until Saturday 24th May 2014.

Directed by Lindsay Posner, the new production will star Sinéad Cusack as Polly Wyeth, Peter Egan as Lyman Wyeth, Clare Higgins as Silda Grauman, Daniel Lapaine as Trip Wyeth and Martha Plimpton as Brooke Wyeth.

Sinéad Cusack & Clare Higgins to star in Other Desert Cities at the Old Vic

It has been announced that Sinéad Cusack and Clare Higgins will star in the UK premiere of Jon Robin Baitz’s play Other Desert Cities.

Sinéad Cusack and Clare Higgins will play sisters Polly Wyeth and Silda Grauman in Lindsay Posner's production which opens at the Old Vic on Monday 24th March 2014 (previews from 13th March) and runs until Saturday 24th May 2014.

Other Desert Cities is the first play in a new season which sees the Old Vic recreate its theatre-in-the-round. The layout was first seen for the award-winning 2008 production of The Norman Conquests.

The Old Vic to recreate its theatre-in-the-round for 2014 season, first production announced

It has been announced that The Old Vic will recreate its theatre-in-the-round for its 2014 season. The layout was first seen for the award-winning 2008 production of The Norman Conquests. 

The UK premiere of Jon Robin Baitz’s acclaimed play, Other Desert Cities, directed by Lindsay Posner, will be the first production in the season. Other Desert Cities is described as a "fierce and funny drama deftly exploring family politics, love, loss and redemption". The production opens on Monday 24th March 2014 (previews from 13th March) and runs until Saturday 24th May 2014.