Kyoto – A Fast Paced Political Thriller Premiering at The Swan Theatre

Full cast announced for Kyoto. Photo (c) RSC.

Kyoto, a major new co-production from the RSC and Good Chance. Premiering in The Swan Theatre from 18 June – 13 July 2024 with Press Night on Tuesday 25 June. Kyoto is written by Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, the award-winning creative team behind the universally-acclaimed The Jungle.

Preview

The RSC and Good Chance have announced full casting for the world premiere of Kyoto; a major new production which places audiences at the heart of the historic 1997 Kyoto climate summit.

Premiering in The Swan Theatre this fast-paced political thriller reunites the creative team behind the multi award-winning hit The Jungle; which began life in the refugee camps of Calais in 2015 and went on to become a sell-out hit in the UK and internationally.  

RSC Co-Artistic Directors, Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey said; “In building our inaugural season at the RSC, we set ourselves the challenge of reaching across borders, to seek out the most exciting writers, directors and actors of our times and asking them which stories they feel a passionate need to tell. To be working with Good Chance and their long-term collaborators Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin on this powerful and urgent new play is a particularly thrilling example; one which speaks directly to how the RSC can be in conversation with the world.”

Stephen Kunken. Photo (c) RSC.

Making his RSC debut in the role of American oil lobbyist and master strategist is Tony award-nominated actor Stephen Kunken. Stephen was most recently seen as James Jesus Angelton in the BAFTA nominated series A Spy Among Friends opposite Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce for Britbox. He is well known as Chief Compliance Officer Ari Spyros over the 7 seasons of the Showtime series Billions and as Commander Warren Putnam over the 5 seasons of Hulu’s award-winning show, The Handmaid’s Tale. His additional television credits include The Affair, The Goodwife, Unforgettable, Blue Bloods, The Sopranos and The Apple Family Plays and more.

Jenna Augen. Photo (c) RSC)

Joining Stephen are Jenna Augen (Shirley Pearlman), Jorge Bosch who plays Argentinian ambassador Raul Estrada Oyuela, Vincent Franklin (Fred Singer), Dale Rapley (Bert Bolin) and Olivia Barrowclough (Secretariat).

Representing the National Delegations are Andrea Gatchalian as Kiribati / AOSIS, Raad Rawi as Mohammad Al Sabban / OPEC, Kwong Loke as Prof. Shukong Zhong / China, Nancy Crane as USA/Wirth/Eisenstat, Ingrid Oliver as Angela Merkel / Germany, Jude Akuwudike as Prof. Mark Mwandosya / Tanzania, Ferdy Roberts as UK/Prescott/Houghton and Togo Igawa as Hiroshi Ohki / Japan.

Jorge Bosch. Photo (c) RSC

Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson said: “Kyoto is a play about how to agree, in a world awash with disagreement. In many ways, the Kyoto Protocol should never have happened. How could 176 countries find consensus on a subject as complex and important as climate change, especially as powerful forces worked to undermine the process at every stage? And yet, against all the odds, they did. We’re thrilled and honoured to be creating Kyoto with the RSC as part of Daniel and Tamara’s first season.”

Olivia Barrowclough. Photo (c) RSC

Stephen Daldry is an award-winning theatre, film and television director and producer and Justin Martin is a multi-award-winning director working in theatre, film and television. They said: “This play marks our first time directing for the RSC, an exciting moment for us both to take part in a new chapter in the RSC’s story. Kyoto is a play which speaks directly and urgently to the world we live in and the ecological crisis in which we find ourselves. In the spirit of the 1997 climate summit, we are blessed to be working with a truly international company of artists; all of whom bring their own unique perspectives, cultures and experience.”

The full creative team comprises; Miriam Buether (Set Designer), Natalie Pryce (Costume Designer) Aideen Malone (Lighting Designer), Christopher Reid (Sound Designer), Akhila Krishnan (Video Designer), Gemma Stockwood (Dramaturg) and Julia Horan CDG (Casting Director).

Read more plus the full cast biographies on the RSC website. https://www.rsc.org.uk/kyoto/cast-and-creatives

For tickets: https://www.rsc.org.uk/kyoto/