Summer & Smoke | Birmingham Rep

Performed by The Company

Set in Mississippi at the turn of the 20th century, Tennessee Williams’ epic play Summer and Smoke explores the doomed connection between spiritual Alma and sensual John as they switch roles but tragically miss their chance at love. Brought to you by our own The Company.

Tennessee Williams’ tender play Summer and Smoke traces the aching, ill-fated connection between Alma Winemiller, the emotionally restrained daughter of a respected minister, and John Buchanan Jr., a sensual, free-spirited doctor. Alma, whose name means “soul” in Spanish, is steeped in spiritual ideals and intellectual longing, while John is firmly grounded in the physical world, valuing experience over introspection. Their contrasting worldviews create both a magnetic tension and a painful disconnect.

Over the course of the play, forced to confront what they previously rejected, both characters undergo a profound transformation. In this haunting reversal, Williams explores the eternal struggle between body and soul, reason and passion, and the human yearning for connection in an unforgiving world.

Summer and Smoke marks the first time we have worked intensively with a smaller cast, offering the cast the opportunity to develop their practice in a professional setting.

Find out more about home & Horizons festival

Venue

Presented by

The Company

Written by

Tennessee Williams

Directed by

Becky Deeks and Alice Chambers

Price

From £13
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Festival Multi-Buy Offer

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Access Performances

Both performances are captioned.

Running Time

Approximately 2 hours, including an interval.

Age Guidance

11+

Content Advice

This performance contains themes of addition, violence and death.

This performance will also contain some loud noises including gun shots and haze.

About The Company

The Company is The Rep’s training ground for young adults. It is a highly competitive programme that aims to develop, challenge and nurture performers, preparing them to work professionally in theatre and the arts.

The Company performed a professional production of The Trials by Dawn King in partnership with the Donmar Warehouse and have performed as part of international theatre festivals.

Previous festival performances include Wuthering Heights, a queer re-telling of Crimp’s Cyrano De Bergerac, Lord of the Flies and Blank by Alice Birch. They have also worked on musical performances, including a 90s themed musical version of Twelfth Night and a musical adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.