YOUNG VIC ANNOUNCES WORLD-WIDE SEASON.

In four shows during the first eight months of 2003, David Lan, artistic director of London's Young Vic theatre, claims to be taking audiences on a wide-ranging trip in location and time.

Red Demon by Japanese director Hideki Noda (who has worked on this English version with Matt Wilkinson) is about the way a community – here, a remote fishing village – reacts to the arrival of a stranger's body washed up on their shore. The Japanese director's known at home for his physical theatre style; at the Vic he'll be working with a cast of European actors 31 January-22 February.

Simply Heavenly is a musical with book and lyrics by the 20th century black American poet Langston Hughes – music by David Martin. Set in the fifties, it contrasts love and desire, poverty and inspiration. Renowned performer, Josette Bushell-Mingo directs 7 March-12 April.

Lope de Vega provided 17th century Spain with around 1,000 plays and Lan reckons Peribanez, given in Tanya Ronder's English version, is one of the best. As with Langston Hughes, love and sexual desire are worked out in the plot 1 May-7 June.

Finally, home to England with Hobson's Choice. But it's not quite so simple. This archetypal Manchester (Salford, to be precise) play was first produced in Hammersmith. Now British Asian writer Tanika Gupta has updated it, changed the trade from shoemaking to tailoring and handed Hobson's shop to an Asian family 26 June-9 August.

Tickets and other details: 020 7928 6363 or www.youngvic.org

2002-12-16 14:51:53