Broad Stage season to include ‘1984,’ ‘Carmen’ from South Africa

Productions of “1984” from Great Britain and “Carmen” from South Africa will be among the highlights of the 2015-16 season at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica. The company, which unveiled its new lineup this week, will kick off its eighth season on Sept. 19 with a recital by operatic soprano Angela Gheorghiu.

“Carmen” (Oct. 2 to 9) marks the return of South Africa’s Isango Ensemble, which recently presented an unconventional staging of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” at the Broad Stage as part of a U.S. tour.

The company’s staging of Bizet’s masterpiece is inspired by Isango co-founder Mark Dornford-May’s movie “U-Carmen eKhayelitsha,” which set the opera in a South African township. The movie won best picture at the Berlin Film Festival in 2005.

The Headlong Theatre Company will present its adaptation of George Orwell’s “1984” (Jan. 13 to 17). The production was a critical success when it was seen in Britain in 2013 and 2014, including a stop at London’s Almeida Theatre.

Irish actress Lisa Dwan will present a trio of short plays by Samuel Beckett (April 7 to 10, 2016). The production will features Beckett’s “Not I,” “Footfalls” and “Rockaby.”

Other highlights of the Broad Stage’s season include appearances by the Calder Quartet, pianist Jonathan Biss, flutist James Galway, tenor Piotr Beczala and pianist Andre Watts.

Twitter: @DavidNgLAT