Scientists have discovered that trees communicate through vast underground networks. But what if one had something to say to us?
Acclaimed actress Anne Gee Byrd, joined onstage by flutist Shih-wei Wu, stars in the world premiere of Winter’s Bench, a lyrical and deeply human new play by Olivier Award-winning British playwright Mike Kenny. Commissioned by 24th Street Theatre and directed by artistic director Debbie Devine, performances run September 5 through October 25 at the company’s home, a converted carriage house in L.A.’s West Adams historic district. In keeping with 24th Street Theatre's commitment to serve the surrounding community, all performances will feature Spanish supertitles.
Set in a park where only one ancient tree remains, Winter’s Bench follows Gladys, an elderly woman who has spent a lifetime believing the tree spoke to her when she was a child, and who waits, even now, to hear its voice again. Blending storytelling, live music and imagination, Winter’s Bench is both a memory play and a meditation on nature, aging and hope. At a time when forests are disappearing and loneliness is on the rise, Winter's Bench invites audiences to consider what we lose when we stop listening—to nature, to one another and to the stories that shape us.
“Gladys reminds us that stories are how we hold on to one another,” says Devine. “Storytelling is how we pass on wisdom, create community and preserve what matters. The tree isn’t magic. It represents resilience, endurance and the possibility that something lasting can still speak to us.”
Performances of Winter’s Bench take place Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. from September 5 through October 25, with additional performances Monday, Sept. 7 and Monday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $10 to $24 with Monday performances offered on a Pay-What-You-Can basis. The production is recommended for ages 7 and older.
24th Street Theatre is located at 1117 West 24th St., Los Angeles, CA 90007 (at the intersection of 24th and Hoover).
For tickets and information, visit 24thstreet.org or call (213) 745-6516.
