The Tony-winning West End producer Sonia Friedman and Tony winning actor Hugh Jackman have announced the launch of a new theatrical venture, Together.

British director Ian Rickson (a former Artistic Director of London’s Royal Court Theatre) will oversee a series of yet-to-be announced seasons of plays, readings and panel discussions with a focus on ensemble dynamics, equal pay for all actors, and shared creative credit.

Hugh Jackman. Photo Wikimedia Commons

Performances will be presented in intimate venues in cities around the world, but Together says it is committed to keeping its productions affordable for a large proportion of the house. The announcement comes at a time when ticket prices for the Broadway production of Shakespeare’s Othello, starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, are on sale for up to US $921 per seat.

In a joint statement, Friedman and Jackman said: “With director Ian Rickson we wanted to create a company where actors, writers, and directors could experiment, explore, and take risks, away from the pressures that are often associated with the commercial theatre world. Together is about going back to basics, rediscovering the simple, thrilling essence of live performance.

“At the same...