Tin Drum Theatre Company is proud to announce the Chicago premiere of Incognito at Theatre Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., July 17 - August 3. The provocative play by award-winning British playwright Nick Payne is produced by Steve Needham and directed by Jason Palmer. Incognito promises to take audiences on an unforgettable journey across the landscapes of love, loss and self-discovery. The preview for Incognito is Thursday, July 17 at 7:30 p.m. and the opening night/press performance is Friday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. The performance schedule for Saturday, July 19 - Sunday, Aug. 3 is Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. The regular run begins Saturday, July 19 - Sunday, Aug. 3 with performances Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m.Tickets are $25 - $39 with $15 student tickets and may be purchased at https://www.theaterwit.org/tickets/productions/box_office.
Tin Drum Theatre Company invites audiences to discover the extraordinary tapestry of the heart and mind on display in Incognito—a play that redefines our understanding of self and the ever-shifting narrative of our lives. This unique and compelling narrative bridges science and philosophy, tracing how emotions intertwine with our concept of identity and challenging the boundaries of traditional narrative storytelling.
First staged in London to enthusiastic reviews, Incognito has since enjoyed several acclaimed productions on both sides of the Atlantic. Critics have praised the play for its innovative storytelling and its fearless probing of memory, genius and identity. Its past productions have been heralded as groundbreaking explorations that challenge audiences to rethink the boundaries of the human psyche, setting the stage for this highly anticipated Chicago premiere.
The Incognito ensemble cast includes Teddy Boone, Shannon Leigh Webber, Erin Alys and Riles August Holiday.
The creative team includes Steve Needham (producer), Jason Palmer (director), Teddy Boone (casting director), Jacob Coggshall (assistant director), Joey Bluhm (stage manager), Alex Kinglsey (sound designer), Marcus Klein (scenic designer), Jack Goodman (lighting designer), Kasey Wolfgang (costume designer), Erin Annarella (dialects) and Izzi King (intimacy).
ABOUT TIN DRUM THEATRE COMPANY
Tin Drum Theatre Company thrives on presenting works that challenge the mind, stir the soul and inspire our audiences to engage actively and more critically with the world around them.
ABOUT NICK PAYNE, playwright
Nick Payne is an acclaimed British dramatist celebrated for his incisive exploration of the human condition. Best known for his internationally lauded work Constellations, Payne has established himself as a dynamic voice in contemporary theatre. His plays are marked by their inventive narrative structures and deep philosophical inquiry—qualities that shine brightly in Incognito. Payne’s works captivate audiences worldwide with a blend of wit, intellect and raw emotional power.
Nick Payne’s plays include If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet (Bush Theatre and Roundabout Theatre Company, New York), Wanderlust (Royal Court Theatre), Sophocles' Electra (Gate Theatre), One Day When We Were Young (Paines Plough/Sheffield Theatres and Shoreditch Town Hall), Lay Down Your Cross (Hampstead Theatre), Constellations (Royal Court Theatre and Duke of York’s), and The Same Deep Water As Me (Donmar Warehouse). He is the recipient of the 2009 George Devine Award for Most Promising Playwright, 2012 Harold Pinter Playwright’s Award and the 2012 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Play for Constellations. His screenplays include The Sense of an Ending and We Live in Time.
ABOUT JASON PALMER, director
Hailing from the scenic coal region of north central Pennsylvania, Palmer has worked in the storefront theater scene and entertainment industry on both coasts, as well as our very own ‘third coast.’ Memorable work in New York includes Assistant Director for the Off-Broadway premiere of Keith Reddin’s Black Snow and serving as a Literary Manager for the Gilgamesh Theater Group. Chicago work includes producing the annual Directors’ Festival at the Bailiwick Repertory. In California, Palmer embarked on a career with the entertainment unions, working for both Actors’ Equity Association and The Directors’ Guild of America. Returning to Chicago after a long hiatus, he directed Tin Drum’s inaugural production, Winter Garden in 2024, and co-founded Tin Drum Theatre with longtime friend Steve Needham.
ABOUT STEVE NEEDHAM, producer
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Needham is a founding member of Convergence-Continuum, where he directed and performed, and which he is proud to say is still producing provocative and experimental black box theatre nearly 25 years later for a new generation of audiences. In Chicago, Neehamhas worked at The Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, About Face Theatre, and Pride Films & Plays. While completing his studies at The University of Chicago, he wrote the play Winter Garden about Edwin and John Wilkes Booth, which he later developed with Jason Palmer into Tin Drum Theatre’s inaugural production.
Tin Drum Theatre Company is proud to announce the Chicago premiere of Incognito at Theatre Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., July 17 - August 3. The provocative play by award-winning British playwright Nick Payne is produced by Steve Needham and directed by Jason Palmer. Incognito promises to take audiences on an unforgettable journey across the landscapes of love, loss and self-discovery. The preview for Incognito is Thursday, July 17 at 7:30 p.m. and the opening night/press performance is Friday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. The performance schedule for Saturday, July 19 - Sunday, Aug. 3 is Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m.Tickets are $25 - $39 with $15 student tickets and may be purchased at https://www.theaterwit.org/tickets/productions/box_office.
