NEW WORKS AND OLD FOR SOUTH COAST

For its 1985-86 season, South Coast Repertory Theatre will offer recent works by contemporary British, American and Canadian playwrights, as well as works by Shakespeare and Brecht, directors for the Costa Mesa-based company announced.

Although the focus is on new plays by emerging playwrights, the 12-production season opens Sept. 10 with Brecht’s “Galileo.” Running through Oct. 13 on the Mainstage, it will be the most expensive production of the season, according to co-founders and artistic co-directors, Martin Benson and David Emmes. More than $100,000 from SCR’s $3.7-million budget for this year is expected to be spent on the 47-character play.

Also on the agenda are five plays either new or new to the West Coast: “Before I Got My Eye Put Out,” by New Yorker Timothy Mason--a piece commissioned last year by South Coast (Mainstage, Oct. 22-Nov. 24); “Unsuitable for Adults” by British dramatist Terry Johnson (Second Stage, Jan. 24-Feb. 16); Larry Shue’s “The Foreigner” (Mainstage, Jan. 7-Feb. 9); “Jitters” by Canada’s David French, whose “Salt-Water Moon” was staged in January at South Coast (Mainstage, May 20-June 22) and “Blue Window,” by Craig Lucas, author of “Reckless” (Second Stage, Sept. 27-Oct. 20).

Also scheduled is Sam Shepard’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Buried Child” (Mainstage April 8-May 11) and Tina Howe’s “Painting Churches” (Second Stage, Nov. 8 tom Dec. 1). Of the new season, Benson said: “We feel the strength of the South Coast Repertory Theatre is in contemporary plays.”

For all of South Coast’s interest in new voices--and new plays--the company is also offering Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” (Mainstage, Feb. 25-March 30) and its sixth annual holiday production of “A Christmas Carol” (Mainstage, Nov. 30-Dec. 24). Two other plays are still to be announced.

In addition to announcing its coming season, SCR broke ground Wednesday night for an 11,000-square-foot addition to its Costa Mesa quarters. The $1.5-million expansion will give the growing company a new board room, larger rehearsal space, a larger costume shop and additional offices.

The new wing, to be called the “Artists Wing” and paid for through SCR’s Capital and Endowment Fund, will be the first major expansion since SCR’s Fourth Step Theatre complex was built in 1978 for $3.5 million. It is expected to open in time for the 1986-87 season.