Casting Announced For Matthew Dunster’s Production Of Rodney Ackland’s Before The Party

Matthew Dunster will direct Rodney Ackland’s Before The Party at the Almeida Theatre from 21 March – 11 May 2013, with press night on 28 March. Based on a short story by Somerset Maugham, Before The Party has designs by Anna Fleischle with lighting by Philip Gladwell and sound by Ian Dickinson. Dunster’s production of Before The Party will be the first in over 25 years.

The cast comprises Stella Gonet (Blanche), Katherine Parkinson (Laura Skinner), Alex Price (David), Michelle Terry (Kathleen Skinner), Michael Thomas (Aubrey) and June Watson (Nanny). They are joined by Polly Dartford, Anna Devlin and Emily Lane who will alternate the role of Susan Skinner.

The war is over and the Skinner family are trying to return to normal. If only the blasted Government weren’t such a nuisance about the rations and Cook could get some more of those delicious delicacies. With daughter Laura returned from Africa, widowed but not alone, they prepare for the latest social gathering. Amidst the never-ending whirl of hats and dresses and below stairs skirmishes, Laura reveals a shocking secret that threatens to ruin more than one party on the climb to social success.

Stella Gonet was last seen on stage in Top Girls at Trafalgar Studios. Amongst her extensive theatre credits are Women, Power and Politics for the Tricycle Theatre, Skylight, Racing Demon and Hamlet for the National Theatre, Memory of Water at the Vaudeville Theatre and Three Sisters, Divine Gossip and The Revenger’s Tragedy for the Royal Shakespeare Company. She won the RTS Best Actress Award for her role in the BBC drama Trip Trap. Further television appearances include Father Brown, Lewis, Mo, Foyle’s War, House of Elliott and Where The Heart Is. Her film credits include How I Live Now, Dirty Bomb and For Queen and Country.

Katherine Parkinson was last on stage in Alan Ayckbourn’s Absent Friends at the Harold Pinter Theatre. She is best known on television for playing Jen in the Channel 4 series The IT Crowd, a role for which she won the British Comedy Best Actress Award. Parkinson has previously appeared at the Almeida Theatre in The Lightning Play. Her other theatre credits include Pattie in Ayckbourn’s Season’s Greetings for the National Theatre, Lady Teazle in The School for Scandal at the Barbican as well as roles in Cock and The Seagull for the Royal Court and Other Hand and Flush for Soho Theatre. Her other television credits include The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff, Whites, Doc Martin, The Old Guys, The Great Outdoors, Psychoville and Sherlock. Her film credits include St Trinian’s II: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold, The Boat that Rocked, Easy Virtue and How to Lose Friends and Alienate People.

Alex Price has most recently appeared on stage in Beautiful Thing at the Royal Exchange Theatre. Previously his theatre credits include Electra for the Gate Theatre and Bingo for Chichester Festival Theatre. His television credits include Aphrodite Fry, Father Brown, Vera, Above Suspicion, Doctor Who, Merlin, Being Human and Lewis. Amongst his film credits are Storage 24, A Passionate Woman and A Horse With No Name.

Michelle Terry can currently be seen in In the Republic of Happiness at the Royal Court. Her previous theatre credits include A Comedy of Errors, All’s Well That Ends Well and London Assurance all for the National Theatre, Love’s Labour Lost at Shakespeare’s Globe, The Man Who Had All The Luck for the Donmar Warehouse and The Winter’s Tale and Pericles with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Amongst her television credits are The Cafe, Reunited, Law and Order and Extras.

Michael Thomas previously appeared in the Almeida’s production of Waste and Festen. His other theatre credits include As You Like It and The Tempest for the Bridge Project, All’s Well That End’s Well, St Joan and Pillars of the Community for The National Theatre, King Lear andIn Praise of Love for Chichester Festival Theatre, Women Beware Women and The Roman Actor for the Royal Shakespeare Company. His television credits include Holby Blue, Trial and Retribution, Rosemary and Thyme and Wing and a Prayer.

June Watson can currently be seen on stage at the Vaudeville Theatre in Uncle Vanya. Previously she has been seen in the touring production Calendar Girls, Aristo for Chichester Festival Theatre, The Children’s Hour for The Royal Exchange Theatre, Kosher Harry for the Royal Court and Blue Hart and Our Lady of Sligo for Out of Joint. For the National Theatre her many credits include The Good Hope, Cardiff East and Billy Liar. On television her credits include The Cafe, Wallander, Hancock and Joan, William and Mary and New Tricks. Her film credits include Wreckers, Ghost Hunter and The Knowledge.

Polly Dartford’s theatre credits include Oedipus Rex at the National Theatre, Shadowmaster and A Christmas Carol for The King’s Head Theatre. Her television credits Casualty and Primeval. She will soon be seen in the film Effie.
Anna Devlin has been a member of the Young Actors Theatre for just over a year, Before the Party will be her theatrical debut. Earlier this year she took part in the 2012 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony.

Emily Lane attends the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London. She has previously appeared on stage as Marta in The Sound of Music at the London Palladium and in Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre playing the role Cosette.

Director, playwright and actor Matthew Dunster’s directing credits include Doctor Faustus at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Mogadishu for the Royal Exchange and Lyric Hammersmith and Love The Sinner for the National Theatre. His play Children’s Children received its World Premiere at the Almeida earlier this year directed by Jeremy Herrin. Dunster’s other writing credits include an adaptation of Saturday Night Sunday Morning for the Royal Exchange Theatre, an adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Most Incredible Thing at Sadler’s Wells Theatre and You Can See The Hills also for the Royal Exchange Theatre and the Young Vic.

Playwright Rodney Ackland (1908 – 1991) wrote over 40 plays. Before The Party, based on a short story by Somerset Maugham, will be his first to be performed at the Almeida. His other plays include Improper People, Birthday and The Dark River. In 1966 Anthony Page directed Judi Dench in Ackland’s Absolute Hell. Ackland also adapted novels for the stage including Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past (1938) and Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment (1946).

PRINCIPAL PARTNER

The Almeida Theatre is grateful to its Principal Partner Aspen whose three year sponsorship started in July 2011, building on the long-term relationship between the two companies. Aspen’s support of the Almeida Theatre ensures continued bold programming and artistic endeavour. Aspen was established in 2002 and is a leading global insurance and reinsurance company. www.aspen.co

The Almeida Theatre is supported by Arts Council England.

Press release issued by: Premier PR

LINKS

Almeida Theatre website

VIDEO: Trailer for Reasons To Be Pretty starring Billie Piper

Michael Attenborough’s new production of Neil LaBute’s play Reasons To Be Pretty opens at the Almeida Theatre from 10 November.

The Tony Award nominated play stars Billie Piper, Kieran Bew, Siân Brooke and Tom Burke and runs until 14 January 2012.

Reasons To Be Pretty will be the third play by Neil LaBute that Attenborough has directed during his artistic directorship of the Almeida Theatre. The play completes LaBute’s trilogy about physical appearance – the first two being The Shape of Things and Fat Pig. The Almeida began its relationship with LaBute in 2000 when it presented his bash: latter-day plays. Their close association with the playwright continued with productions of The Shape of Things, The Distance From Here, The Mercy Seat and In a Dark Dark House.

VIDEO

Reasons To Be Pretty trailer – Almeida Theatre

LINKS

Almeida website 

Almeida Theatre Spring 2012

BIJAN SHEIBANI TO DIRECT SHOHREH AGHDASHLOO IN FEDERICO GARCIA LORCA’S THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA

MICHAEL ATTENBOROUGH TO DIRECT SAMANTHA SPIRO IN EDWARDO DE FILIPPO’S FILUMENA IN A NEW ENGLISH VERSION BY TANYA RONDER

JEREMY HERRIN TO DIRECT WORLD PREMIERE OF MATTHEW DUNSTER’S CHILDREN’S CHILDREN

MICHAEL ATTENBOROUGH TO DIRECT JONATHAN PRYCE AS KING LEAR

 

BIJAN SHEIBANI TO DIRECT FEDERICO GARCIA LORCA’S THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA

Bijan Sheibani will direct Shohreh Aghdashloo in Federico Garcia Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba running at the Almeida Theatre from 19 January – 10 March 2012, with press night on 26 January at 7pm. In a new version by Emily Mann The House of Bernarda Alba has designs by Bunny Christie, with lighting by Jon Clark and sound by Dan Jones. Further casting is to be announced shortly.

Following her husband’s funeral in rural Iran, powerful matriarch Bernarda Alba decrees to her five daughters that the household will enter a period of eight years mourning. The only one it seems will escape this fate is the eldest daughter, Angustias, who is already betrothed to the village’s most eligible bachelor. In the strict confines of the house, jealousy and suppressed sexuality rise to the surface. As Bernada’s oppression of her daughters increases it is more than the girls’ liberty that is in danger.

Relocating one of Lorca’s best known works to rural Iran, Iranian stage and screen actor Shohreh Aghdashlo will be leading the cast as Bernarda Alba. This will mark her British stage debut; her television credits include Sajida in House of Saddam for the BBC/HBO, a role for which she won the 2009 Emmy® for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a mini-series or movie. She was named Best Supporting Actress by the Independent Spirit Awards, the New York Film Critics, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association for her role in House of Sand and Fog. Her other film credits include The Stoning of Soraya M, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, The Nativity Story, The Lake House and X-Men: The Last Stand, as well as Persian language films Gozaresh and Sute-Delan. She has made regular guest appearances on 24, ER and Will & Grace. On stage her credits include Rainbow on tour in the USA and extensive work with the Drama Workshop of Tehran. Aghdashloo is the co-founder of LA based Theatre Company Workshop 79.

Bijan Sheibani is an Associate Director at the National Theatre where he has directed Arnold Wesker’s The Kitchen as well as Greenland and Our Class. As Artistic Director of Actors Touring Company (2007 to 2010) his productions include Eurydice and The Brother’s Size at the Young Vic and Ghosts of Those Who Return at the Arcola. His Laurence Olivier award-winning production of Gone Too Far was produced by the Royal Court. Earlier this year he directed Harold Pinter’s Moonlight for the Donmar Warehouse. The House of Bernarda Alba is Sheibani’s second production for the Almeida, after The Fixer part of WRITE Playwriting Festival in 2006.

Spanish poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca’s first play Mariana Pineda was staged in 1927. As well as The House of Bernarda Alba his other plays include Blood Wedding, staged by the Almeida in 2005 directed by Rufus Norris and starring Gael Garcia Bernal, and Yerma. His first volume of poems, Gypsy Ballads, was published in 1928.

MICHAEL ATTENBOROUGH TO DIRECT TANYA RONDER’S NEW VERSION OF DE FILIPPO’S FILUMENA

Michael Attenborough will direct Samantha Spiro in Eduardo de Filippo’s Filumena in a new English version by Tanya Ronder running at the Almeida from 15 March – 12 May 2012, with press night on 22 March at 7pm. Designs are by Rob Jones, with lighting by Tim Mitchell and sound by John Leonard. Casting will be announced shortly.

In the balmy heat of late ‘40s Naples, Filumena Marturano lies on her deathbed waiting to marry Domenico Soriano, the man who has kept her as his mistress for twenty-five years. But no sooner has the priest completed the ceremony, than Filumena makes a miraculous recovery. As he reels in shock, Domenico discovers that this brilliant, iron-willed woman has a few more surprises for him.

Olivier award-winning Samantha Spiro will make her Almeida debut in the title role. She has most recently been seen on stage at the Royal Court in Arnold Wesker’s Chicken Soup with Barley where she was also seen in The Family Play. Her previous theatre credits include Hello Dolly, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, Lady Be Good, Macbeth and The Boys from Syracuse all for Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Twelfth Night for the Donmar Warehouse at Wyndham’s Theatre, Funny Girl for Chichester Festival Theatre and Two Thousand Years and Cleo, Camping, Emanuelle and Dick for the National Theatre. Her television credits Rock and Chips, Grandma’s House, After You’ve Gone, Coupling and Cold Feet and her film credits include A Running Jump, Tomorrow La Scala, From Hell, Cor Blimey and Beyond Bedlam.

Tanya Ronder previously wrote a new version of Lorca’s Blood Wedding for the Almeida as well as Or Nearest Offer, a new play for the Almeida Youth Theatre and Chain Play II, a fundraising event for the Theatre. Her adaptation of Vernon God Little was produced by the Young Vic who also staged Ronda’s version of Peribanez. Her stage adaptation of Peter Pan was presented at Kensington Gardens. For the Royal Shakespeare Company she wrote a new version of Ionesco’s Macbett.

Michael Attenborough is Artistic Director of the Almeida Theatre where his productions have been The Mercy Seat, Five Gold Rings, Brighton Rock, The Late Henry Moss, Enemies, There Came A Gypsy Riding, Big White Fog, Awake and Sing!, The Homecoming, In a Dark Dark House, When the Rain Stops Falling, Measure for Measure, Through A Glass Darkly and, most recently, The Knot of the Heart. Previously, he was Associate Director at, Mercury Theatre, Colchester (1972-74), Leeds Playhouse (1974-79), Young Vic (1979-80) and Artistic Director at, Palace Theatre, Watford (1980-84), and Hampstead Theatre (1984-89), and was Principal Associate Director for the Royal Shakespeare Company (1990-2002). On leaving the Royal Shakespeare Company he became an Honorary Associate Artist. Attenborough‘s freelance work includes productions at the National Theatre, the Royal Court, in the West End and on Broadway. His production of Neil LaBute’s Reasons To Be Pretty will open at the Almeida in November this year.

Italian playwright, actor, screen writer, poet and author Eduardo De Filippo’s plays include Filumena, Napoli Milionaria, La Grande Magia, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and The Syndiacte.

JEREMY HERRIN TO DIRECT WORLD PREMIERE OF MATTHEW DUNSTER’S CHILDREN’S CHILDREN

Jeremy Herrin will direct the world premiere of Matthew Dunster’s Children’s Children running at the Almeida from 17 May – 30 June 2012, with press night on 24 May. Designs are by Robert Innes Hopkins with lighting by Neil Austin and sound by Ian Dickinson. Casting will be announced shortly.

Michael and Gordon have been best friends since acting college. Now, 20 years later, Michael is Mr Saturday Night TV but failing actor Gordon is struggling with enormous debts. Meanwhile Gordon’s daughter Effie couldn’t care less about her Dad’s problems – she is far more interested in the film that her cool boyfriend is making and setting up an ecologically sound clothing label. When Gordon asks Michael to lend him a large sum of money it sets in motion a series of events that reveal irreparable cracks in the characters’ relationships.

Playwright, director and actor Matthew Dunster’s writing credits include a new adaptation of Saturday Night Sunday Morning which opens at the Royal Exchange Theatre in February 2012. Previously his adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Most Incredible Thing was produced at Sadler’s Wells Theatre. His play You Can See The Hills received its world premiere at the Royal Exchange Theatre before a transfer to the Young Vic. His production of Doctor Faustus ran at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre this summer and his production of Mogadishu opened at the Royal Exchange before transferring to the Lyric Hammersmith. For the National Theatre he has directed Love The Sinner.

Jeremy Herrin is Associate Director of the Royal Court where he directed the UK premiere of David Hare’s The Vertical Hour as well as Richard Bean’s The Heretic and Polly Stenham’s award-winning That Face which subsequently transferred to the West End. His production of Much Ado About Nothing opened at Shakespeare’s Globe earlier this year and next month his production of Ariel Dorfman’s Death and the Maiden will open at the Pinter Theatre. Herrin will direct Joe Penhall’s Haunted Child for the Royal Court opening in December. His production of David Hare’s South Downs is currently playing at Chichester Festival Theatre. Children’s Children marks Herrin’s directorial debut at the Almeida.

MICHAEL ATTENBOROUGH TO DIRECT JONATHAN PRYCE IN TITLE ROLE AS KING LEAR

Michael Attenborough will direct Jonathan Pryce as William Shakespeare’s King Lear running at the Almeida Theatre from the 31 August – 3 November 2012, with press night 11 September. Designs are by Tom Scutt with lighting by Jon Clark and sound and music by Dan Jones. Further casting will be announced shortly.

When Lear asks each of his daughters to profess their love for him, he is flattered by the false hyperbole of Regan and Goneril. When his youngest daughter Cordelia confesses to love him simply as a daughter should, his pride is dented and he casts her out of his kingdom. Too late to realise his mistake, and forced from power by his offspring, an increasingly impotent and frail Lear descends into madness.
Tony and Olivier award-winning actor Jonathan Pryce made his Almeida debut playing Martin in Edward Albee’s The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? His extensive theatre credits includes The Caretaker for Liverpool Everyman and the Trafalgar Studios, Glengarry Glen Ross at the Apollo Theatre, A Reckoning for Soho Theatre and My Fair Lady at the National Theatre and the Theatre Royal Drury Lane as well as Oliver at the London Palladium, Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Uncle Vanya and The Seagull in the West End, Hamlet for the Royal Court, Measure for Measure at the Royal Shakespeare Company and Comedians at the Old Vic. His film and television work includes Cranford, Hysteria, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tomorrow Never Dies, What a Girl Wants, Victoria and Albert, Evita, Unconditional Love, Brazil and Carrington.

Michael Attenborough directs.

King Lear is sponsored by Coutts & Co.

King Lear is part of the World Shakespeare Festival. The festival, produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company for London 2012, will showcase the best of the UK and international creative talents, exploring the contemporary relevance of Shakespeare.

PRINCIPAL PARTNER

The Almeida Theatre is grateful to its Principal Partner Aspen whose new three year commitment started this summer, building on the existing long term relationship between the two companies. Aspen’s commitment to the Almeida Theatre will ensure continued bold programming, artistic endeavour and risk taking. Aspen, established in 2002, is a leading specialty insurance and reinsurance company with over 670 employees in eight countries. www.aspen.bm

The Almeida Theatre is supported by Arts Council England.

Release issued by: Premier PR

LINKS

Almeida Theatre website

Michael Attenborough To Direct Kieran Bew, Siân Brooke, Tom Burke And Billie Piper In Uk Premiere Of Neil Labute’s Reasons To Be Pretty

Michael Attenborough will direct the UK premiere of Neil LaBute’s Reasons To Be Pretty. Reasons To Be Pretty will run at the Almeida Theatre from 10 November 2011 – 14 January 2012 with press night on 17 November. Designs are by Soutra Gilmour with lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Fergus O’Hare. The cast comprises Kieran Bew, Siân Brooke, Tom Burke and Billie Piper.

Greg (Tom Burke), is overheard admitting that his girlfriend Steph (Siân Brooke) is no beauty, but that he wouldn’t change her for the world. She is devastated; he can’t quite see what he’s done wrong. Meanwhile, Greg’s best friend Kent (Kieran Bew) alternates between boasting about how gorgeous his wife Carly (Billie Piper) is, and chasing after a hot new colleague.

Tony Award-nominated Reasons to be Pretty, which received its world premiere at MCC’s Lucille Lortel Theater, examines our perception of beauty and asks whether it is as much of a curse to be conventionally attractive as it is to be considered ugly.

Kieran Bew was last at the Almeida in Michael Attenborough’s production of The Knot of the Heart. His other theatre credits include The House of Special Purpose for Chichester Festival Theatre and Richard II at the Old Vic. On television his credits include Whitechapel, Inspector George Gently, Waking The Dead, Silent Witness and Personal Affairs, Crusoe; The Street; Whistleblower; and Spooks. His film credits include 1234 and Green Street.

Siân Brooke can currently be seen in Stephen Poliakoff’s My City, also at the Almeida. Previously her theatre credits include Mike Leigh’s Ecstasy at the Duchess and Hampstead Theatres as well as Joseph K at the Gate Theatre, Wanderlust for the Royal Court, Dido, Queen of Carthage for the National Theatre, The Birthday Party at the Lyric Hammersmith and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet and King Lear for the Royal Shakespeare Company. On television her credits include Garrow’s Law, Silk, New Tricks, Doc Martin, The Commander and Cape Roth.

Tom Burke returns to the Almeida having previous played Malcolm in John Caird’s production of Macbeth. He has most recently been seen at the Old Vic in Design For Living. Previously his theatre credits include Creditors and The Cut for the Donmar Warehouse, Glass Eels for Hampstead Theatre and Restoration for the Salisbury Playhouse. His film credits include An Enemy to Die For, Look, Stranger, Telstar and The Libertine. His television credits include Great Expectations, State of Play, Napoleon, In Love With Barbara and Dracula.

Billie Piper made her stage debut as Ann in Christopher Hampton’s Treats at the Garrick Theatre. On television, as well as playing Rose in Doctor Who, she is best known for playing Belle in The Secret Diary of a Call Girl. Her other television credits include A Passionate Woman, Mansfield Park and Shadow in the North. Her film credits include Animals United, Spirit Trap and Things To Do Before You’re 30.

Michael Attenborough is Artistic Director of the Almeida Theatre where his productions have been The Mercy Seat, Five Gold Rings, Brighton Rock, The Late Henry Moss, Enemies, There Came A Gypsy Riding, Big White Fog, Awake and Sing!, The Homecoming, In a Dark Dark House, When the Rain Stops Falling, Measure for Measure ,Through A Glass Darkly and, most recently The Knot of the Heart. Previously, he was Associate Director at Mercury Theatre, Colchester (1972-74), Leeds Playhouse (1974-79), Young Vic (1979-80) and Artistic Director at the Palace Theatre, Watford (1980-84), and Hampstead Theatre (1984-89), and was Principal Associate Director for the Royal Shakespeare Company (1990-2002). On leaving the Royal Shakespeare Company he became an Honorary Associate Artist. Attenborough’s freelance work includes productions at the National Theatre, the Royal Court, in the West End and on Broadway.

Reasons To Be Pretty will be the third play by Neil LaBute that Attenborough has directed during his artistic directorship of the Almeida Theatre. Because of extended feature film commitments, LaBute is no longer available to direct as previously announced.

Neil LaBute’s Reasons To Be Pretty is the third play in his trilogy about physical appearance – the first two being The Shape of Things and Fat Pig. The Almeida began its relationship with LaBute in 2000 when it presented his bash: latter-day plays. Their close association with the playwright continued with productions of The Shape of Things, The Distance From Here, The Mercy Seat and In a Dark Dark House. LaBute’s other plays include Autobahn, Fat Pig, Some Girls, This Is How It Goes , and In A Forest Dark and Deep. LaBute received his Master of Fine Arts degree in dramatic writing from New York University and was the recipient of a literary fellowship to study at the Royal Court Theatre and attended the Sundance Institute’s Playwrights Lab. His films include In the Company of Men, for which he won the New York Critics’ Circle Award for Best First Feature and the Filmmakers’ Trophy at the Sundance Film Festival, Your Friends and Neighbors, Nurse Betty, Possession and The Shape of Things – a film adaptation of his play by the same title. LaBute is the author of several fictional pieces that have been published in The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar and Playboy among others, and Seconds of Pleasure, a collection of his short stories was published by Grove Atlantic.

NEW PRINCIPAL PARTNER

The Almeida Theatre is grateful to its Principal Partner Aspen whose new three year commitment started this summer, building on the existing long term relationship between the two companies. Aspen’s commitment to the Almeida Theatre will ensure continued bold programming, artistic endeavour and risk taking. Aspen, established in 2002, is a leading specialty insurance and reinsurance company with over 670 employees in eight countries. www.aspen.bm

The Almeida Theatre is supported by Arts Council England.

Release issued by: Premier PR

LINKS

Almeida Theatre website

First Look: Rehearsal photos of My City at the Almeida Theatre starring Tracey Ullman

Rehearsal photos of My City at the Almeida Theatre starring Tracey Ullman

Stephen Poliakoff directs the world premiere of My City, his first new play for 12 years, running at the Almeida Theatre from 8 September – 5 November 2011.

The cast includes Hannah Arterton (Waitress), Siân Brooke (Julie), Sorcha Cusack (Summers), Tom Riley (Richard), David Troughton (Minken) and Tracey Ullman (Lambert). Designs are by Lez Brotherson with lighting by Oliver Fenwick and sound and music by Ben and Max Ringham.

How would you feel if, 15 years after you last saw them, you bumped into the one person who had the biggest influence on your life? On a dusky evening, Richard Kenton finds his primary school headmistress lying on a park bench in the shadow of St Paul’s Cathedral. As he becomes reacquainted with her and the other teachers that helped shape him, memories of their vivid and imaginative lessons come to life and their tales of London inspire him once more.

LINKS

Almeida Theatre website

 

Tracey Ullman returns to London theatre in new Stephen Poliakoff play at the Almeida

Award-winning TV and stage actress to star in new Almeida production this Autumn.

For the first time in 20 years, British comedian Tracey Ullman will return to the UK from her home in America to star on the London stage.

Stephen Poliakoff’s new play, My City, will run at the Almeida Theatre in North London from 8 September to 5 November 2011 as part of their new Summer/Autumn 2011 season. Poliakoff will also direct the play, which is his first for 12 years.

In My City Ullman plays a former primary school headmistress discovered lying on a park in the City of London by a former male pupil. As he becomes reacquainted with her and the other teachers that helped shape him, memories of their vivid and imaginative lessons come to life and their tales of London inspire him.

Stephen Poliakoff started his career in theatre, working at the National Theatre and creating stage work that includes Hitting Town and Blinded by the Sun. But it is for his screen writing that he has become best known, writing a range of award-winning work including Caught on a Train and The Lost Prince.

Tracey started her career as a dancer in the late 70′s in a variety of productions including Gigi in Berlin, Elvis and Oh Boy at the Astoria, and the Rocky Horror Show at the Comedy Theatre, before appearing in Victoria Wood’s Talent at the Everyman in Liverpool in 1980 and going on to feature in Dracula at the Young Vic, before her big stage break in Four in Million at the Royal Court.

She then made her big break into TV with Three of a Kind alongside Lenny Henry and David Copperfield, A Kick Up The Eighties, Girls on Top and then moved to America and started her Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning US comedy show The Tracey Ullman Show.

Her other stage performances include The Taming of the Shrew in New York in 1990 and her one-woman shows The Big Love and Tracey Ullman: Live and Exposed.

The Amleida’s new season also includes Neil LaBute returning to the Almeida to direct the UK premiere of his play Reasons To Be Pretty, and two international collaborations with the Belarus Free Theatre Company and Greyscale. Michael Attenborough’s production of The Knot of the Heart is currently running at the theatre starring Kieran Bew, Abigail Cruttenden, Lisa Dillon, Margot Leicester and Sophie Stanton, followed by James McDonald’s production of Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance from 5 May starring Lucy Cohu, Diana Hardcastle, Ian McElhinney, Imelda Staunton, Tim Pigott-Smith and Penelope Wilton.

LINKS

Almeida Theatre website

 

Almeida Theatre Summer/Autumn 2011

• THE BELARUS FREE THEATRE, GREYSCALE AND ALMEIDA LAB FOR ALMEIDA FESTIVAL 2011
• STEPHEN POLIAKOFF TO DIRECT WORLD PREMIERE OF HIS NEW PLAY MY CITY
• NEIL LABUTE TO DIRECT UK PREMIERE OF HIS PLAY REASONS TO BE PRETTY

As Michael Attenborough’s production of David Eldridge’s new play The Knot of the Heart opens at the Almeida, he announces the Company’s bold plans for summer and autumn 2011.

For the Autumn Season, Stephen Poliakoff will direct the world premiere of his new play My City, followed by Neil LaBute returning to the Almeida to direct the UK premiere of his play Reasons To Be Pretty.

Through July the Almeida Festival will play host to two exciting international collaborations with the Belarus Free Theatre Company and Greyscale as well as the production of a new play by the Young Friends of the Almeida (LAB).

Michael Attenborough said: “As I enter my tenth year here I am as committed as ever to a bold, exciting and diverse programme. Our artistic ambition is shown not only in the production of three premieres this year, but by the scale of our Almeida Festival. I am delighted that Stephen Poliakoff has chosen the Almeida to launch his first new play for 12 years and that we continue to be Neil LaBute’s English home as he directs his Broadway hit Reasons To Be Pretty . Our Festival is an integral part of our programme and will play host to the internationally renowned Belarus Free Theatre and the innovative British company Greyscale, alongside the production of a new play by the Young Friends of the Almeida. It is a season where we are home to the new, the original and the unexpected.”

Attenborough’s production of The Knot of the Heart opens on 17 March, running to 30 April 2011. The cast comprises Kieran Bew, Abigail Cruttenden, Lisa Dillon, Margot Leicester and Sophie Stanton.

This is followed by James McDonald’s production of Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance which begins performances on 5 May, with press night on 12 May and runs to 2 July 2011. The cast is Lucy Cohu, Diana Hardcastle, Ian McElhinney, Imelda Staunton, Tim Pigott-Smith and Penelope Wilton.

The Almeida, a 325 seat theatre in the heart of Islington, London, produces a diverse range of British and international drama, as well as an annual summer festival and a year round programme of events, workshops and productions under the banner of Almeida Projects – the theatre’s education and community programme. Funded by Arts Council England, the theatre raises £1.2 million annually which, with ticket sales, contributes to their £3.9 million turnover. With tickets ranging from £8 – £32 and many concessions available, the Almeida’s access policy ensures regular assisted performances throughout the year. As well as free wi-fi, the theatre’s cafe and bar provides a large selection of food and drinks throughout the day.

The Almeida Theatre is supported by Arts Council England.

STEPHEN POLIAKOFF TO DIRECT WORLD PREMIERE OF HIS NEW PLAY MY CITY
Stephen Poliakoff will direct the world premiere of My City, his first new play for 12 years. My City will run at the Almeida from 8 September – 5 November 2011 with press night on 15 September. Designs are by Lez Brotherson with lighting by Oliver Fenwick and sound and music by Ben and Max Ringham. Public booking opens for My City on 9 May 2011, with casting to be announced shortly.

How would you feel if, 15 years after you last saw them, you bumped into the one person who had the biggest influence on your life?

On a dusky evening, Richard Kenton finds his primary school headmistress lying on a park bench in the shadow of St Paul’s Cathedral. As he becomes reacquainted with her and the other teachers that helped shape him, memories of their vivid and imaginative lessons come to life and their tales of London inspire him once more.

Stephen Poliakoff’s first new theatre play for over a decade celebrates the power of storytelling to raise the human spirit. Award-winning playwright, director and scriptwriter, Poliakoff began his career in the theatre becoming resident playwright at the National Theatre at the age of 22. He won the Evening Standard most promising playwright award in 1976 for Hitting Town and City Sugar and has since written over 20 plays which have premiered in the UK including Pretty Boy, Heroes, Strawberry Fields, Breaking the Silence, Coming In To Land, Sweet Panic, Blinded by the Sun, Talk of the City and Remember This. He wrote and directed his first feature film Hidden City which was selected for the Venice Film Festival in 1987. His extensive credits for television and film include the award-winning Caught on a Train, Bloody Kids, She’s Been Away, Close My Eyes, Century, Shooting The Past, Perfect Strangers, The Lost Prince, Friends and Crocodiles, Joe’s Palace, and most recently, Glorious 39 which starred Julie Christie, Romola Garai, Christopher Lee, Bill Nighy, Eddie Redmayne and David Tennant.

NEIL LABUTE TO DIRECT UK PREMIERE OF HIS PLAY REASONS TO BE PRETTY
Neil LaBute returns to the Almeida to direct the UK premiere of his latest play, Reasons To Be Pretty. Reasons To Be Pretty will run at the Almeida from 10 November 2011 – 14 January 2012 with press night on 17 November. Designs are by Soutra Gilmour with lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Fergus O’Hare. Public booking for Reasons To Be Pretty opens on 9 May 2011, with casting to be announced shortly.

Greg is overheard admitting that his girlfriend Steph is no beauty, but that he wouldn’t change her for the world. She is devastated; he can’t quite see what he’s done wrong. Meanwhile, Greg’s best friend Kent alternates between boasting about how gorgeous his wife Carly is, and chasing after a hot new colleague.

Reasons to be Pretty, which received its world premiere at MCC’s Lucille Lortel Theater in 2008, examines our perception of beauty and asks whether it is as much of a curse to be conventionally attractive as it is to be considered ugly.

Neil LaBute returns to the Almeida Theatre to direct the European premiere of his Reasons To Be Pretty, the third in a trilogy of plays about physical appearance – the first two being The Shape of Things and Fat Pig. The Almeida began its relationship with LaBute in 2000 when it presented his bash: latter-day plays. Their close association with the playwright continued with productions of The Shape of Things, The Distance From Here, The Mercy Seat and In a Dark Dark House. LaBute’s other plays include Autobahn, Fat Pig, Some Girls, This Is How It Goes , and In A Forest Dark and Deep which opens at the Vaudeville Theatre tonight. LaBute received his Master of Fine Arts degree in dramatic writing from New York University and was the recipient of a literary fellowship to study at the Royal Court Theatre and attended the Sundance Institute’s Playwrights Lab. His films include In the Company of Men, for which he won the New York Critics’ Circle Award for Best First Feature and the Filmmakers’ Trophy at the Sundance Film Festival, Your Friends and Neighbors, Nurse Betty, Possession and The Shape of Things – a film adaptation of his play by the same title. LaBute is the author of several fictional pieces that have been published in The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar and Playboy among others, and Seconds of Pleasure, a collection of his short stories was published by Grove Atlantic.

ALMEIDA FESTIVAL 2011

This summer the Almeida throws its doors open to its annual festival which celebrates the best of international theatre. Over four weeks (6 – 31 July) the Almeida will present the unexpected as the theatre plays host to two acclaimed companies and puts the work of its Young Friends company centre-stage. In addition there will be a programme of one off events, to be announced shortly. The Festival will enable audiences to hear new and diverse theatre voices, bringing a fresh perspective to the Almeida’s work. Public booking opens for the Almeida Festival on 9 May 2011.

Greyscale

Formed by a group of established directors, writers, actors and designers Greyscale theatre company will take over the Almeida for two weeks and turn the building into a theatre brothel. Performances of The Theatre Brothel are 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 July at 7.30pm. All tickets are £15.

Performed in manner of spaces in and around the Almeida, audiences are invited in to buy the experience they want or maybe need! This collaboration promises to be a provocative and challenging exploration into how we engage with theatre and how our perceptions of it can be altered.

There are currently 15 members of Greyscale theatre company, formed in 2009 by Lorne Campbell and Selma Dimitrijevic. Since their inception they have produced work in partnership with Northern Stage, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Theatre Royal Bath, Arts Council England, Warwick University, Oran Mor and the Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Belarus Free Theatre

Recently described as the ‘bravest theatre in the world’ the innovative Belarus Free Theatre is a company operating under extreme conditions – each time they perform in their home of Minsk they and their audience face arrest. This underground Theatre Company, founded in 2005 by Natalia Koylada and Nikolai Khalezin, joins the festival to perform the UK premiere of Eurepica. Challenge. Performances are from 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 July at 7.30pm with a matinee on 23 July at 2.30pm. All tickets are £15.

Eurepica. Challenge. is a collection of 14 plays from 13 European countries. This is a genre defying theatrical experience that shines a light on the challenges to individual countries and the world at large.

In 2008 the Belarus Free Theatre performed at Soho Theatre with their productions of Being Harold Pinter and Generation Jeans. Last year, Dreams, written by Natalia Kolyada, formed part of Soho Theatre’s Russian Festival.

LAB

The festival ends with a run of performances by the Young Friends of the Almeida (LAB). This company of young people, with their own creative Board, have responded to the creative work of the Almeida’s 2010/11 season and devised their own play based on their experiences. Directed by Lu Kemp and performed by the young people, this is where the theatre celebrates the transition of its young audiences from explorers into performers. The company of 19, aged between 14 and 25, will play three performances on 29 July at 7.30pm and 30 July at 5pm and 8pm. All tickets are £15.

Director and dramaturge Lu Kemp has previously directed The Thirteen Midnight Challenges of Angelus Diablo for the Royal Shakespeare Company/Latitude Festival, One Thousand Paper Cranes for the Tron Theatre/Imagination Festival, Beautiful Cosmos and Room for the Tron Theatre, If That’s All There Is for the Traverse and How to Tell the Truth for the Stephen Joseph Theatre. Public booking opens on 9 May 2011.

 

Release issued by: Premier PR

LINKS

Almeida website

Lucy Cohu, Diana Hardcastle, Ian Mcelhinney, Imelda Staunton & Tim Pigott-Smith Join Penelope Wilton In Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance

Lucy Cohu (Julia), Diana Hardcastle (Edna), Ian McElhinney (Harry), Imelda Staunton (Claire) and Tim Pigott-Smith (Tobias) will join the previously announced Penelope Wilton (Agnes) in Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance, directed by James Macdonald which will run at the Almeida Theatre from 5 May – 2 July, with press night on 12 May 2011. A Delicate Balance will be designed by Laura Hopkins with lighting by Guy Hoare and sound by Ian Dickinson.

Urban socialites Agnes and Tobias appear to inhabit a glamorous world of drinks parties and social clubs. The return home of their recently divorced daughter, the constant presence of Agnes’ alcoholic sister and the impromptu late-night arrival of some close friends, begin to peel away this veneer. As their lives become increasingly claustrophobic, the characters battle with their fear of stepping into the real world, opting instead for the undemanding familiarity of their own drawing room.

Lucy Cohu’s most recent stage performance was as Sylvia Gellburg in Arthur Miller’s Broken Glass at the Tricycle Theatre. Her other stage credits include An Enemy of the People at the Sheffield Crucible, Speaking in Tongues at the Duke of York’s Theatre, Macbeth and Way of the World for Birmingham Rep, Blood Wedding for the Lyric Hammersmith and Mad Forest for the Royal Court Theatre. On television she is best known for her roles including Alice Carter in Torchwood, Evelyn in Cape Wrath, Margaret in The Queen’s Sister and Liz in Forgiven – for which she won an International Emmy Award for Best Actress. On film her notable credits include Eliza in Becoming Jane and Lottie in Gosford Park.

Diana Hardcastle was last seen at the Almeida in Jonathan Miller’s production of Camera Obscura. Previously her theatre credits include An English Tragedy and The Glass Menagerie for Watford Palace Theatre, A Kind of Alaska and A Slight Ache for the Gate, Remembrance of Things of the Past for the National Theatre, A Woman of No Importance for the Royal Exchange Theatre as well a many productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company including New England, Les Liaisons Dangereuses and A Doll’s House. She has recently completed filming The Best Exotic Marigold. Her other film credits include Chromophobia and A Good Woman. On television her credits include Rose Kennedy inThe Kennedy’s, Fortunes of War, Doctors, Rosemary and Thyme, First Among Equals and That’s Love.

Ian McElhinney has previously been seen at the Almeida in Michael Attenborough’s productions Through A Glass Darkly and There Came a Gypsy Riding. His extensive theatre work in Ireland includes many performances at the Gate and the Abbey Theatres in Dublin and the Lyric in Belfast. His London theatre work includes Amphibians for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Observe The Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme for Hampstead Theatre, Pygmies in the Ruins for the Royal Court and The Cure at Troy for the Tricycle. His film credits include Three Wise Men, Cup Cake, Closing the Ring, The Front Line, Omagh, The Boxer and The Michael Collins Story. On television his more recent credits include Game of Thrones, New Tricks, Scapegoat, The Tudors, Little Dorritt and Murphy’s Law.

Imelda Staunton was also last at the Almeida in There Came A Gypsy Riding. Her other more recent stage credits include Entertaining Mr Sloane at the Trafalgar Studios, Life x 3 for the National Theatre, The Corn Is Green for the Old Vic – for which she won the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress, The Wizard of Oz for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Uncle Vanya at the Vaudeville Theatre and Into The Woods at the Phoenix Theatre. Staunton’s film credits include Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Taking Woodstock, A Bunch of Amateurs, Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix, Shakespeare in Love. For playing the title role in Mike Leigh’s Vera Drake Staunton won many accolades including the BAFTA, Evening Standard and Venice Film Festival Best Actress Awards. On television her many credits include Psychoville, Cranford Chronicles, My Family and Other Animals and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Tim Pigott-Smith has most recently been seen on stage as Frank in Educating Rita at the Trafalgar Studios and Ken Lay in Enron at the Noel Coward Theatre. In 1999 he played opposite Kevin Spacey in the Almeida’s production of The Iceman Cometh. His extensive theatre credits include Pygmalion at the Old Vic, Little Nell for the Bath Theatre Royal, Hecuba for the Donmar Warehouse and Mourning Becomes Electra for the National Theatre as well as many productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and Bristol Old Vic. On film his credits include My Piece of the Pie, Alice in Wonderland, Quantum of Solace, V for Vendetta and Bloody Sunday. His more recent television credits include The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, The Queen, Midsomer Murders, On Expenses and The Last Flight to Kuwait as well The Jewel in the Crown for which he won the BAFTA for Best Actor.

Penelope Wilton was most recently on stage as Gertrude opposite Jude Law in the Donmar Warehouse production of Hamlet. She was previously at the Almeida in Karel Reisz’s production of The Deep Blue Sea. Her extensive theatre credits include The Family Reunion, John Gabriel Borkman and Little Foxes all for the Donmar Warehouse, Women Beware Women, The Cherry Orchard and The Seagull for the Royal Shakespeare Company and The House of Bernarda Alba, Piano, The Secret Rapture, Major Barbara, Much Ado About Nothing, Man and Superman, Sisterly Feeling and Betrayal for the National Theatre. Her film credits includes The History Boys, Match Point, Pride and Prejudice, Calendar Girls and Shaun of the Dead, and on television Half Broken Things, Five Days, Celebration, Falling, Doctor Who, Talking Heads, Ever Decreasing Circles, Bob and Rose and The Deep Blue Sea. She has recently been seen on ITV in Julian Fellowes’ Downton Abbey.

James Macdonald returns to the Almeida where he has previously directed Judgment Day and The Triumph of Love. Recently he has directed John Gabriel Borkman at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre. For the Royal Court his credits include Cock, Drunk Enough to Say I Love You, A Number, Dying City and Blasted. For the National Theatre he has directed Dido Queen of Carthage, The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other and Exiles and for the Royal Shakespeare Company The Tempest and Roberto Zucco. In the West End his productions include Glengarry Glen Ross and on Broadway The Book of Grace.

Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance received its world premiere on Broadway in 1966, directed by Alan Schneider with a cast led by Hume Cronin and Jessica Tandy. In 1973 it was released as a film, directed by Tony Richardson, with a cast including Katherine Hepburn, Paul Scofield, Lee Remick, Kate Reid, Joseph Cotton and Betsy Blair. The Almeida Theatre has previously presented Albee’s The Goat or Who is Sylvia?, The Play About The Baby and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which transferred to the West End after a sell-out Almeida run. As well as A Delicate Balance, Tony and Pulitzer prize-winning Albee’s other works include The Zoo Story, Seascape, The Lady From Dubuque, Finding the Sun, Three Tall Women, Fragments and Me, Myself & I. Albee was awarded the Gold Medal in Drama from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters in 1980.

PRINCIPAL SPONSOR

The Almeida Theatre is grateful to its Principal Sponsor Coutts & Co., who is currently in their eighth consecutive year of support. The relationship between Coutts and the Almeida, first established when the newly refurbished theatre reopened in 2003, is a unique collaboration which has developed and flourished over the past eight years. www.coutts.com

ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND

The Almeida Theatre is supported by Arts Council England

Release issued by: Premier PR

LINKS

Almeida Theatre website

Evening Standard Awards – winners

Royal Court and National Theatre sweep up at annual Evening Standard Theatre Awards; Royal Court wins best play; National’s Nancy Carroll and Rory Kinnear win best actress and actor

At a glittering ceremony yesterday, 28 November, at the newly reopened Savoy Hotel in London, the annual Evening Standard Theatre Awards were announced.

Hosted by Stephen Fry, the 56th awards saw a host of stars from stage and screen come together to celebrate the best of the year’s theatre scene.

This year saw a notable number of rising young stars acknowledged in the awards, including teenage playwright Anya Reiss, who was presented with the Charles Wintour award for most promising playwright by Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch for her play Spur of the Moment at the Royal Court.

Also another young Royal Court winner was rewarded, with Skins actor Daniel Kaluuya winning the “Editor’s award for a shooting star” for Sucker Punch. The venue also picked up best play for Bruce Norris’s Clybourne Park, which is to transfer to the Wyndham’s Theatre next year, and best design for Miriam Buether for Sucker Punch at the Royal Court and Earthquakes in London at the National Theatre.

The National were also major beneficiaries of this year’s awards, with Nancy Carroll beating Passion’s Elena Roger, Legally Blonde’s Sheridan Smith and Clybourne Park’s Sophie Thompson to win the best actress award for After the Dance at the National. Also at the venue, Rory Kinnear won best actor for his title role in Hamlet, along with Measure for Measure at the Almeida, and Howard Davies won best director for The White Guard and his production of All My Sons at the Apollo.

Best musical went to Passion, the Donmar Warehouse’s revival of Stephen Sondheim’s show starring Elena Roger, and the Milton Shulman award for Outstanding newcomer was given to You Me Bum Bum Train created by Kate Bond and Morgan Lloyd at the LEB Building, E2.

Two special awards for achievement in theatre were also given: Sir Michael Gambon received a special award  for his contribution to theatre, and Sir Peter Hall, who enjoyed this 80th birthday this month, was awarded the Moscow Art Theatre’s Golden Seagull award.

The National Theatre’s production of Hamlet, starring Evening Standard best actor award winner Rory Kinnear, will be filmed as part of the National’s NT Live season and screened in cinemas across the UK and around the world on 9 December 2010. See more information here.

Watch a video of the Evening Standard Theatre Awards

See the full list of Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2010 winners here

Evening Standard Theatre Awards – Winners 2010

Awards announced: Sunday 28 November 2010, Savoy Hotel London

BEST ACTOR
Rory Kinnear- Measure for Measure (Almeida)/Hamlet (National’s Olivier)

THE NATASHA RICHARDSON AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS
Nancy Carroll – After the Dance (National’s Lyttelton)

BEST PLAY
Bruce Norris – Clybourne Park (Royal Court)

THE NED SHERRIN AWARD FOR BEST MUSICAL
Passion – Donmar Warehouse

BEST DIRECTOR
Howard Davies – The White Guard (National’s Lyttelton)/All My Sons (Apollo)

BEST DESIGN
Miriam Buether – Sucker Punch (Royal Court)/Earthquakes in London (National’s Cottesloe)

THE CHARLES WINTOUR AWARD FOR MOST PROMISING PLAYWRIGHT
Anya Reiss – Spur of the Moment (Royal Court)

THE MILTON SHULMAN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING NEWCOMER
You Me Bum Bum Train created by Kate Bond and Morgan Lloyd (LEB Building, E2)

EDITOR’S AWARD FOR A SHOOTING STAR
Daniel Kaluuya for his performance in Sucker Punch (Royal Court)

THE LEBEDEV SPECIAL AWARD
Sir Michael Gambon for his contribution to theatre

THE MOSCOW ART THEATRE’S GOLDEN SEAGULL
Sir Peter Hall

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