New artistic director of the Kiln Theatre, Amit Sharma, has revealed casting for the world première of Rob Drummond’s Pins and Needles.
Amit Sharma will direct Richard Cant, Gavi Singh Chera, Brian Vernel and Sharlene Whyte in the play, which runs from 19 September to 26 October at the Kiln.
Joining Sharma in the creative team are Designer Frankie Bradshaw; Lighting Designer Rory Beaton; Sound Designer Jasmin Kent Rodgman; Casting Director Amy Ball CDG; Kiln-Mackintosh Resident Assistant Director Imy Wyatt Corner; and Linbury Associate Designer Finlay Jenner.
Rob Drummond’s new play sees him explore the politics around vaccines, and the human stories behind them.
Amit Sharma said in a statement: “Rob and I are thrilled to have assembled this fantastic cast and creative team to create his brand-new play for the stage. The Kiln Theatre is a place for nurturing conversation and provoking debate, and it feels perfect to begin with Pins and Needles which will entice, challenge and entertain our audiences.”
Pins and Needles is playing at the Kiln Theatre from 19 September to 26 October 2024.
Book tickets to Pins and Needles at the Kiln Theatre London
More about the cast of Pins and Needles
Richard Cant returns to Kiln Theatre to play Edward Jenner – he previously appeared in Handbagged and Wife. His other theatre work includes Chariots of Fire, Talent (Sheffield Theatres), What It Means (The Lot at Wilton’s Music Hall), The Vortex (Chichester Festival Theatre), Orlando (MGC at the Garrick Theatre), The Normal Heart, Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear (National Theatre), After Edward, Edward the Second (Shakespeare’s Globe), Maydays, Henry VI – Rebellion and Wars of the Roses (RSC), Saint Joan (Donmar Warehouse), My Night with Reg (Donmar Warehouse/Apollo Theatre), Medea (Almeida Theatre), The Trial (Young Vic), War Horse (New London Theatre), and Salome (Headlong). His television credits include Doctor Who, Mapp & Lucia, The Crown, It’s a Sin, Silent Witness, Taboo, Outlander, Bleak House and The Way We Live Now; and for film, Take Care, My Policeman, Mary Queen of Scots, and Stan and Ollie.
Gavi Singh Chera plays Rob. His theatre credits include Our Generation (National Theatre/ Chichester Festival Theatre), Behind The Beautiful Forevers (National Theatre), Pygmalion (Headlong), The Cherry Orchard (Yard Theatre / HOME Theatre), Duck and 1922: The Waste Land (Jermyn Street Theatre); as well as numerous West End productions whilst a member of the National Youth Theatre REP Company, including Wuthering Heights, Consensual and The Merchant of Venice. His television credits include Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power, The Undeclared War, The Lazarus Project, and Vera; and for film, Blitz, and Kavita and Teresa, and short film, Temple – for which he was nominated for Best Actor in the British Short Film Awards.
Brian Vernel plays Robert. His theatre credits include Mary (Hamstead Theatre), Stories, Certain Young Men – Queer Theatre (National Theatre), Instructions for Correct Assembly (Royal Court), The Seagull (Lyric Hammersmith), Barbarians, Future Conditional (Young Vic), Takin’ Over the Asylum (Royal Lyceum/Citizen’s Theatre), The Static, Blackout (Corby Cube) and Four Parts Broken (National Theatre Of Scotland/Traverse Theatre/Oran Mor). His television credits include Shardlake, Slow Horses, Gangs of London S1 & S2, Collateral, The Tunnel, Dr Who, The Missing 2, The Last Kingdom, The Casual Vacancy, Grantchester, Prey and The Field of Blood. For film his credits include Kill, Dunkirk, Papillon, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Winter Song, Offender and Let Us Prey.
Sharlene Whyte plays Mary. Her theatre credits include Daddy (Almedia Theatre), The Trick (Bush Theatre), Matilda the Musical (Cambridge Theatre), As Good a Time as Any (Print Room), Wildefire, Born Bad (Hampstead Theatre), NUT (National Theatre), Treasure Island (Theatre Royal, Haymarket), Julius Caesar (Lyric Hammersmith), The Three Birds (Gate Theatre), Arabian Nights (Young Vic/UK tour). Her television credits include Mr Loverman, Sherwood S2, Silent Witness, The Doll Factory, Sandition, Stephen, Small Axe, We Hunt Together, Run, Spooks, The Undisclosed, Adanna Lawal in Waterloo Road, The Story of Tracy Beaker, Tinsel Town, My Hero, Burnside, As If, and Other People’s Children. For film her credits include, Eye for an Eye, Perfect 10, Second Coming and Honey Trap.
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