Cast announced for Paul Bradshaw’s double-bill tell me straight and aggy at Park Theatre

Park Theatre has announced casting for its double-bill of Paul Bradshaw’s tell me straight and the world premiere of aggy.

Bradshaw will star as Him in tell me straight alongside Buck Braithwaite (Masters of the Air) and Jade Anouka (Otherland, Almeida Theatre), with Imogen Frances directing. Anouka will voice the role of Dani. Frances and Bradshaw will also co-direct Aggy, starring Matthew Jordan (The Phoenician Scheme), Jean-Luke Worrell (Peter Pan Goes Wrong , Lyric Theatre) and Jack Gittins (Zanna Don’t! A Musical Fairytale, Old Joint Stock Theatre).

tell me straight follows Him, whose hook-ups all have one thing in common: they’re straight. With best friend Dani pushing him to break the cycle, Him attempts a 30-day detox — no booze, no fast food and no men — but distractions and old connections threaten to derail the plan.

aggy centres on Lawrence and Mahlik, a couple preparing to move in together. After a tough rejection, Mahlik suggests Lawrence adopts an alter ego to open doors, but as success starts to roll in, the persona forces them to face uncomfortable truths. The play explores privilege, race, gender, power and creativity, and asks who gets to make art — and at what cost.

Paul Bradshaw said today, “To be the first playwright to have a double bill programmed at Park Theatre — especially as someone who grew up on a council estate on benefits — is something I don’t take for granted for a second. Reviving and reimagining tell me straight has been incredibly rewarding, and I can’t wait to share its messy, funny world with a brand-new audience. aggy is shaping up to be a visceral excavation of identity, power and creativity, handled with great sensitivity by our extraordinarily talented company. The whole team is excited to welcome fresh audiences to Park Theatre to experience both pieces.”

Creative team includes Cheng Keng (lighting), Eamonn O’Dwyer (sound), Matt Powell (audio/visual), Damien Stanton (set and costume) and Georgie Rankcom (dramaturg). The show is produced by SH Productions and telling tales with support from ATG through Ian McKellan’s Producers Grant.