News – Page 6 – The Theatre Playbook

Catherine Tate and David Threlfall line up for The Enfield Haunting

Catherine Tate and David Threlfall will star in The Enfield Haunting, a new play based on one of the most famous poltergeist events in the world.

Written by Paul Unwin and directed by Angus Jackson, The Enfield Haunting will play at Brighton Theatre Royal and Richmond Theatre – where it plays from Tuesday, November 21 to Saturday, November 25, 2023 – before moving to the Ambassadors Theatre in London for a limited West End season from November 30, 2023 until March 2, 2024.

Tate (Doctor Who) will play Peggy Hodgson, a single mother who tries to protect her three children from something that is incomprehensible and deeply disturbing.

Threlfall (Shameless) plays ghost hunter Maurice Grosse.

The Hodgson’s had no idea what a poltergeist was when, in the summer of 1977, furniture and toys started moving of their own accord. They were an ordinary, working-class family, who lived in a North London council house at 284 Green Street, Enfield, but for the next 18 months became the centre of one of the most famous poltergeist events in the world.

Janet, the possessed 16-year-old, was nearly pulled out of a window. The local ‘lolly pop lady’ saw her floating six feet in the air in an upstairs room and Janet was found fast asleep in a neighbours’ bed. There are tapes of Janet growling for hours in a voice that doctors said would destroy a sixteen-year-old girl’s vocal cords after a few minutes.

Unwin’s play is the story of one night in the spring of 1978 when events were approaching a climax. Based on the first-hand accounts of one the one the ghost hunters, The Enfield Haunting is the true story of what happened when Peggy Hodgson tries to protect her three children from something that is incomprehensible, deeply disturbing and is hurtling to a terrifying conclusion.

Maurice Grosse was one of the ghost hunters. A kind and protective man, he was determined to help the Hodgson’s but as the night unfolds it slowly becomes clear that he is searching for something that he is convinced that only Janet can help him find.

Further cast and creatives will be announced in due course.

Hackney Empire to hear The Vagina Monologues for International Sign Language Day

Hackney Empire will host a special performance of V’s The Vagina Monologues to mark International Sign Language Day 2023.

Directed by Paula Garfield for Deafinitely Theatre, the event will see the show performed in British Sign Language (BSL) and Spoken English by a mix of 20 deaf and hearing women and non-binary people from all walks of life.

The one-off performance aims to raise money for the charity Deaf-initely Women, which provides essential services to make sure all deaf women are able to live free from abuse. This performance takes place on Saturday, September 23 at 7:30pm.

Written almost 20 years ago, The Vagina Monologues is based on writer V’s Vagina Interviews, conducted with 100 women all around the world. This collection of funny, lively and emotional monologues represents the untold experiences of women in a powerful theatrical experience presented for the first time in a BSL performance at this scale; an unmissable celebration of womanhood and sexuality.

The proceeds will support Deaf-initely Women to find and train more deaf people to become qualified Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVA), a specialist professional who works closely with domestic abuse survivors. The UK desperately need more IDVAs as there are only 10 deaf IDVAs to cover the whole of the British Isles.

Kiln Theatre unveils cast for Lynn Nottage’s Mlima’s Tale

Kiln Theatre has announced the full cast for the UK premiere of Lynn Nottage’s Mlima’s Tale ahead of its debut in September.

Gabrielle Brooks (Githinji), Pui Fan Lee (Gouxi), Brandon Grace (Andrew), Natey Jones (Geedi) and Ira Mandela Siobhan (Mlima) will appear in the production, which is directed by Miranda Cromwell.

Described as a powerful and unforgettable story of the ivory trade, the story centres on the one they call Mlima, the mountain. Killed for his magnificent tusks, killed for greed, killed for ivory, his spirit journeys through the ivory trade market, marking those complicit in his barbaric death.

It opens on September 21, with previews from September 14, and runs until October 21.

Beck Theatre to learn The Importance of Being… Earnest?

The Importance of Being… Earnest? will play at the Beck Theatre in Hayes as part of its forthcoming UK tour.

After a critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe run in 2022, and a previous London Fringe theatre run, the production will have a full run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2023 before embarking on a 37-week tour, beginning in September and running until July 2024.

It will run at the Beck Theatre from October 12-14, 2023.

In this riotous twist on a much-loved classic the show opens to looming disaster; the actor playing Ernest in Oscar Wilde’s famed farce fails to arrive on cue. In a monumental effort to ‘save the show’, a real audience member is quickly cast in the lead role.

But this impetuous recasting sets off a hilarious chain of events that, one-by-one, renders the rest of the cast unable to continue their performances.

As more audience members are encouraged to step into the spotlight, led backstage for costume and make-up, impromptu auditions, the painting of portraits, the chanting of mantras; doing whatever’s needed to help the show go on, an absurd controlled madness ensues – until it feels as if there are almost as many audience members in the cast as there are in the … audience.

Developed alongside the company’s flagship open-rehearsal initiative, where audiences are invited into the rehearsal room to participate in the creative process, the show is written by Josh King, Simon Paris and Say It Again, Sorry?, and is directed by Simon Paris.

Wilton’s Music Hall brings hip-hop show Fray to the London

Fray, a hip-hop theatre show from CandyBomber Productions and choreographer Sisco Gomez, is heading to London’s Wilton’s Music Hall.

Fray fuses world-class dance, music and digital visuals to tell a story about two deeply bonded brothers navigating competing passions for Hip Hop dancing and for the shared world of adventure they discover inside of video games as over time, their bond frays when the older brother is lured away by dark forces.

Written and directed by Kate Duhamel, it is produced and choreographed by Gomez.

Large screen visuals portray the games that first light up the brothers’ young imaginations with colourful landscapes and imaginary characters who inspire and challenge them, much like the people they meet in the real world outside.

As their story plays out across the years, a video game they build together becomes the singular world in which Tullio can hold a connection to his older brother, Ziya, who is being lured away by perilous influences. Tullio finds himself in a real-life quest in which there is no analog “game controller” for real people, and steering his brother away from the dark forces that attract him can’t be programmed into a computer. Tullio must dig deep to find within himself a power mighty enough to turn fear into hope for them both.

The cast includes Elijah Smith, Jamai Robinson, Alex Chambers, Jost Karlin, Ken Nguye, Ola Papior and Marie Spieldenner.

Fray comes to Wilton’s Music Hall from July 24-26.

Freema Agyeman meets God of Carnage at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre

Doctor Who and Dreamland star Freema Agyeman will star in the revival of Yasmina Reza’s savagely dark comedy God of Carnage.

Agyeman will play Veronique Vallon in the play when it opens at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, directed by Nicholai La Barrie.

Also joining the production is Ariyon Bakare (His Dark Materials) playing Alain Reille, Dinita Gohil (The Father and the Assassin) takes on the role of Annette Reille and Martin Hutson (Small Island) plays Michel Vallon.

When 11-year-old Ferdinand knocked 11-year-old Bruno’s two front teeth out, their parents meet up to have a civil conversation about the misdemeanours of their children in a suitably calm and rational way… what can go wrong? As night falls chaos ensues with explosive tantrums, name-calling and tears.

Reza’s comedy, translated by Christopher Hampton, is designed is by Lily Arnold. The lighting design is by Richard Howell, sound design and composition by Asaf Zohar and casting by Heather Basten.

Agyeman said: “I am beyond thrilled to be returning to the London stage, and where better than the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, with its incredible history and tradition – a space where consistently solid, inclusive and high calibre work is created and shared. I’m also happy to be staying in the genre of dark comedy post Dreamland – God of Carnage made me gasp and guffaw in equal measure! I look forward to performing in this play alongside the fantastic cast and am very excited to be working with director Nicholai La Barrie whose enthusiasm is infectious!”

Soho Theatre to host Miriam Battye’s Strategic Love Play

Soho Theatre will welcome Miriam Battye’s Strategic Love Play as part of its UK tour this autumn.

So they’ve both swiped right. Now they’re meeting for the first time. Facing each other. As if that’s a normal thing to do. But she’s being uncomfortable, and he’s a total bore. The vibe is horrific and the banter is even worse. But something is keeping them in their seats. Something is making them stay. Welcome to your hot date.

Directed by Paines Plough co-artistic director Katie Posner, Strategic Love Play takes place on an awkward first date, speaking uncomfortable truths about modern dating and romance with acid wit.

Letty Thomas and Archie Backhouse star in the production, which is a coproduction between Soho Theatre and Belgrade Theatre in association with Landmark Theatres. The tour will launch after a full run at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Writer Battye (Dead Ringers, Succession) said: “A first date is a fascinating place for a play. There’s simultaneously massive stakes and no stakes at all, depending on how you will it. It’s brutal and it’s trivial in equal measure. There’s a lot of theory and analysis and assistance swirling around the project of coupledom. But at the end of the day, it starts, or it ends, with two people sitting across from each other with no guidance. We’re all alone out here. We always have to do that bit. I wanted to write about that bit.”

The production will feature set and costume design by Rhys Jarman, lighting design by Rajiv Pattani, sound design by Beth Duke, intimacy direction by Robbie Taylor Hunt, movement direction by Gabrielle Nimo, dramaturgy by Gillian Greer and the casting director is Jacob Sparrow. The production manager will be Josephine Tremelling and the company stage manager will be Simon Perkins.

Strategic Love Play will run at Soho Theatre from September 6-23, 2023.

For more information: painesplough.com/productions/strategic-love-play/

Cast announced for Rabiah Hussain’s Word-Play at the Royal Court Theatre

Issam Al Ghussain, Kosar Ali, Simon Manyonda, Sirine Saba and Yusra Warsama will head the cast of Word-Play, a new show from Rabiah Hussain.

Directed by Nimmo Ismail, the show explores the top-down structures of language and their far-reaching, long-lasting consequences. It will take place at the Royal Court Theatre’s Jerwood Theatre Upstairs from July 20-August 26, 2023.

In the Downing Street Press Office an emergency meeting has been called. The Prime Minister has been ad-libbing on live TV (again) and his words are going viral. There is a flurry of accusations, and demands for an apology; but as the team debate what to do next, it’s already too late. His words have found their way to dinner parties, bus journeys and newspaper columns across the nation – and not everyone is angry.

Word-Play is designed by Rosanna Vize, with lighting design by Jamie Platt. The composer and sound designer is XANA, the movement director is Ken Nakajima and the casting director is Isabella Odoffin. The voice coach is Emma Woodvine, the assistant director is Aneesha Srinivasan and the associate designer is Alys Whitehead.

The play was developed whilst Hussain was on attachment as part of the Royal Court Theatre and Kudos Writing Fellowship in 2019.

There will be a post-show talk with Hussain on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.

Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma bet on William Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma are bringing Macbeth to London – and tickets are now on sale.

From Wessex Grove and Underbelly, in association with Shakespeare Theatre Company, this brand new production of one of William Shakespeare’s most iconic plays will be staged in custom-built spaces designed to bring the audience closer to the action.

Macbeth is coming. A couple corrupted by their relentless lust for power have blood on their hands. Witness the gripping tale of greed, murder, deception and superstition. Once you cross the line, you can never turn back.

Tony and BAFTA Award-winning Fiennes will star as Macbeth and Olivier Award-winning Varma will play as Lady Macbeth in the production, which is directed by Simon Godwin with set and costume design by Frankie Bradshaw and an adaptation by Emily Burns.

Macbeth comes to Dock X, Canada Water, from February 20-March 23, 2024.

Tickets: MacbethTheShow.com

Simon Godwin, Indira Varma and Ralph Fiennes

Theatre Royal Haymarket sets the scene for Accidental Death of an Anarchist

Here’s a look at Accidental Death of an Anarchist, now running at the Theatre Royal Haymarket until September 9.

An Anarchist has fallen to his death from a police station window. The question is: did he jump or was he thrown? As the police attempt to avoid yet another scandal, a mysterious imposter is arrested and brought in for questioning. Seizing the chance to put on a show, he leads the officers in an ever more ridiculous reconstruction of their official account, hilariously exposing the cover-ups, corruption, and profound idiocy at the heart of the police.

Adapted by Tom Basden and directed by Daniel Raggett, the cast includes Daniel Rigby (Maniac), Tony Gardner (Superintendent Curry), Tom Andrews (Detective Daisy), Mark Hadfield (Inspector Burton), Ro Kumar (Agent Joseph), and Ruby Thomas (Fi Phelan).

The understudies will be played by Joe Boylan, Georgina Hellier and Richard Hodder.