As some theatres look to a careful reopening and others consolidate their online offers, casting news of four intriguing shows breaks
The Last Five Years at Southwark Playhouse will star Molly Lynch (Cathy) and Oli Higginson (Jamie) who return to their roles after they were cut short on 16 March. They will be appearing in the show from 1 – 31 October and will be in the same ‘support bubble’ so the show won’t adhere to socially distancing staging.
However, in the venue, there will be strict social distancing measures in place. For full info on that head here and click on the Covid-19 FAQS tab: https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/the-large/the-last-five-years/#covidfaqs
The third show in our Old Vic: In Camera series will be Faith Healer – five scratch performances of Brian Friel‘s classic play, all performed and streamed live from The Old Vic stage from Wed 16–Sat 19 Sep.
General sale opens on Mon 07 Sep at 10am, but if you would like to be able to purchase tickets from tomorrow, find out more about becoming a Friend to access the priority sale.
The Fantastic Francis Hardy (Michael Sheen) travels the most remote corners of Wales, Scotland and Ireland attempting to heal those who wish to be healed. His wife Grace (Indira Varma) and manager Teddy (David Threlfall) complete this nomadic triptych, each with their own telling of the loss, love and struggle of life on the road with a seemingly predestined Faith Healer.
Brian Friel’s masterful and haunting Faith Healer is a kaleidoscopic, ever shifting exploration of the power of belief, as the contradicting recollections of these three characters seek to reconcile with the past.
All performances will be captioned and audio described and available globally.
Theatre Royal Stratford East have announced the selection of plays and the cast for 846 Live, which will be performed as part of the Greenwich+Docklands International Festival on Sat 12 Sep at the Royal Docks Learning & Activity Centre Basketball Court. 846 Live is directed by Matthew Xia, with design by Natalie Pryce, sound design by Xana and movement direction by Damilola K Fashola.
Originally an audio play series, 846 was produced by Stratford East and created by acclaimed playwright Roy Williams who brought together 14 Black and Asian British writers to respond artistically to the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis on 25 May 2020.
846 Live
A co-production between Stratford East and the Royal Docks Team.
IC3 by Nathaniel Martello-White, performed by Ira Mandela Siobhan featuring voice recording from Kirsty Bushell
Suck. Your. Mum. by Nathan Powell, performed by Ira Mandela Siobhan
Say Their Names by Sumerah Srivastav, performed by Michael Elcock
My Part by Selina Thompson, performed by Doreene Blackstock, Michael Elcock, Judith Jacob, Tonderai Munyevu, Cherrelle Skeete and Leo Wringer featuring DJ Set by Xana.
Director – Matthew Xia
Designer – Natalie Pryce
Sound Designer – Xana
Movement Director – Damilola K Fashola
Do opposites really attract? Cool chick Casey (Samantha Barks) and tightly wound Aaron (Simon Lipkin) are hoping so. These two New York City singles have been set up by friends and family, but from the outset this First Date seems to be doomed. The two have nothing in common… But with the help of a meddling but well-meaning waiter, and a host of other characters along the way, can this mismatched pair turn what could be a dating disaster into something special before the check arrives?
With a contemporary rock score, First Date gleefully pokes fun at the all too familiar dating mishaps we’ve all experienced and gives hope that there could be that one special person out there for all of us.
Samantha Barks and Simon Lipkin will be joined by Oscar Conlon-Morrey (Only Fools And Horses), Nicholas McLean (Wicked) and Danielle Steers (Bat Out Of Hell), as well as a special appearance by Rufus Kampa (The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, The Musical). This joyful show will be filmed in the world-renowned Crazy Coqs with direction and professional videography by Dean Johnson, musical supervision by Adam Hoskins and musical direction by Josh Winstone.
