Cast Announced for The Westbridge opening at Theatre Local

PRESS RELEASE

4 October 2011

Cast Announced for The Westbridge opening at Royal Court’s Theatre Local

The cast has been announced for the The Westbridge by Rachel De-lahay which will have its world premiere at the Royal Court’s Theatre Local in Peckham on 8 November (previews from 3 November) before transferring to the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court.

The cast include Fraser Ayres, Paul Bhattachargee, Ryan Calais Cameron, Daisy Lewis, Jo Martin, Chetna Pandya, Ray Panthaki, Adlyn Ross and Shavani Seth.

The production is directed by Clint Dyer, designed by Ultz with lighting by Katharine Williams and sound by Emma Laxton.

“Do you think you’re going to get married in a church or a temple?”
“I think you should get married on an elephant and wear a sari thing like that pussycat doll. Fit!”

The accusation of a Black teenager sparks disturbance on the South London streets.
While tensions rise, a couple from very different backgrounds navigate the minefield between them and their families.

The Westbridge explores the intricacies of living side by side, and looks at racial and cultural distinctions with humour and bite.

Rachel De-lahay came to the Royal Court through the Unheard Voices Writers Programme, which aims to support and develop writers whose voices are under-represented on British stages. Rachel was part of the group aimed at young Muslim writers. The Westbridge is her first play, which, while still unproduced, was jointly awarded the Alfred Fagon Award with Roy Williams for Sucker Punch in 2010.

Clint Dyer directs. As a director, his credits include the hit show The Big Life, which transferred to the West End from the Theatre Royal Stratford East and an award-winning short film Pukka and One of Us? which premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. He started his directorial career on Theatre Royal Stratford East’s Directors Course. As an actor, he has appeared in films like The Trail, Cherps, Mr Inbetween and Everybody Loves Sunshine and appearing in such TV as Dalziel & Pascoe, Inspector Linley, The Commander, Lock Stock, Thief Takers, Prime Suspect and Eastenders.

The Westbridge is part of the Royal Court’s Jerwood New Playwrights programme, supported by the Jerwood Charitable Foundation.

The Westbridge is at Theatre Local at the Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, SE15 4ST from 3-19 November. Tickets will be pay-what-you-like on the door or £10 in advance from the Royal Court Theatre Box Office on 020 7565 5000 or online at www.royalcourttheatre.com.

It will then transfer to the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court from 25 November – 23 December. Tickets £20 (concessions available) from 020 7565 5000 or online at www.royalcourttheatre.com.

– ends –
(03/10/2011)

For further information, images or interviews, please contact Anna Evans on 020 7565 5063 annaevans@royalcourttheatre.com

Notes to Editors:

Coutts is the Principal Sponsor of the Royal Court Theatre

Coutts is the UK private banking arm of the Royal Bank of Scotland. Coutts has a long history of supporting the arts going back 200 years, having looked after the financial affairs of many famous clients connected with the arts such as Bram Stoker, Charles Dickens and Chopin. In 1816, Thomas Coutts married Harriot Mellon, a popular actress of her day, and together they became partners of a number of London Theatres, including the Drury Lane and the Royal Opera House. Coutts has even featured in a number of artistic works including The Gondoliers by Gilbert and Sullivan, and Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic story Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. In the new millennium, this tradition has continued not only through managing the finances of many of today’s top writers, actors and musicians, but also through our arts sponsorship programme and we are delighted to support The Royal Court and its diverse range of ground-breaking performances.

Theatre Local is supported by Bloomberg

As a cutting edge communications company, Bloomberg has long championed innovation and has established an international reputation for supporting organisations that push beyond conventional boundaries. Through its dynamic Philanthropy programme Bloomberg has supported a wide range of arts initiatives that burst beyond the four walls of theatres and galleries taking the excitement of theatre and art further out into the community

Through our philanthropy programme, we help charities and non-profit organisations around the world in education and literacy programs, health and medical research, social work, arts and culture, public parks and the environment.

The Westbridge is part of the Royal Court’s Jerwood New Playwrights programme, supported by the Jerwood Charitable Foundation.

The Jerwood Charitable Foundation is dedicated to imaginative and responsible revenue funding of the arts, supporting emerging artists to develop and grow at important stages in their careers. The aim of their funding is to allow artists and arts organisations to thrive; to continue to develop their skills, imagination and creativity with integrity. They work with artists across art forms, from dance and theatre to literature, music and the visual arts. For more information visit www.jerwoodcharitablefoundation.org

The Westbridge was developed with the support of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, as part of the Unheard Voices: A Paul Hamlyn Foundation Project.

Rachel De-lahay is the recipient of the inaugural Clare McIntyre Bursary, a financial award given to an emerging playwright in memory of playwright Clare McIntyre.

Listings information

The Westbridge
by Rachel De-lahay
directed by Clint Dyer
Age 14 +

Theatre Local
3 – 19 Nov, Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, London, SE15 4ST
Mondays – Saturday: 7.30pm
Matinees Thu 10, 17 & Sat 12, 19 Nov at 3.30pm
Press Night Tue 8 Nov 7pm

Tickets £10 in advance (£8 concs)* or pay-what-you-like on the door
Box Office 020 7565 5000 or www.royalcourttheatre.com or in person at The Bussey Building, Peckham

• ID required. All discounts are subject to availability

Royal Court
25 Nov – 23 Dec, Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at Royal Court, Sloane Square, London, SW1W 8AS
Monday – Saturday 7.45pm
Thursday matinees 3.30pm (from 15 Dec), Saturday matinees 3.30pm (from 3 Dec)
Post-show Talk Tuesday 6 December
Captioned Performance Wednesday 21 December
Tickets £20 Mondays all seats £10 available on the day of perf from 9am online, 10am in-person, and in advance to Friends and Supporters
Concessions £15* (available on a standby basis on the day)
School and HE Groups of 8+ £10 (avail. Tue-Fri and mats)
Access £12 (plus a companion at the same rate)

• ID required. All discounts are subject to availability
  Box Office 020 7565 5000 or www.royalcourttheatre.com