Cast Announced for Weekly Rep

Wednesday 4 June

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR ROYAL COURT’S WEEKLY REP

The Royal Court Theatre’s company of 14 actors has been announced. The ensemble will perform in the Weekly Rep, performing six plays in six weeks as part of Open Court – a festival of plays, ideas and events chosen and suggested by a group of over 140 writers in new Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone’s first summer at the helm from 10 June.

The acting ensemble will be Paul Bhattacharjee, Anna Calder-Marshall, Debbie Chazen, Farzana Dua Elahe, Laura Elphinstone, Natasha Gordon, Jonjo O’Neill, Siobhan Redmond, Ferdy Roberts, Ryan Sampson, Nav Sidhu, Angela Terence, Sam Troughton, Alan Williams. They will be directed by Carrie Cracknell, Vicky Featherstone, John Tiffany and Caroline Steinbeis.

The Weekly Rep was suggested by playwright Caryl Churchill and echoes the famed summer seasons in repertory theatres around Britain. One company of fourteen actors and four directors will be created for the summer season.

“Theatres have more plays than they have time or money for, so writers these days often get encouragement, workshops or readings rather than productions. Writers live in hope, or despair, and do a lot of rewrites. But a play doesn’t really exist till it’s happened on a stage, and a writer learns more from that than from anything, and can move on and write another one. So even a short rehearsal and short run is worth having. And if a play is done more or less at once, as it was written, though it may be rougher there is less danger of innovation being blunted by too much advice.

“Of course we often envy European theatres which have the money for rehearsals twice as long as ours. But there is a different and exhilarating skill to enjoy in getting a play on in a week – it’s how actors used to develop their craft in theatres all over the country and the audience can get to know a company of actors and see them doing something different very week.”
Caryl Churchill, Playwright

From birth to death, friendship, coming of age and revolution these six new plays are from playwrights just beginning their relationship with the Royal Court.

Tue 11- Sat 15 June
The President Has Come To See You
by Lasha Bugadze, translated by Donald Rayfield, directed by Vicky Featherstone
Georgia is at war. Again. And the President can’t cope. So he abandons his post and flees into the city to hide in the homes of his unsuspecting civilians.
An absurd comedy about cowardice and power.

Tue 18- Sat 22 June
Death Tax by Lucas Hnath, directed by John Tiffany
As long as you can keep paying, there’s really no need to die.
80 year old Maxine is convinced her daughter is paying Nurse Tina to bump her off before an impending tax deadline.
A darkly comic play about death and taxes, and how we must live with both.

Tue 25- Sat 29 June
Pigeons by Suhayla El-Bushra, directed by Carrie Cracknell
Amir and Ashley are best mates. Ashley spends as much time as possible at Amir’s house losing at chess to Amir’s dad, flirting with his sister and eating his mum’s food. As the pressure and prejudices of the outside world start to invade their lives, the cracks begin to show.
A searing insight into the reality of growing up in an apparently multicultural society.

Tue 2- Sat 6 July
Mint by Clare Lizzimore, directed by Caroline Steinbeis
Over five years of imprisonment Alan’s life has been measured out in weekly visits from his family; slices of the normal life he’s left behind. Everything will be so much better once he’s finally out and back home for good. Won’t it?
A sharp and detailed portrayal of a man struggling to keep his head above water.

Tue 9 – Sat 13 July
Untitled Matriarch Play (Or Seven Sisters)
by Nikole Beckwith, directed by Vicky Featherstone
On the eve of her 55th birthday Lorraine gathers her four daughters around her and announces a new sibling is on the way. Utterly sick of her daughters she is determined to have a son…by surrogate. A biting and witty family comedy in broody and bumpy times.

Tue 16 – Sat 20 July
Talk Show by Alistair McDowall, directed by Caroline Steinbeis
Sam runs a daily talk show from his basement bedroom. Upstairs his Dad and Grandad barely speak, but keep in touch through the baby monitor. With the return of Sam’s wayward uncle can this peculiar form of domestic harmony stay uninterrupted?
A black comedy about talking and transmission.

The Open Court programme appears ahead of Vicky Featherstone’s first full season of plays, which will start in September 2013 and be announced in July 2013. Alongside Weekly Rep, Open Court will include a surprise theatre experience; a chance to hear a Royal Court playwright read aloud one of their plays; a nightly soap opera in Peckham; a weekly big idea, exploring sex, age, death, collaboration, European austerity and a week of workshops, plays and events for 8-11 year olds and their families.
All of the Weekly Rep productions will be designed by Open Court festival designer Chloe Lamford. Modified from one core design across all six shows, each individual play will have a unique set design. Lighting will be designed by Lizzie Powell and Beky Stoddart, music and sound by Nick Powell and Giles Thomas and design associates are Fly Davis and Ruth Stringer.

*Tickets for Weekly Rep and Open Court available from the Box Office
0207 565 5000 or online at www.royalcourttheatre.com*

Notes to Editors:

Listings Information:

OPEN COURT: Weekly Rep
Tue 11 June – Sat 20 July 2013
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS
Tues-Sat 8pm (7pm on Thurs 13 June) Sat Matinee 3.30pm (except 20 July)
Captioned Performance Sat matinees 3.30pm (except 20 July) & Fri 19 July at 8pm Touch Tours: Thursdays 6.30pm (6pm on Thursday 13 & 20 June)
Age Guidance 14+
Tickets £20 & £12 Concessions £15* (available Sat matinees. For all other performances, available on a standby basis on the day)
School and HE Groups of 8+ £10 Under 26s £8* (limited availability)
Access £12 (plus a companion at the same rate)
Day Seats available for all Weekly Rep performances.
MULTIBUY OFFER2 stars Buy 3 or more plays from the Weekly Rep and save 20%
*ID required. All discounts are subject to availability.

Cast

Paul Bhattacharjee
President The President Has Come to See You
Hassan Pigeons
Steve Talk Show
Paul Bhattacharjee last appeared at the Royal Court in The Westbridge. His theatre credits include Much Ado About Nothing for the RSC, The Bomb for the Tricycle and A Disappearing Number for Complicité. His television credits include Any Human Heart , The Jury and EastEnders. His film credits include Casino Royale, White Teeth and Dirty Pretty Things.

Paul Bhattacharjee
President The President Has Come to See You
Hassan Pigeons
Steve Talk Show
Paul Bhattacharjee last appeared at the Royal Court in The Westbridge. His theatre credits include Much Ado About Nothing for the RSC, The Bomb for the Tricycle and A Disappearing Number for Complicité. His television credits include Any Human Heart , The Jury and Eastenders. His film credits include Casino Royale, White Teeth and Dirty Pretty Things.

Anna Calder-Marshall
Maxine Death Tax
Grandma Sylvie Untitled Matriarch Play (or Seven Sisters)
Anna Calder-Marshall recently appeared at the Royal Court in In The Republic of Happiness. Her theatre credits include Pastoral at Soho Theatre, Salt, Root and Roe at Trafalgar Studios and The House of Bernarda Alba at the Royal Exchange. Her television credits include 13 Steps Down, New Tricks and Anna Karenina.

Debbie Chazen
Lela, Nina 1 The President Has Come To See You
Charlotte Mint
Karen Untitled Matriarch Play (or Seven Sisters)
Debbie Chazen last appeared at the Royal Court in In Basildon. Her other theatre credits include Calendar Girls on tour, Cinderella at the Old Vic and The Cherry Orchard at the Crucible. Her television credits include The Spa, Coronation Street and The Smoking Room.

Farzana Dua Elahe
Shorena, Doctor’s Assistant The President Has Come To See You
Ameena Pigeons
Beckah Untitled Matriarch Play (or Seven Sisters)
Farzana Dua Elahe last appeared at the Royal Court in Catch. Her theatre credits include What Fatima Did for Hampstead Theatre, Testing the Echo for Out of Joint and Burn at the National Theatre. Her television credits include Married, Single, Other, Silent Witness and Eastenders.

Laura Elphinstone
Nina 3 The President Has Come To See You
Stephanie Mint
Claire Untitled Matriarch Play (or Seven Sisters)
Laura Elphinstone’s credits for the Royal Court include If You Don’t Let Us Dream, We Won’t Let You Sleep and Love and Information. Her other theatre credits include Utopia at Soho Theatre, Chalet Lines for the Bush Top Girls at Chichester and Pains of Youth at the National.

Natasha Gordon
Tina/ Candice Death Tax
Mimi Untitled Matriarch Play (or Seven Sisters)
Natasha Gordon recently appeared at the Royal Court in The Low Road. Her theatre credits include Red Velvet at the Tricycle, Speechless at the Arcola, The Exception and the Rule at the Young Vic and As You Like It at the RSC.

Jonjo O’Neill
Lado and Robert The President Has Come To See You
Jonah Talk Show
Jonjo O’Neill’s theatre credits include The Effect at the National and Richard III, Romeo and Juliet and Morte D’Arthur for the RSC. His television credits include Bad Sugar, The History of Mr Polly and I Do, and his film credits include Defiance and Fakers.

Siobhan Redmond
Nina 3 Mother, Wife The President Has Come To See You
Daughter Death Tax
Lorraine Untitled Matriarch Play (Seven Sisters)
Siobhan Redmond’s theatre credits include King John and Richard III for the RSC, Mary Stuart and Dunsinane at the National Theatre of Scotland, U.S and Them for Hampstead Theatre. Her television credits include Bob Servant, Taggart, The Town and The Bill.

Ferdy Roberts
Doctor, Producer, Husband The President Has Come To See You
Carl Pigeons
Bill Talk Show
Ferdy Roberts recently appeared at the Royal Court in If You Don’t Let Us Dream, We Won’t Let You Sleep. His theatre credits include Three Kingdoms and Three Sisters at the Lyric Hammersmith, The Silence at the RSC and Wallenstein at Chichester. Ferdy is co-artistic director of Filter Theatre and an associate at the Lyric Hammersmith.

Ryan Sampson
Shota, George 2, Policeman The President Has Come To See You
Ashley Pigeons
Sam Talk Show
Ryan Sampson’s theatre credits include The Kitchen Sink at the Bush, Canary at Hampstead and Dido, Queen of Cathage at the National. His television credits include Plebs, Fresh Meat, The Work Experience and Up The Women.

Nav Sidhu
Amir Pigeons
Darryl Talk Show
Nav Sidhu first appeared at the Royal Court in The Empire. His theatre credits include The History Boys at the Crucible and Arabian Nights at the RSC. His television credits include Random.

Angela Terence
Leah Pigeons
Nicola Mint
Sera Untitled Matriarch Play (Seven Sisters)
Angela Terence’s theatre credits include Lay Down Your Cross at Hampstead Theatre, Fatherland at the Gate and Mad Forest for Battersea Arts Centre. Her television credits include The Suspicions of Mr Whicher II: The Murder in Angel Lane and her film credits include Glorious 39.

Sam Troughton
George 1, Gocha, Mamuka The President has Come to See You
Todd, Charley Death Tax
Alan Mint
Sam Troughton’s credits last appeared at the Royal Court in Love, Love, Love. His other theatre credits include Bull at The Sheffield Crucible/E59E Theatre New York, Three Sisters at the Young Vic and A Street Car Named Desire for Liverpool Playhouse. His television credits include Dancing on the Edge and The Town.

Alan Williams
Dave, the Driver The President has Come to See You
Simon Mint
Ron Talk Show
Alan Williams last appeared at the Royal Court in Stoning Mary. His theatre credits include Krapp’s Last Tape for Hull Truck, A Thousand Stars Explode in the Sky for the Lyric Hammersmith and War Horse for the National Theatre and West End. His television credits include Starlings, Doc Martin and Luther.

Writer Biographies

Nikole Beckwith is a playwright and screenwriter based in New York. Nikole’s play Everything is Ours was produced by the Chautauqua Theater Company. Her screenplay adaptation of her play Stockholm, Pennsylvania garnered her a 2012 Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting and was included in the 2012 Black List of best, unproduced screenplays.

Lasha Bugadze is a writer based in Tbilisi, Georgia. His previous credits include Otari, Nugzar and the Mephistopheles and Naphthaline. He is also the author of numerous novels, essays and short stories and has received a number of awards in his native country. The President Has Come To See You was developed on the 2011 Royal Court International Residency and was first staged as a rehearsed reading at the Royal Court in March 2013, as part of the season of New Plays from Georgia and Ukraine.

Suhayla El-Bushra is a playwright based in Hove. On television, she is currently writing for Hollyoaks and other credits include a feature screenplay for Jeva Films (supported by the Film Council), an interactive teen drama and several scripts for Doctors. Her theatre credits include 66 Books at the Bush Theatre and Cuckoo, produced at the Unicorn next year.

Lucas Hnath is a playwright based in New York. His previous credits include Death Tax (Humana Festival/Steinberg Award Isaac’s Eye (EST) and the short play, NightNight (Humana Festival). Upcoming plays include A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay about the Death of Walt Disney (SoHo Rep) and Red Speedo (Studio Theatre, DC).

Clare Lizzimore is a playwright and director based in London. Mint is her first play.
As a director, her credits include Bull by Mike Bartlett at Sheffield Crucible, One Day When We Were Young by Nick Payne as part of the Paines Plough Roundabout Season, Lay Down Your Cross by Nick Payne at Hampstead Theatre. At the Royal Court, she directed Faces in the Crowd by Leo Butler and has worked extensively with the International department.

Alistair McDowall grew up in the North East of England. He was a member of the Young Writers Programme and his play Brilliant Adventures was performed as a reading as part of the Young Writers Festival at the Royal Court in 2012, and was produced at Royal Exchange. His other credits include Captain Amazing at Live Theatre Newcastle.

Open Court and Theatre Local are supported by Bloomberg
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Through our philanthropy programme, we help charities and non-profit organisations around the world with education and literacy programmes, health and medical research, social work, arts and culture, public parks and the environment.

Jerwood New Playwrights is a longstanding partnership between the Jerwood Charitable Foundation and the Royal Court. Each year, Jerwood New Playwrights supports the production of new works by emerging writers, all of whom are in the first 10 years of their career. The Royal Court carefully identifies playwrights whose careers would benefit from the challenge and profile of being fully produced either in the Jerwood Downstairs or Jerwood Upstairs Theatres at the Royal Court.

Weekly Rep writers Suhayla El-Bushra, Clare Lizzimore, and Alistair McDowall are part of the Royal Court’s Jerwood New Playwrights programme, funded by the Jerwood Charitable Foundation, which aims to discover and support the next generation of world class UK playwrights. Responding to the format of the Open Court season, the Programme takes a unique approach in supporting three short runs of these writers’ plays instead of one full length production run.

The Jerwood Charitable Foundation supports the Jerwood New Playwrights programme and 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 its funding is to allow artists and arts organisations to thrive; to continue to develop their skills, imagination and creativity with integrity. It works with artists across art forms, from dance and theatre to literature, music and the visual arts. For more information visit www.jerwoodcharitablefoundation.org

The President Has Come To See You by Lasha Bugadze, presented as part of the Weekly Rep and PIIGS are part of International Playwrights: A Genesis Foundation Project.

The Genesis Foundation supports the Royal Court’s International Playwrights Programme.

To find and develop the next generation of professional playwrights, the Genesis Foundation funds workshops in diverse countries as well as residencies at the Royal Court. The Foundation’s involvement extends to productions and rehearsed readings which helps the Royal Court to provide a springboard for young writers to greater public and critical attention. For more information, please visit www.genesisfoundation.org.uk

The President Has Come To See You by Lasha Bugadze, presented as part of the Weekly Rep is supported by British Council Wider Europe. For more information on the British Council and its work, please visit www.britishcouncil.org.

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Royal Court Flight Partner