Full Cast Announced for Simon Stephens Birdland at Royal Court Theatre

Full Cast Announced for Simon Stephens Birdland at Royal Court Theatre

The cast has been announced for Simon Stephens’ new play Birdland at the Royal Court Theatre in London (3 April to 31 May – press night 9 April), which looks at fame, money and an out-of-control front man. The full cast is Nikki Amuka-Bird, Daniel Cerqueira, Yolanda Kettle, Alex Price, Charlotte Randle and Andrew Scott.

“Everything can be quantified. All worth can be quantified. Artistic worth. Human worth. Material worth. Everything. Some food is simply better than other food. Isn’t it? Some clothes are better than other clothes. Aren’t they?”

The last week of a massive international tour and rock star Paul (Andrew Scott), is at the height of his fame. Everybody knows his name. Whatever he wants he can have. He can screw anybody he wants to. He can buy anything he desires. He can eat anything. Drink anything. Smoke anything. Go anywhere.

As the inevitability of the end of the road looms closer, and a return home becomes a reality, for Paul, the music is starting to jar.

A piercing new play looking at empathy, money and fame.

The production will be directed by Carrie Cracknell, set designed by Ian MacNeil, costumes by Holly Waddington, with lighting by Neil Austin, music and sound by Tom Mills.

Nikki Amuka-Bird last appeared at Royal Court Theatre in Love and Information. Her other theatre credits include The Trial of Ubu and The Gods Weep at Hampstead Theatre and Welcome to Thebes at the National Theatre. Her television credits include Luther.

Daniel Cerqueira last appeared at Royal Court Theatre in Cleansed. His other theatre credits include Feast and The Changeling at the Young Vic and Table at the National Theatre.

Yolanda Kettle’s theatre credits include the Young Vic’s production of A Doll’s House in the West End, Hello/Goodbye at Hampstead Theatre and The Seagull at the Arcola Theatre

Alex Price’s theatre credits include Before the Party at the Almeida, Bingo at the Young Vic, Beautiful Thing at Manchester Royal Exchange and Elektra at the Gate. His screen credits include Aphrodite Fry, Father Brown, Being Human, Merlin and Doctor Who.

Charlotte Randle’s theatre credits include The Lyons at Menier Chocolate Factory, Public Enemy at the Young Vic and The Kings Speech at Wyndham’s Theatre.

Andrew Scott last appeared at the Royal Court in Cock by Mike Bartlett. His other Royal Court credits include Dying City, A Girl In A Car With A Man, Playing The Victim, Crave and Dublin Carol. His other stage work includes Sea Wall by Simon Stephens at the Bush and The Shed at the National Theatre for Paines Plough, Emperor and Galilean and Aristocrats for the National Theatre, Design for Living at the Old Vic, The Vertical Hour (Broadway), and extensive work with Druid and the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. His television work includes Dates, The Town and Sherlock, for which he won the 2012 Best Supporting Actor BAFTA for his role as Moriarty. His most recent film The Stag is out in the UK on 14 March.
Simon Stephens’ credits at the Royal Court include Wastwater, Motortown, Country Music, Herons and Bluebird. His work elsewhere include his Olivier award-winning adaptation of Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time for the National Theatre, due to reopen in the West End this summer; an adaptation of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House for the Young Vic, which transferred to the West End and Broadway, Port, recently revived at the National Theatre, Punk Rock at the Royal Exchange, Manchester and Lyric Hammersmith, Pornography at the Edinburgh Festival, Harper Regan at the National Theatre and On the Shore of the Wide World at the Royal Exchange, Manchester and National Theatre.
Carrie Cracknell directs. She is Associate Director at the Royal Court and an Associate Artist at the Young Vic and was co-Artistic Director of the Gate Theatre, from 2007 to 2012. At the Royal Court, she directed Suhayla El-Bushra’s Pigeons as part of the weekly rep in Open Court. Her most recent credits include A Doll’s House at the Young Vic, which transferred to the West End and Broadway, Wozzek at English National Opera and Elektra at the Young Vic. At the Gate Theatre her credits included: Electra, Breathing Irregular, Hedda, Shoot/Get Treasure/Repeat and The Sexual Neuroses of Our Parents.

ends

Notes to Editors:

For more information, please contact Anna Evans on 020 7565 5063 annaevans@royalcourttheatre.com

Listings Information:

Birdland
by Simon Stephens
Directed by Carrie Cracknell
Thursday 3 April – Saturday 31 May 2014
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS
Monday-Saturday 7.30pm
Saturday Matinees 2.30pm (from 12 April)
Thursday Matinees 2.30pm (from 17 April)
No performance Saturday 5 April, Friday 18 April, Monday 21 April, Monday 5 May, Monday 26 May
Press Night Wednesday 9 April 2014, 7pm
Captioned Performance Wednesday 21 May
Audio Described Performance Saturday 17 May, 2.30pm
Post Show Talk Wednesday 7 May
Age Guidance 14+
Tickets £32, £22, £16, £12
Mondays all seats £10 (available in advance to Friends and Supporters subject to availability and on the day of the performance from 9am online)
Concessions £5 off top two prices* (available in advance for all performances until Saturday 12 April inclusive and all matinees. For all other performances, available on a standby basis on the day)
25s and under £10 (limited availability)
School and HE Groups of 8+ 50% off top two prices (available Wednesday-Saturday), plus matinees)
Groups of 6+ £5 off top price (available Wednesday-Saturday)
Access £12 (plus a companion at the same rate)
*ID required. All discounts are subject to availability

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