Cast Announced for Aleksey Scherbak's Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day
By Aleksey Scherbak
Translated by Rory Mullarkey
Directed by Michael Longhurst
18 March – 16 April 2011
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
Press Night, Wednesday 23 March 2011, 7pm

The Royal Court Theatre’s International Playwright’s season continues from 18 March (press night 23 March) with Remembrance Day, a new play by Latvian playwright Aleksey Scherbak.

The cast includes Ruby Bentall, Nick Court, Michelle Fairley, Ewan Hooper, Sam Kelly, Michael Nardone, Luke Norris, Iwan Rheon and Struan Rodger.

Looking at the politically charged tensions in modern day Latvia, Remembrance Day was developed from Royal Court workshops in Moscow in 2008 and 2009.

“You can’t tell which ones are still fascists and which ones aren’t, since they’re all dressed up in the same uniform.”

Can you be a hero if you fought for Nazi Germany?

The Latvians who fought for the Third Reich and halted the Red Army parade as heroes every year through the streets of Riga. As a growing number of young Russians campaign to halt the ‘fascist’ march, their Latvian counterparts join the veterans in commemoration.

When teenager Anya becomes a political activist, her father’s attempts to calm the situation stir up a storm of extremist patriotism. Remembrance Day takes an unflinching look at the fight for the political soul of Latvia.

Ruby Bentall plays Anya. Her credits include Alice at Sheffield Theatres, The Miracle, DNA, Shoot/Get Treasure/Repeat and on television, she plays Minnie in Lark Rise to Candleford on BBC1.

Nick Court plays Gint. His recent credits include Macbeth at Shakespeare’s Globe, The Giant at Hampstead, Antony and Cleopatra and Julius Caesar at the RSC.

Michelle Fairley plays Sveta. Her credits include Dancing at Lughnasa at the Old Vic, Greta Garbo Comes to Donegal at the Tricycle and Othello at the Donmar Warehouse. On film, she has appeared in Chatroom and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Ewan Hooper plays Valdis. He last appeared at the Royal Court in Conor McPherson’s The Weir and Richard Bean’s Toast. His other credits include The Bacchae and Stuff Happens at the National Theatre of Scotland and on television Trial and Retribution.

Sam Kelly plays Paulis. He last appeared at the Royal Court in Under the Whaleback and also appeared in Toast by Richard Bean. His most recent theatre credits include When We Are Married at the Garrick Theatre and Wicked in the West End. He has worked extensively in television and is perhaps best known for his parts in series Barbara, ‘Allo ‘Allo, On the Up and Porridge.

Michael Nardone plays Sasha. His most recent credits include National Theatre of Scotland’s production of Black Watch and on television, he appeared in the HBO series of Rome.

Luke Norris plays Boris. His recent theatre credits include The Habit of Art and War Horse at the National Theatre, The God’s Weep at Hampstead and Days of Significance at the RSC.

Iwan Rheon plays Lyosha. His theatre credits include The Devil Inside Him for the National Theatres of Wales and Spring Awakening at the Novello. On screen, his credits include Misfits on Channel 4 and Grandma’s House on BBC 2.

Struan Rodger plays Uncle Misha. His most recent credits include Julius Caesar at the Barbican. On screen, his credits include The Thick of It, Law and Order and The Madness of King George.

Aleksey Scherbak lives in Latvia and is the author of 11 plays which have been performed in Belarus, Latvia, Russia and Sweden. He developed this play as part of Royal Court’s Moscow workshops in 2008 – 2009.

Director Michael Longhurst’s previous productions include Stovepipe for HighTide with the National Theatre and the Bush Theatre, On The Beach, as part of The Contingency Plan at the Bush Theatre, dirty butterfly at the Young Vic, 1 in 5 as part of Daring Pairings at Hampstead Theatre. He was also assistant director on The Family Plays in the 2007 International Season at the Royal Court.

The production will be designed by Tom Scutt, with lighting by David Holmes and music and sound by Ben and Max Ringham.

Remembrance Day is in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court 18 March – 16 April . Tickets start at £10 and are available online at www.royalcourttheatre.com or from the Box Office on 020 7565 5000.

– ends – (17/02/11)

International Playwrights Season: 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 and helps the Royal Court offer a springboard for young writers to greater public and critical attention. January this year sees the Genesis Foundation celebrate 10 years of nurturing and supporting emerging talent in the arts. For more information, please visit www.genesisfoundation.org.uk.
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Listings Information

Remembrance Day
By Aleksey Scherbak
Translated by Rory Mullarkey
Directed by Michael Longhurst
Friday 18 March – Saturday16 April
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS
Monday – Saturday 7.45pm
Saturday matinees 3pm (from 26 March)
Thursday matinee 14 April 3pm
Press night Wed 23 March 7pm
Post-show Talk Tuesday 29 March

Tickets £20 Mondays all seats £10
Concessions £15* (avail. in advance until 26 March 2011 incl. and all mats. For all other perfs, avail. 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, not bookable online. All discounts are subject to availability.

For further information please contact Anna Evans in the Royal Court Press Office on
020 7565 5063 or e-mail annaevans@royalcourttheatre.com.