Cast Announced for Nina Raine's Tribes

PRESS RELEASE

Monday 23 August 2010

Tribes
By Nina Raine
Directed by Roger Michell
14 Oct – 13 Nov 2010
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Royal Court Theatre
Captioned Press Night: Tue 19 Oct 7pm
Press Night: Wed 20 Oct 7pm

The second play from award-winning playwright Nina Raine, Tribes, opens in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court on 14 Oct (press nights 19 & 20 Oct)

The cast includes Jacob Casselden, Kika Markham, Stanley Townsend, Michelle Terry, Harry Treadaway and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

“I just thought that everyone’s parents spoke like that. Then I realised.
Just like I thought everyone’s parents walked around in the nude shouting at each other.
They do”

Billy’s fiercely intelligent and proudly unconventional family are their own tiny empire, with their own private language, jokes and rules. You can be as rude as you like, as possessive as you like, as critical as you like. Arguments are an expression of love. After all, you’d do anything for each other – wouldn’t you? But Billy, who is deaf, is one of the few who actually listens. Meeting Sylvia makes him finally want to be heard; can he get a word in edgeways?

Nina Raine returns to the Royal Court after starting her career here as a trainee director. Her debut play Rabbit premiered at the Old Red Lion Theatre in 2006 and after a sell-out run transferred to the Trafalgar Studios in the West End before being produced as part of the Brits off-Broadway festival in New York. The play earned her the Charles Wintour Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright as well as the Critics Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright. As a director, Nina also directed Alia Bano’s Shades at the Royal Court in 2009.

Roger Michell will direct. Roger returns to the Royal Court after starting his career here in 1978 as Assistant Director to John Osborne and Samuel Beckett. He last directed My Night With Reg at the Royal Court in 1995. His recent credits include Rope at the Almeida, Female of the Species in the West End, Betrayal and Old Times at the Donmar Warehouse, Landscape with Weapons, Honour, Blue/Orange, The Homecoming, Under Milk Wood and The Coup at the National Theatre. His television credits include The Mother, Titanic Town, Omnibus, Persuasion, The Buddha of Suburbia, Downtown Lagos and his films include Morning Glory, Venus, Enduring Love, Changing Lanes and Notting Hill.

Jacob Casselden plays Billy, the only deaf son in the family. His previous credits includes Danny Diva at the Soho Theatre, the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and film short Nectar.

Kika Markham plays Billy’s mother, Beth. Her extensive stage and screen credits include The Permanent Way for Out of Joint Theatre Company, Bufinidae at the Bush Theatre, Song at Twilight in the West End for which she was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress, and appeared in one of the first modern dress productions of Twelfth Night at the Royal Court in 1968. On screen, her credits include Minder, Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Waking the Dead.

Stanley Townsend plays Christopher, Billy’s father. His recent credits include Phedre, Gethsemane, Happy Now and Guys and Dolls at the National Theatre, The Alice Trilogy, Shining City and The Weir at the Royal Court. On film, he has appeared in Station Jim, Happy Go Lucky and The Libertine and on television, he has appeared in Ashes to Ashes, New Tricks, Waking the Dead and Rough Diamond.

Michelle Terry plays Sylvia, Billy’s new found friend. Her credits include London Assurance, Alls Well that Ends Well and England People Very Nice at the National Theatre, War on Terror, Two Cigarettes and 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover at the Bush Theatre and The Man Who Had All the Luck at the Donmar Warehouse.

Harry Treadaway play Billy’s Brother Daniel. His previous credits include Ghosts in the West End and with twin brother Luke at the Royal Court in Mark Ravenhill’s Over There. On screen, he has appeared in Control, Fish Tank, City of Ember, Brothers of the Head and on television, his credits include The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall and Cape Wrath (both Channel 4).

Phoebe Waller-Bridge plays Ruth. Her credits include Like A Fishbone and 2nd May 1997, for which she was nominated for Outstanding Newcomer at the Evening Standard Awards at the Bush Theatre, Rope at the Almeida Theatre and Roaring Trade at the Soho Theatre.

Tribes will be directed by Roger Michell, designed by Mark Thompson with lighting by Rick Fisher and sound by John Leonard.

Tribes will run in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court from 14 Oct – 13 Nov 2010. Tickets available online at www.royalcourttheatre.com or from the Box Office on 020 7565 5000.

– ends –
(23/08/10)

Notes to Editors:

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

Please note that there will be two press nights for this production: a captioned performance on Tuesday 19 October at 7pm and Wednesday 20 October at 7pm.

Cast:
Jacob Casselden Billy
Kika Markham Beth
Stanley Townsend Christopher
Michelle Terry Sylvia
Harry Treadaway Daniel
Phoebe Waller-Bridge Ruth

Creative Team

Writer Nina Raine
Director Roger Michell
Designer Mark Thompson
Lighting Rick Fisher
Sound John Leonard

£10 Mondays
This autumn, the Royal Court will be working in partnership with French Wines, through sponsorship of the successful and long-standing programme of great value, accessible tickets for Monday performances. The £10 Mondays scheme has introduced generations of new theatre audiences to ground-breaking new plays for many years and this new partnership will keep this tradition alive. The Royal Court has an international reputation for innovation, excellence and diversity, all qualities that French wines are also renowned for. During the autumn season, the Royal Court Café Bar will offer an extensive wine list made up exclusively of French wines.

Listings Information:

Tribes
By Nina Raine
Directed by Roger Michell
14 Oct – 13 Nov 2010
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Royal Court Theatre
Captioned Press Night, Tue 14 Sep 7pm
Press Night, Wed 15 Sep 2010 7pm

14 Oct – 13 Nov 2010
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
Mon-Sat 7.30pm
Thu mats 3.30pm (4 & 11 Nov) Sat mats 3.30pm (from 23 Oct)
Press night Wed 20 Oct, 7pm
Post-show discussion Wed 3 Nov
Captioned performances Sat 16 Oct, 7.00pm, Tue 19 Oct, 7.00pm (captioned press night), Fri 29 Oct, 7.30pm, Mon 1 Nov, 7.30pm, Wed 3 Nov, 7.30pm,
Sat 13 Nov, 3.30pm
BSL interpreted performances Sat 23 Oct, 7:30pm, Mon 25 Oct, 7:30pm, Thu 11 Nov, 3:30pm
Audio described performance Sat 6 Nov, 3.30pm
Age guidance 14+

Tickets £25, £18, £12
Mondays all seats £10
Concessions £5 off top two prices* (avail. in advance for all perfs until 23 Oct incl. and all mats. For all other perfs, avail. on a standby basis on the day)
25s and under Limited free tickets available for 25s and under through the Arts Council national scheme A Night Less Ordinary. £6* tickets also available.
School and HE Groups of 8+ 50% off top two prices (avail. Tue-Fri)
Groups of 6+ £5 off top price (avail. Tue-Fri)
Access £12 (plus a companion at the same rate)

• ID required, not bookable online. All discounts are subject to availability.