Press Release: Cast Announced for The Village Bike by Penelope Skinner

Published on Tue 17 May 2011
The cast has been announced for The Village Bike by Penelope Skinner, which opens in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs including Nicholas Burns, Romola Garai and Alexandra Gilbreath

PRESS RELEASE

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE VILLAGE BIKE BY PENELOPE SKINNER

Tuesday 17 May 2011

The Village Bike
By Penelope Skinner
Directed by Joe Hill Gibbins
24 June – 23 July 2011
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Royal Court Theatre
Press Night, Friday1 July 7pm

The cast has been announced for The Village Bike by Penelope Skinner, which opens in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs from 24 June (press night 1 July). The cast will include Nicholas Burns, Romola Garai and Alexandra Gilbreath.

The Village Bike is the Royal Court debut from Penelope Skinner. A graduate from the Royal Court’s writing programmes, her credits elsewhere includes a collaboration with Moira Buffini, Matt Charman and Jack Thorne on Greenland at the National Theatre, Eigengrau at the Bush Theatre, Scarlet’s Circus for Hampstead Theatre’s Heat & Light Group and Fucked, at the Old Red Lion in 2008 and at the 2009 Edinburgh Festival.

‘Isn’t she gorgeous? Hardly been ridden. She’s been in the garage just gathering dust’

Becky’s pregnant and frustrated. But her husband is more interested in the baby manual than her new underwear so she turns to the porn stash under the bed. As the summer heats up, a brief encounter sends her speeding downhill towards reckless abandon.

A provocative and darkly comic look at fantasy and romance.

Age 18+. Contains scenes of a sexual nature.

Nicholas Burns plays Becky’s husband John. His stage credits include Ghost Stories in the West End, Lyric Hammersmith and Liverpool, Fat Pig in the West End and Much Ado About Nothing. On television, he has worked extensively in comedy, including roles in Pyschoville, Benidorm and as the title role in Nathan Barley.

Romola Garai plays Becky. Her stage credits include Three Sisters at the Lyric Hammersmith and King Lear and The Seagull at the RSC. On screen, she appeared in the BBC drama The Crimson Petal and the White and also played the lead in the BBC adaptation of Emma. On film, she appeared in Atonement , Nicholas Nickleby, I Capture the Castle and The Other Man.

Alexandra Gilbreath plays Jenny. Her stage credits include Hay Fever at the Rose Theatre Kingston, Twelfth Night at the RSC, for which she was nominated for an Olivier award for her role as Olivia and Lucky You at the Edinburgh festival, as well as working extensively at the RSC. On screen, she is best known for playing Stella Moon in Monarch of the Glen.

Joe Hill-Gibbins directs. At the Royal Court, his credits include The Girlfriend Experience, The Family Plays, Bliss, and A Girl In A Car With A Man. He is Deputy Artistic Director of the Young Vic Theatre, where has directed The Glass Menagerie, The Beauty Queen of Leenane and A Respectable Wedding.

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

Further casting to be announced.

– ends –

(17/05/11)
Notes to Editors

Listings information

The Village Bike
By Penelope Skinner
Directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins
24 June – 23 July 2011
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS

Monday – Saturday 7.45pm
Thursday matinees 3.30pm (from 14 July), Saturday matinees 3.30pm (from 9 July)
Press night Friday 1 July 7pm
Post-show Talk Tuesday 12 July
Captioned Performance Tuesday 19 July

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* (avail. in advance until 2 July 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.

Coutts & Co is the Principal Sponsor of the Royal Court Theatre

Coutts & Co is the UK private banking arm of the Royal Bank of Scotland. The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is one of the world’s largest banking groups.

The first Coutts & Co regional office to be opened was Eton in 1961. Today, Coutts & Co has regional offices in Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Chelmsford, Cheltenham, Eton, Exeter, Guildford, Hampshire, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Reading, Sheffield and Tunbridge Wells.

Coutts & Co offers clients a range of products and services covering sophisticated investment products together with expertise in trust and fiduciary services and UK tax and banking services. Coutts commercial banking arm also provides full banking service to UK businesses.

Coutts & Co is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Coutts & Co Registered in England No 36695 Registered Office 440 Strand London WC2R 0QS.
Calls may be recorded.

The Acid Test 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