Sally Hawkins and Rafe Spall to appear in Nick Payne's Constellations

Published on Thu 1 Dec 2011
Constellations, a new play by Nick Payne will feature Sally Hawkins and Rafe Spall and open the Royal Court's 2012 programme in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs from 13 January (press night 19 January).

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday 1 December 2011

Constellations, a new play by Nick Payne, will open the Royal Court’s 2012 programme in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs from 13 January (press night 19 January). The two-hander about quantum multiverse theory, love and honeybees will feature Sally Hawkins and Rafe Spall.

The production will be directed by Michael Longhurst, designed by Tom Scutt, with lighting by Lee Curran, music by Simon Slater and sound by David McSeveney.

‘Let’s go for a drink. I don’t know what I’m doing here anyway. One drink. And if you never want to see me again you never have to see me again.’

One relationship. Infinite possibilities.

Quantum multiverse theory, love and honey. An explosive new play about free will and friendship.

Sally Hawkins plays Marianne. She last appeared at the Royal Court in Jez Butterworth’s The Winterling and Country Music by Simon Stephens. On film, her credits include Jane Eyre, Submarine, Made in Dagenham, Never Let Me Go and Happy-Go-Lucky for which she won several international awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Actress. She will appear in the film version of Great Expectations, out in 2012.

Rafe Spall plays Roland. He last appeared at the Royal Court in DC Moore’s Alaska. His previous stage credits include If There Is I Haven’t Found it Yet at the Bush and John Gabriel Borkman at the Donmar Warehouse. On television, he plays the lead in Pete Versus Life and on film, he appeared in the films Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.

Nick Payne’s most recent play at the Royal Court was Wanderlust. His credits include One Day When We Were Young for Paines Plough at Sheffield Theatre as part of The Roundabout Season and If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet at the Bush Theatre. He was the winner of the George Devine Award in 2009 and was also a member of the Royal Court’s Young Writers Programme.

Director Michael Longhurst’s productions include Remembrance Day at the Royal Court, Stovepipe for HighTide with the National Theatre and Bush Theatre, On The Beach as part of The Contingency Plan at the Bush Theatre, On The Record at the Arcola, dirty butterfly as winner of the Jerwood Directors Award at the Young Vic, 1 In 5 as part of Daring Pairings at Hampstead Theatre and Fringe First Award winner Guardians at the Edinburgh Festival.

Constellations is part of the Royal Court’s Jerwood New Playwrights programme, supported by the Jerwood Charitable Foundation.

ends
(01/12/11)

Notes to Editors

Cast
Marianne Sally Hawkins
Roland Rafe Spall

Creative Team
Director Michael Longhurst
Designer Tom Scutt
Lighting Designer Lee Curran
Composer Simon Slater
Sound Designer David McSeveney

Constellations
by Nick Payne
Directed by Michael Longhurst
Friday 13 January – Saturday 11 February 2012
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS
Monday-Saturday 7.45
Saturday Matinees 3.30pm (from 21 January)
Thursday Matinees 3.30pm (from 2 February)
Press Night Thursday 19 January 7pm
Post Show Talk Tuesday 7 February
Captioned Performance Wednesday 8 February
Tickets £20 Mondays all seats £10
Concessions £15* (available in advance until Saturday 21 January incl, and all matinees. For all other performances, available 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. All discounts are subject to availability.

Coutts is the Principal Sponsor of the Royal Court Theatre

Coutts is the UK private banking arm of the Royal Bank of Scotland. Coutts has a long history of supporting the arts going back 200 years, having looked after the financial affairs of many famous clients connected with the arts such as Bram Stoker, Charles Dickens and Chopin. In 1816, Thomas Coutts married Harriot Mellon, a popular actress of her day, and together they became partners of a number of London Theatres, including the Drury Lane and the Royal Opera House. Coutts has even featured in a number of artistic works including The Gondoliers by Gilbert and Sullivan, and Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic story Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. In the new millennium, this tradition has continued not only through managing the finances of many of today’s top writers, actors and musicians, but also through our arts sponsorship programme and we are delighted to support The Royal Court and its diverse range of ground-breaking performances.

Constellations is part of the Royal Court’s Jerwood New Playwrights programme, which aims to discover and support the next generation of world class playwrights. 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

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