Ellie Kendrick and Sinéad Matthews to appear in Vivienne Franzmann's Pests

Ellie Kendrick and Sinéad Matthews have been cast in Vivienne Franzmann’s new play Pests – a co-production between the Royal Court Theatre, Clean Break and Royal Exchange Manchester, which runs at the Royal Exchange 12 to 22 March, before transferring to the Royal Court from 27 March to 3 May (press night Wednesday 2 April) prior to national tour.

“Share equal da child-care? When done you get so fuckin’ middle- class? What, you gonna get a nanny next? Gonna start quaff quaffin’ red wines an’ chattin’ shit ’bout dem rocketin’ house prices?”

Pink loves Rolly. Rolly loves Pink. And Pink loves getting bombed off her face. Sisters from the same nest. Both trapped in a tiny rotting world. Both cuffed to a past that refuses to release them. One wants out. The other needs her in. Trouble is that when you complete each other, you’re nothing on your own.

The production is directed by Lucy Morrison, designed by Joanna Scotcher, sound by Emma Laxton, lighting by Fabiana Piccioli and video design by Kim Beveridge.

Ellie Kendrick plays Rolly. She last appeared at the Royal Court in The Low Road and In the Republic of Happiness. Her theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare’s Globe and on screen, her credits include Game of Thrones, Misfits, An Education, Being Human, Upstairs Downstairs and The Diary of Anne Frank.

Sinéad Matthews plays Pink. She last appeared at the Royal Court in A Time to Reap. Sinead’s recent theatre credits include Blurred Lines at the National Theatre, Trout Stanley at the Southwark Playhouse and The Master and Margarita for the Barbican. Sinead’s TV credits include, the Sky 1 drama The Smoke, Way To Go for BBC 3 and Black Mirror – Be Right Back for Channel 4. Her film credits include Untitled Mike Leigh 2013, Wreckers, Nanny McPhee and The Big Bang, The Boat that Rocked, Pride and Prejudice and Vera Drake.

Vivienne Franzmann made her Royal Court debut in 2012 with The Witness. Her other credits include Mogadishu at the Royal Exchange Manchester and the Lyric Hammersmith for which she won the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting and was awarded the George Devine Award in 2010, as well as receiving the Pearson Playwright Bursary for the Royal Court in 2012. Vivienne was Resident Playwright at Clean Break. As part of the development process for Pests, she undertook a number of residencies in women’s prisons, secure mental health and community settings.

Lucy Morrison, Head of Artistic Programme for Clean Break, directs. At the Royal Court, her credits include Product, (also at Traverse and European tour). For Clean Break, she has directed and developed Billy the Girl by Katie Hims at Soho Theatre, Little on the inside by Alice Birch at Almeida Festival and Latitude 2013, it felt empty when the heart went at first but it is alright now by Lucy Kirkwood at the Arcola Theatre, This Wide Night by Chloë Moss at Soho Theatre / Theatre Live Newcastle / Plymouth Drum Theatre. Lucy originated and commissioned the Charged and Re-Charged seasons at Soho Theatre in which she directed Fatal Light by Chloë Moss and Doris Day by E.V. Crowe. Alongside heading up Clean Break’s Artistic Programme, Lucy was Artistic Director of the Almeida Festival 2013. She was formerly Literary Manager of Paines Plough, where she worked with many of the country’s most exciting playwrights including Dennis Kelly, Abi Morgan, Sarah Kane, Mark Ravenhill and Jack Thorne.

Commissioned by Clean Break and Royal Exchange Theatre, Pests is a co-production between Royal Court Theatre, Clean Break and Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester.

Pests 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.

After the run at the Royal Court, the production will tour to Traverse Theatre, Liverpool Playhouse, Drum Theatre, Plymouth and Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Listings Information:

Pests
by Vivienne Franzmann
directed by Lucy Morrison
Thursday 27 March – Saturday 3 May 2014
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square SW1W 8AS
Monday-Saturday 7.45pm
Saturday matinees (from 5 April) 3pm
Thursday matinees (from 24 April) 3pm
Captioned Performance Tuesday 29 April
Press Night Wednesday 2 April
Age Guidance 16+
Tickets £20 Mondays all seats £10
Concessions £15* (available in advance until Saturday 5 April, and all matinees. For all other performances, available on a standby basis on the day)
School and HE Groups of 8+ £10 (avail. Wed-Sat and mats)
Access £12 (plus a companion at the same rate)
*ID required. All discounts are subject to availability.

Cast
Ellie Kendrick Rolly
Sinéad Matthews Pink

Creative Team
Lucy Morrison Director
Joanna Scotcher Designer
Emma Laxton Sound Designer
Fabiana Piccioli Lighting Designer
Kim Beveridge Video Designer