PRESS RELEASE: Constellations transfers to Trafalgar Studios

THE ROYAL COURT THEATRE’S PRODUCTION OF CONSTELLATIONS TRANSFERS TO TRAFALGAR STUDIOS FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED RUN FOLLOWING UK TOUR

The Royal Court Theatre and Ambassadors Theatre Group presents:
The Royal Court Theatre Production of

Constellations
by Nick Payne
Directed by Michael Longhurst
Designed by Tom Scutt with lighting design by Lee Curran
Music composed by Simon Slater with sound design by David McSeveney and movement by Lucy Cullingford.
11 Jul – 1 Aug

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PRESS NIGHT: TUESDAY 14 JULY AT 7PM

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Following Constellations first national tour to eight UK cities and critically acclaimed sold-out runs in the West End and on Broadway, the Royal Court Theatre’s production of Nick Payne’s award-winning Constellations will transfer to Trafalgar Studios for three weeks only.

Michael Longhurst (Carmen Disruption, A Number) directs Joe Armstrong (Happy Valley) and Louise Brealey (Sherlock) as Roland and Marianne in this hugely popular play from one of the leading voices in UK Theatre.

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One relationship, infinite possibilities; Constellations is an explosive play about free will and friendship. Sparked by Roland and Marianne’s first encounter, the boundless potential of their connection leads us through a heart-breaking love story of endless invention.

Constellations forms part of the Royal Court Theatre’s ongoing commitment to touring new work across the UK and around the world.

Winner of the Evening Standard’s Best Play award and nominated for four Olivier awards, Constellations was first staged as part of the Royal Court’s Jerwood New Playwrights programme, supported by Jerwood Charitable Foundation. It enjoyed sell-out runs at the venue, the West End and most recently on Broadway. This production of Constellations is currently finishing a hugely successful eight date tour of the UK, which culminates in Brighton’s Theatre Royal on Saturday 4 July.

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Joe Armstrong plays Roland. He last appeared at the Royal Court in The Empire. His other stage credits include, most recently The Dumb Waiter (Print Room), Miss Julie (Royal Exchange), Flare Path (Haymarket), Orphans (Traverse/Soho) and A Night at the Dogs (Soho). On television, his credits include the BAFTA award-winning drama Happy Valley, The Village, The Hollow Crown: Henry IV pt 1 (directed by Richard Eyre), The Last Detective and Midsomer Murders. His film credits include Closer to the Moon and A Passionate Woman.

Louise Brealey plays Marianne. She last appeared at the Royal Court in Joe Penhall’s Birthday. Other work at the Royal Court includes Behind the Image, The Stone and Sliding With Suzanne. Her previous stage credits include, most recently Miss Julie (Citizens Theatre), The Herd (Bush) and The Trojan Women (The Gate). On television her credits include Sherlock, George Gently, Ripper Street, Father Brown and Bleak House. Her film credits include Heard and Delicious. Louise recently appeared in Letters Live alongside her Sherlock co-star Benedict Cumberbatch at London’s Freemasons’ Hall Covent Garden.

Nick Payne’s  most recent plays at the Royal Court were The Art of Dying and Wanderlust. His other credits include Constellations in the West End and on Broadway, Incognito (HighTide Festival/Bush), Blurred Lines (The Shed NT), The Same Deep Water As Me (Donmar Warehouse) and If There Is I Haven’t Found it Yet (The Bush). He was the winner of the George Devine Award in 2009 and also a member of the Royal Court’s Young Writers Programme. Nick is currently playwright in residence at the Donmar Warehouse. He is currently adapting Julian Barnes’s The Sense Of An Ending for BBC Films and working on projects with Objective, Drama Republic and the BBC.

Michael Longhurst directs. Previously for the Royal Court he directed the original and recent Broadway production of Constellations and Remembrance Day. His other credits include Carmen Disruption (Almeida), Bad Jews (St James’s Theatre/ Arts), Tis Pity She’s A Whore (The Globe), A Number (Young Vic & Southampton), If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet (The Roundabout Theatre NY.), Stovepipe (HighTide/Bush), On The Beach (as part of The Contingency Plan at the Bush Theatre), On The Record (Arcola), dirty butterfly (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 for Guardians at the Edinburgh Festival. He was a recipient of the Jerwood Directors Award (2007) at the Young Vic and a Fringe First in 2005.

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For press information and reviewing tickets on tour please contact Clióna Roberts on 020 7704 6224 / 07754 756504 or e-mail cliona@crpr.co.uk

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LISTING AND TOUR INFORMATION

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Trafalgar Studios 1
14 Whitehall Street
London SW1 2DY

Royal Court Theatre Box Office
Phone: 020 7565 5000
Tickets

ATG Box Office
Phone: 0844 871 7632
Tickets

Ticketmaster: 0870 534 4444
Group Bookings: 0870 060 6644

Performances
Monday – Saturday 7.30pm
Thursday & Saturday matinees 3pm

Tickets: £19.50 to £52.50
Concessions: Over 60’s £19.50
Day seats £15

Running Time: 70 minutes without interval

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Constellations by Nick Payne was supported in 2012 by Jerwood New Playwrights

Jerwood New Playwrights is a longstanding partnership between the Jerwood Charitable Foundation and the Royal Court. Each year, Jerwood New Playwrights supports the production of three new works by emerging writers, all of whom are in the first 10 years of their career. The Royal Court carefully identifies playwrights whose careers would benefit from the challenge and profile of being fully produced either in the Jerwood Downstairs or Jerwood Upstairs Theatres at the Royal Court.

The Jerwood Charitable Foundation supports the Jerwood New Playwrights programme and 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 its funding is to allow artists and arts organisations to thrive; to continue to develop their skills, imagination and creativity with integrity. It works with artists across art forms, from dance and theatre to literature, music and the visual arts. For more information visit www.jerwoodcharitablefoundation.org