Almeida Theatre - 2012 Fundraising Gala
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
DANIEL Evans, Josie Lawrence, Jenny Jules, Jonathan Pryce, Jenna Russell, Samantha Spiro and Meera Syal, as well as Young Friends of the Almeida and award-winning theatre company Inspector Sands, will perform as part of Almeida Up Close, the theatre’s 2012 fundraising Gala.
Directed by Indhu Rubasingham and hosted by Jan Ravens, Almeida Up Close will take place on February 23, 2012 at One Mayfair. The evening of fine dining and cabaret will include music by Stephen Sondheim and Amy Winehouse.
The Almeida Theatre is a registered charity and fundraises up to £1.2m each year to present a diverse and comprehensive programme at its Islington home. It also works extensively with young people in local communities through the creative learning programme, Almeida Projects.
Award-winning actor Daniel Evans is Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres where, as an actor, his credits include The Tempest, Cloud Nine, Company and The Pride. As a director for the Company his work includes An Enemy of the People, Racing Demon and Othello.
Actor and comedienne Josie Lawrence is a member of The Josie Lawrence Steve Edis Trio and The Comedy Store Players who improvise every week and are now in their 27th year. She recently played Manda Bates in the BBC’s long running soap EastEnders.
Jenny Jules, who won the The Critics Circle Award for Best Actress for her performance as Mama in the Almeida’s production of Ruined, has also appeared at the venue in The Homecoming, Big White Fog and A Chain Play.
Stage and film actor Jonathan Pryce returns to the Almeida to play the title role in Michael Attenborough’s production of King Lear later this year. Previously he played Martin in The Goat or Who Is Sylvia?
Jenna Russell’s theatre credits include Season’s Greetings (National Theatre) and Into the Woods (Open Air Theatre, Regents Park). For her role as Dot in Sunday in the Park With George for the Roundabout Theatre Company, New York and the Menier Chocolate Factory, she won the Theatre World Award and the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
Jan Ravens performs all the female roles in the hugely successful radio and television series Dead Ringers and appeared as Janet Grimley in three series of The Grimleys.
Award-winning Samantha Spiro will play the title role in Michael Attenborough’s production of Filumena which opens at the Almeida next month.
An Associate Artist of the Almeida, Meera Syal performed an extract from Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew at the Almeida’s 2011 Gala with Sanjeev Bhaskar.
Inspector Sands have established themselves as one of the UK’s most exciting emerging theatre companies, creating two award-winning shows, Hysteria and If That’s All There Is, which have toured nationally and internationally. They will also take part in the Almeida’s 2012 Festival in July.
Indhu Rubasingham, who will become Artistic Director of the Tricycle Theatre in May, previously directed Lynn Nottage’s Ruined for the Almeida Theatre.
The Young Friends of the Almeida (YFA) scheme aims to build sustainable, lasting relationships with the audience and artists of the future by offering unique opportunities to young people aged 15 – 25. Projects range from one day master classes to involvement in year-long productions and the scheme is governed by its own youth board.
YFA is just one stream of Almeida Projects, the education arm of the theatre, which provides 10,000 opportunities for young people to get involved each year, either through their school or individually.
The House of Bernarda Alba continues at the Almeida until March 10, 2012.