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Preview by Paul Nelson
THR Bridge presents the London premiere of Fatale, the
story of a
thoroughly bad woman, written and directed by Mark Akrill, at
The Bridewell Theatre from October 2 to October 25.
Carmen, Leonora, Violetta, Salome. Women in opera. Women in stories.
Bad Women. Too much booze, too many men, far too much money, and
absolutely no apology, they enjoy themselves too much to be allowed
to live, they usually pay the price.
Fatale tells an alternative story - Violetta is a thoroughly
bad
woman, she provokes everyone, destroys her friends, breaks all
the rules, but with a difference.
Fatale was first conceived in 1995 and over 70 actors
have contributed to its development.
A celebration of melodrama, nostalgia, sex and risk taking, incorporating
silent film, dance and songs, bringing vividly to life the chaotic
energy of the late 1920s.
A comic and moving farewell to an era, echoing the lives and
works of the Bloomsbury group, marrying mischief, danger, sexual
emancipation and the Jazz age. In Fatale, a forgotten world
appears for one last time.
The cast for Fatale is Melissa Ashworth, whose credits
include Cristina Kahlo in Frida and Diego in A Love
Story (Stratford Circus and Arcola Theatre), she has recently
returned from the Far East, where she spent three years as a resident
choreographer; RNT actor, John Atterbury, has worked extensively
in the West End and on tour and has appeared in many major films
and was recently seen as Merriman in the film Gosford
Park; Kylie Cushman has been acting since she was three-years-old
and recent film credits include Keen Eddie and Love
Actually; Vanessa Goodliffe recently spent two years in Australia
setting up the National English Theatre Company, writing two plays
for them; Richard Langdon, who makes his professional debut in
Fatale; Antony Law recently seen in the touring production
of Brief Encounter; Ros Liddiard's extensive theatre credits include
work at Bristol Old Vic and a national tour of Three Sisters,
she will be seen in the BBC's New Canterbury Tales this autumn;
Fiz Marcus' credits include Four Portraits of Mothers (Bridewell
Theatre).
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Fiz recently starred in and co-wrote a one-woman show about Mata
Hari, Lovers and Lies, which toured the UK, Czech Republic
and the Netherlands. She appears in the film Suzie Gold to
be released later this year; Helena Semple; Jackie Skarvellis;
Elizabeth Hoag, Harriet Holmes; Annie Julian; William Kempsell;
Richard Langton and Ben Sleep.
Designed by Judith Pollard, choreography by Francesca Jaynes,
original music by John White and Andrew Crookall, with lighting
design by Rod Fricker.
Mark Akrill (writer and director) is Joint Artistic Director
of The Bridge. Credits include national tours of Jazz Audience,
The Recruiting Sergeant, Poem and, most recently, The Winter's
Tale, Accidental Death of an Anarchist and The Cherry Orchard.
Judith Pollard (Designer) is Joint Artistic Director of The Bridge.
Her design credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Winter's
Tale, Accidental Death of an Anarchist and The Cherry Orchard.
As a painter, she has exhibited widely. Francesca Jaynes (Choreographer)
choreographed Mike Leigh's Topsy Turvy, Steven Spielberg's
AI, with Jude Law and the TV
drama, Tipping The Velvet.
Theatre credits include The
Threepenny Opera for RNT. Fran has just finished work on the
new Cole Porter film with Kevin Kline. John White (Composer) was
musical director of several West End musicals and composer of
incidental music for a number of productions for the RNT and RSC.
He is currently working on the music for a forthcoming production
at the RNT.
Andrew Crookall (Composer) was Assistant Director at The Stables,
Wavendon, the studio complex run by John Dankworth and Cleo Laine.
Other credits include The Pearl Fishers, West Side Story and
Evening Primrose.
He has composed incidental music for Guildford Festival Theatre,
The Bridge and the musical Resurrection. Rod Fricker (Lighting
Designer and Technical Coordinator) has theatre credits including
Accidental Death of an Anarchist, The Cherry Orchard, The House
of Bernard Alba, and The Winter's Tale.
The Bridge is a company whose professional work is deeply rooted
in the training of young actors and culminates in combining the
talents of emerging professionals with more experienced actors.
The Bridewell Theatre, Bride Lane (off Fleet Street), London
EC4. Tickets 020 7936 3456 (Tuesday - Saturday 7.30pm, Sunday
matinee 3.30pm).
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