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Preview by Paul Nelson
DETAILS of the new season at the Finborough Theatre have
been released.
This season is the second since the theatre reopened following
the major refurbishment of the Finborough building.
The opening season was hugely successful with the final show
- the British premiere of Tennessee Williams' Something
Cloudy, Something Clear, named Critics' Choice in both Time
Out and The Financial Times. The play's director, Tamara Harvey,
will return in December with a specially commissioned production
of W.H. Davies' Young Emma.
Following the opening season of three British premieres of North
American plays, the second season features British plays - a London
premiere, a world premiere and a major revival of three plays
from the 1900's:
I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Given to Me By a Young
Lady From Rwanda, by Sonja Linden, is a London premiere. Directed
by Drew Ackroyd. Designed by Nicholaos Zavaliaris. Lighting by
Matt Haskins. Sound by Jane Watkins. Cast: Doreene Blackstock.
Andrew Hawkins. Produced by iceandfire Productions.
I Have Before Me... charts the bittersweet relationship
between a young Rwandan woman and a British poet as he tries to
help her write out her story. Humorous, touching and at times
disturbing, the play was inspired by the real life experiences
of young Rwandan refugees in the UK. It marks a welcome return
to the Finborough Theatre for both playwright and director.
Award-winning playwright Sonja Linden's play, Call Me Judas,
was presented at the Finborough Theatre in 1995 in the same season
as Mark Ravenhill's Shopping and F***ing and Naomi Wallace's
Slaughter City.
Her plays have been produced in London and in regional theatres
in the UK, as well as in the United States and Australia. She
won a Fringe First in Edinburgh for her play Present Continuous,
and a Time Out Award for Now and At The Hour of Our Death.
The play will be directed by Drew Ackroyd whose credits include
last year's hugely successful UK premiere production of Larry
Kramer's The Destiny of Me.
(No 1 Critics' Choice, Hot Tickets for three weeks running).
I Have Before Me… was inspired by Sonja Linden's
encounters with a number of young Rwandan refugees at the Medical
Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, where she has been
writer-in-residence since 1997.
June 17 to July 12, Tuesday to Saturday Evenings at 7.30pm. Sunday
Matinees at 3.30pm. Tickets £10, £8 concessions. Tuesday
Evenings and Previews (June 17th and 18th) £8 all seats.
The picture above shows Andrew Hawkins (Simon) and Doreene Blackstock
(Juliette). It was kindly supplied by photographer: Deborah Sandersley
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The Sticking Place presents the world premiere of The End
of the Sentence, by Jeremy Freeson. Directed by Adam Meggido.
Designed by John Marsh. Costumes by Mia Flodquist.
The world premiere of a haunting new play set in Russia's criminal
underworld.
Contemporary Moscow. Sasha, a young lawyer, is approached by
charismatic bandit, Sergei Medvedev.
Recently escaped from prison with a series of fresh raids behind
him, Medvedev's 'connections' leave Sasha with little choice but
to delve into the mysteries of the criminal's past and construct
his legal defence.
The ensuing investigation brings Sasha face to face with victims
across the city - from Georgian marketeers to Romany gypsies.
Questions immediately surface. What role did Medvedev actually
play in these crimes? Who is the 'fellow countryman' paying Sasha
for his time?
Uncertain of the truth and embroiled in a dangerous game, the
lawyer soon becomes aware of a new relationship forming - between
his wife and his enigmatic client.
Rich in the atmosphere of Russian folklore, The End of the
Sentence is a psychological thriller inspired by real events.
The cast will include the Hollywood-based Australian actor, Jaason
Simmons, best known for his role as the cocky Aussie lifeguard,
Logan Fowler, in the international hit TV series, Baywatch
(pictured above).
His film credits include Sea Wolf, playing opposite Stacy
Keach and Nowhere with Heather Graham, and appearances
in Friends; Ben Nealon, best known for his role as Captain
Jeremy Forsythe in Soldier Soldier, and Ashutosh Gowariker's
film Lagaan; and Samia Rida whose credits include Lucy
in Lucy and Joe (Soho Theatre) and Dangerous Corner
(Garrick).
Presented with the support of Arts Council England. July 15 to
August 9. Tuesday to Saturday Evenings at 7.30pm. Sunday Matinees
at 3.30pm. Tickets £10, £8 concessions. Tuesday Evenings
£6 all seats. Previews (July 5 and 16) £6 all seats.
Special Midweek Matinee on Wednesday, August 6 at 3.30pm
After show discussion on Wednesday, July 23.
Wild Pendulum in association with Concordance presents a triple
bill; The Women's War - A Centenary Celebration comprising
How The Vote Was Won, by Cecily Hamilton and Christopher
St John, A Chat with Mrs Chicky, by Evelyn Glover and Press
Cuttings, by George Bernard Shaw. Directed by Laura Clarke.
Designed by Alex Marker; to celebrate the centenary of the foundation
of Mrs Pankhurst's Women's Social and Political Union - the WSPU;
the 75th anniversary of the Equal Franchise Act which first gave
all women the vote; and also in commemoration of the 90th anniversary
of the death of Emily Wilding Davison.
How The Vote Was Won. Horace Cole had always argued that
women did not need the vote because they are "looked after"
by men. But when he is confronted with a household of female relatives
demanding to be "supported", the anti-suffrage hero
realises the error of his ways and rushes to march on parliament
to demand votes for women - now!
A Chat with Mrs Chicky. Charwoman Mrs Chicky finds herself
confronted by Mrs Holbrook who is collecting signatures for her
anti-suffrage petition. This deeply humorous sketch dramatises
the arguments of working class women in favour of the vote.
Press Cuttings. Appalled by the treatment of women prisoners,
G.B.S., a staunch supporter of the suffrage movement, wrote this
satirical look at how General Mitchener and Prime Minister Balsquith
treat those who are both for and against the vote. Press Cuttings
was originally banned by the Lord Chamberlain for "attempted
blasphemy", and has not been seen in London for 21 years.
This production is presented with the support of the Friends
of Brompton Cemetery. Brompton Cemetery, adjacent to the Finborough
Theatre, is the resting place of many leading suffragists including
Mrs Pankhurst, Dame Ethel Smyth and Millicent Fawcett.
August 12 to September 6 Tuesday to Saturday Evenings at 7.30pm.
Sunday Matinees at 3.30pm.
Tickets £10, £8 concessions. Tuesday Evenings £8
all seats. Previews (August 12 and 13) £6 all seats.
One special midweek matinee on Wednesday, September 3 at 3.30pm
After-show discussion on Wednesday, August 13.
Finborough Theatre, The Finborough, 118 Finborough Road, London
SW10. Tickets 020 7373 3842
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