Many Roads to Paradise - Finborough Theatre
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
WHIPPET Productions in association with Icarus Theatre Collective is presenting the world premiere of Stewart Permutt’s new comedy, Many Roads to Paradise, at Finborough Theatre – from Wednesday, June 11 to Saturday, July 5, 2008.
In north London, chunky travel agent Martin nervously catches the eye of his not-so-young internet stud across a crowded karaoke bar; blind and elderly Stella shares make-up and millinery tips with her Muslim nurse at a Jewish residential care home; and a long-term lesbian relationship crumbles as Helen and her alcoholic partner squabble viciously over fig and honey tart in their spacious house.
Six people whose lives are inextricably linked, each searching for some kind of salvation. But with so many roads to paradise, which one will they choose?
Anthony Biggs directs a cast that includes legendary actress Miriam Karlin OBE, Amanda Boxer, Gillian Hanna, Daniel Hill, Elizabeth Uter and Jason Wing.
Karlin’s extensive theatre credits include the West End, UK tours, Theatre Workshop, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Court Theatre, Almeida Theatre, Bush Theatre and many others, including the original London casts of Fiddler On The Roof, Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’ Be and Torch Song Trilogy. Her numerous screen credits include So Haunt Me, The Rag Trade, A Clockwork Orange and The Millionairess.
Boxer’s theatre credits include The Destiny of Me (Finborough Theatre), The Pain and The Itch (Royal Court Theatre), The Arab Israeli Cook Book (Tricycle Theatre), Macbeth (Arcola Theatre), The Graduate (Gielgud Theatre), The House of Bernarda Alba (Globe Theatre) and Othello (Young Vic). Her screen credits include The Shell Seekers, The Commander, Tom Brown’s School Days and Cider with Rosie (TV); as Mrs Ryan in Saving Private Ryan (film).
Hanna’s theatre credits include Uncle Vanya (Birmingham Rep), Amy’s View (Salisbury Playhouse), Katie Mitchell’s Ivanov (Royal National Theatre), Night Songs (Royal Court Theatre), Medea (Queen’s Theatre), Dominic Cooke’s Fire Face (Royal Court Theatre) and East Is East (Tamasha at the Royal Court Theatre). She has appeared on screen in Roman Polanski’s Oliver Twist, The Heart Of Me, All The Queen’s Men and Les Miserables.
Hill’s theatre credits include Art (York Theatre Royal), The Importance Of Being Earnest (Bristol Old Vic), The Hound Of The Baskervilles (National Tour), Dead Funny (Hampstead Theatre and National Tour) and Absurd Person Singular (National Tour). On screen he has appeared in Kenneth Branagh’s Love’s Labour’s Lost (film); Judge John Deed, Waiting for God and No Place Like Home (TV).
Uter’s theatre credits include Diaspora Afric (Dublin Abbey Theatre), Redemption Song (Birmingham Rep), Rocks In Her Pockets (Riverside Studios), Those Who Trepass Against Us – The Victoria Climbié Story (Hackney Empire), and Embers (Southwark Playhouse).
Wing’s theatre credits include Office Guerillas (Hampstead Theatre), Lucifer – A Love Story (Stratford Festival), The Beggar’s Opera (Wiltons Music Hall), and Lampardio and Deborette and Coffee in Memphis (Tristan Bates Theatre).
Permutt’s other plays include Exclusive Yarns, Singular Women, Singular People, One Last Card Trick, The Cracked Comic and Unsuspecting Susan.
Tickets: £13, £9 concessions, except Tuesday evenings £9 all seats, and Saturday evenings £13 all seats. Previews (June 11 and 12) £9 all seats.
Times: Tuesday to Saturday evenings at 7:30pm; Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3pm.
Performance Length: Approximately 2 hours.
For more information call the box office on 0870 4000 838 or visit the website.