Matthew Schmolle Productions have announced that the 10 year anniversary production of Alistair McDowall’s Captain Amazing will open at Southwark Playhouse this April.
Have you ever met a superhero? A real superhero? What if superheroes were all around us, quietly walking the streets, working in offices, or taking their children to school? Mark, a reticent young man, is impelled into articulacy, action and superherodom by the arrival of his daughter, Emily. You see, some superheroes don’t know they are superheroes until they become fathers.
Captain Amazing tells the story of the transformative power of fatherhood, everyday acts of courage and how even the invincible aren’t immune to tragedy. McDowall’s funny, inventive and poignant one-man show premiered at Live Theatre, Newcastle and the 2013 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, receiving a national tour in 2014. The 2024 anniversary production will play at Southwark Playhouse until 25 May.
Returning to play Captain Amazing will be Mark Weinman, who the piece was initially written for. Clive Judd returns to direct, with re-imagined lighting and projection from Will Monks, sound design from Asaf Zohar and set design from Georgia de Grey.
On his return to the production Mark Weinman said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be able to play Captain Amazing one more time – not least because I’m now closer to the titular characters age and I don’t have to play up any more! There’s not many chances for an actor to go back to a role ten years on and it’s a real privilege to get to speak Ali’s words again. What a treat to share this story in a new version which brings it up to date for new audiences.”
As part of the production, in partnership with arts charity The Working Party, MSP have created the Captain Amazing Trainee Bursary. Following submissions from over 40 applicants, a shortlist from which were invited to interview with the creative team, MSP are excited to announce that Catalan multi-disciplinary artist Marina Cusi Sanchez (@mariinacusi) will be working alongside the production team over the duration of the production, developing her new solo work Sub Titles Over. Marina will hold two scratch performances of her work at Southwark Playhouse in the final week of Captain Amazing‘s run.
Captain Amazing is supported by Stage One, a charity that supports commercial theatre producers across the UK. Society of London Theatre, the not-for-profit organisation that runs Official London Theatre, has been one of their integral supporters since it began over 40 years ago.
Producer Matthew Schmolle said “Once again I have to thank Stage One, alongside my other generous and supportive investors, for being such an invaluable champion of emerging commercial producers. Without their investment, support and advice the commercial theatre world may have very well felt like a closed shop. I owe a lot of what I’ve been able to do to the great work that they do.”
Tickets for the production are on sale now through Southwark Playhouse.