Former Albert Square residents James Alexandrou and Ray Panthaki bring their Old Red Lion success In My Name to the Trafalgar Studio 2 in July.
The dark comedy, which sold out at the Islington venue, is billed as a bold and funny insight into the consequences of letting life pass you by.
It is not easy being optimistic in London, but on the days after winning the bid for the Olympics the world suddenly felt a lot brighter. And then a bomb went off. No matter how much you bury your head in the sand, the world has a funny way of forcing itself through your front door.
Alexandrou, who played Martin Fowler in London-based soap opera EastEnders for 10 years, makes his West End debut in this production. On leaving Albert Square, he enrolled at the Central School of Speech and Drama to touch up his technique, and soon landed a role in the BBC Radio 4 production of The Homecoming in which he appeared opposite an incredible cast including playwright Harold Pinter, Michael Gambon, Rupert Graves, Samuel West and Gina McKee. He spent last summer playing Orlando and Pistol in the British Shakespeare Company productions of As You Like It and Henry V.
Panthaki appeared alongside Alexandrou in EastEnders between 2003 and 2005, playing DJ Ronny Ferreira. On stage his credits include Where Do We Live and Gladiator Games, while films include Ali G Indahouse, 28 Days Later and Kidulthood, which he also produced.
Alexandrou and Panthaki are joined in the production by Kevin Watt and Adeel Akhtar. Watt co-founded Yaller Skunk, the production company which presents In My Name. As a stage performer, his credits include Trainspotting, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me. Akhtar’s credits include TV dramas Law And Order and Trial And Retribution.
In My Name is the first full length play by Steven Hevey, whose training has included both the Royal Court and Soho young writers’ programmes. Currently working with Paines Plough, his performed pieces include London Belongs To Me (Globe), Big Big Monkey Man (Trafalgar Studios) and Baggage (Soho).
In My Name runs from 1-19 July with a press night on 3 July.
MA