Lily Allen to make her West End Debut
Lily Allen will make her West End debut in 2:22 – A Ghost Story at the Noël Coward Theatre, playing Jenny alongside Hadley Fraser (City of Angels) as Sam, Julia Chan (Silent House, Katy Keene) who will play Lauren and Jake Wood (EastEnders) playing Ben. 2:22 – A Ghost Story is Danny Robbins’ debut play in the West End. Olivier Award-nominated director Matthew Dunster received universal acclaim for his productions of Martin McDonagh’s A Very Very Very Dark Matter and Hangmen and Sam Shepard’s True West.
Jenny (Lily Allen) believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam (Hadley Fraser) isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren (Julia Chan) and new partner Ben (Jake Wood). Can the dead really walk again? Belief and scepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer, so they’re going to stay up… until 2:22… and then they’ll know.
This edge-of-your-seat, supernatural thriller takes you into one adrenaline-filled night where secrets will emerge and ghosts may appear… What do you believe? And do you dare discover the truth?
Lily Allen said: “I am so excited about getting to work on this play! The live performance aspect of my career has always been the most thrilling part for me, connecting with a group of individuals and the spontaneity of whatever happens on the night. I feel that stepping into this play is an exciting natural extension of that and affords me the best of all worlds. I get to explore mature subject matter, be a woman with a real point of view and show the West End audiences how much I love live performance and being in front of an audience. I can’t wait!”
Kiln Theatre announce new trilogy
With the critically acclaimed Reasons You Should(n’t) Love Me by Amy Trigg currently playing at the theate, and rehearsals underway for Ayad Akhtar’s The Invisible Hand, Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham announces that the forthcoming NW Trilogy by Moira Buffini, Suhayla El-Bushra and Roy Williams will open on 14 September, with previews from 6 September, and running until 9 October. The trilogy, directed by Kiln Theatre Associate Directors Taio Lawson and Susie McKenna, is now on sale.
Artistic Director of Kiln Theatre, Indhu Rubasingham, said today, “Originally I set out to create a production which would celebrate the real people of our borough as part of Brent Borough of Culture 2020. Although we weren’t able to produce it last year, we haven’t stopped working on NW Trilogy and in 2021 it feels like these plays are even more relevant. They put our community centre stage and celebrate their remarkable achievements. Although the stories we’re telling are from over 30 years ago, their impact lives on and is ever present on the streets of Brent. It’s also not just about North West London, NW Trilogy is a show for anyone who values the vibrancy, energy and resilience of Britain – a country of many voices, cultures and histories.”
Hampstead Theatre announces cast for Tennessee Williams’ The Two Character Play
Hampstead Theatre today announced the cast for Tennessee Williams’, The Two Character Play, directed by Sam Yates, from 17 July until 28 August. Yates is making a highly anticipated return to the theatre following his Olivier-nominated production of The Phlebotomist (2019).
Kate O’Flynn and Zubin Varla will perform in this innovative, psychological thriller by one of the world’s great dramatists, which received its world premiere at the theatre in 1967.
Kate O’Flynn will play the role of Clare. O’Flynn was nominated for an Olivier Award (Best Actress in a Supporting Role) in 2017 for her performance in John Tiffany’s critically acclaimed production of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie (Duke of York’s/Edinburgh International Festival). Awards include, Clarence Derwent Award (Best Female in a Supporting Role for The Glass Menagerie); UK Theatre Award (Best Supporting Actress for The Children’s Hour, Manchester Royal Exchange) and Critics’ Circle Award (Most Promising Newcomer for Port, National Theatre). Recent theatre credits include All of it by Alistair McDowall and Anatomy of a Suicide by Alice Birch at The Royal Court. This will be her debut at Hampstead Theatre.
Zubin Varla will play the role of Felice. Varla has worked with Yates previously in his production of Eugene O’Neill’s The El Train alongside Ruth Wilson (Hoxton Hall). He was nominated for an Olivier Award (Best Actor in a Musical) in 2019 for his role in the Tony Award winning Fun Home (Young Vic). Other recent theatre credits include Ghost Quartet (Boulevard Theatre) and Equus (an English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East co-production, which transferred to Trafalgar Studios). Varla will be making his debut at Hampstead Theatre.