Friday 11 April 2014

Britannia Waves the Rules


ROYAL EXCHANGE STAGES WORLD PREMIERE OF GARETH FARR’S BRUNTWOOD PRIZE WINNING PLAY 

BRITANNIA WAVES

THE RULES

By Gareth Farr

Designed by Ashley Martin-Davis

 

The Royal Exchange Theatre

St Ann’s Square, Manchester

Tuesday 27 May – Saturday 7 June

Press Night: Wednesday 28 May at 7.30pm


* BRITANNIA WAVES THE RULES plays in repertoire with the world premiere of THE LAST DAYS OF TROY by Simon Armitage

Bruntwood Prize winning play BRITANNIA WAVES THE RULES by Gareth Farr receives its world premiere at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre from Tuesday 27 May to Saturday 7 June.

A scream of protest at the state of the world, BRITANNIA WAVES THE RULES is fast, furious and filled with rage.

It tells the story of Carl. He doesn’t fit in at home. He doesn’t fit in anywhere. He signs up for the army, seeing a chance to escape the grim reality of life in his hometown Blackpool. But it doesn’t matter where he runs to, or how hard or how fast, there are just too may battles for him to win them all. He comes home, not as a war hero, but as a changed man.

The play picked up a Judges Award in the 2011 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting. Writer Gareth Farr said: “I want to grab the audience by the scruff of the neck, drag them through the journey and have them leave feeling something strong about the world they’ve just witnessed.”

The central role of Carl is played by talented young actor Dan Parr. His previous theatre credits include PAGES FROM MY SONGBOOK (The Alligator Club at The Studio, Royal Exchange), WANTED! ROBIN HOOD (Manchester Library Theatre Company), and DNA (The Lowry Theatre). Television credits include CASUALTY (BBC), THE CRIMSON FIELD (BBC), and THE VILLAGE (BBC). Film credits include: Halcyon Heights (Plug it In Productions).

Other parts are played by cast members from THE LAST DAYS OF TROY (which plays in repertoire with BRITANNIA WAVES THE RULES). They include Clare Calbraith, Simon Harrison, Colin Tierney and Francesca Zoutewelle.

The production is directed by guest director Nick Bagnall – who is also directing THE LAST DAYS OF TROY. His previous credits include directing three HENRY VI plays at venues across the UK, including four open-air battlefield performances. Other work includes BETRAYAL (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield) and ENTERTAINING MR SLOANE (Trafalgar Studios).

The production is designed by Ashley Martin-Davis and the creative team is completed by Chris Davey (lighting), Peter Rice (sound), Alex Baranowski (composer) and Kevin McCurdy (movement and fights).

BRITANNIA WAVES THE RULES will play in repertoire with the world premiere of THE LAST DAYS OF TROY by acclaimed poet and novelist Simon Armitage which runs from Thursday 8 May to Saturday 7 June.

In this fusion of Homer’s ILIAD and Virgil’s AENEID, the Greeks are laying siege to the ancient city of Troy to try and win back their abducted queen Helen, reputedly the most beautiful woman in the world.

The cast includes Lily Cole, as Helen of Troy, in this visceral and heartfelt re-telling of the story of the Trojan War.

* A specially commissioned visual art installation – SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE, by Manchester artist Thomas O’Grady – will run in The Great Hall alongside BRITANNIA WAVES THE RULES. Originally created for the Ostrale festival in Dresden last year, the piece is based the iconic Kurt Vonnegut novel. The installation is kindly sponsored by Blitz Communications.

 
PRESS NIGHT for BRITANNIA WAVES THE RULES is on Wednesday 28 May at 7.30pm. For further information, images, or for interview / press review ticket requests, please contact JOHN GOODFELLOW (Press & Communications Manager) on 0161 615 6783 / john.goodfellow@royalexchange.co.uk.


 
BRITANNIA WAVES THE RULES - Listings Information

 The Royal Exchange Theatre presents

BRITANNIA WAVES THE RULES

By Gareth Farr

Directed by Nick Bagnall

Designed by Ashley Martin-Davis

The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester

Tuesday 27 May – Saturday 7 June, 2014

Evening Performance Times:

Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 May, 7.30pm

Monday 2 and Wednesday 4 June, 7.30pm

Saturday 7 June, 5.45pm

Matinee Performance Times: Tuesday 27 May, 2.30pm

Press Night: Wednesday 28 May, 7.30pm

Ticket Prices: £12 (Concessions Available)

Audio-described Performance: Saturday 7 June, 5.45pm

Captioned Performance: Saturday 7 June, 5.45pm

After-show Discussion Wednesday 4 June after 7.30pm performance

Box Office: 0161 833 9833.

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