ROY WILLIAMS ANTIGONE SET FOR LONDON STAGE FOLLOWING UK TOUR SUCCESS

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1 PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ROY WILLIAMS ANTIGONE SET FOR LONDON STAGE FOLLOWING UK TOUR SUCCESS Roy Williams' adaptation is riotously comic and makes a strong case for its contemporary parallels The Guardian Antigone's flames may flicker but at its blazing best this is incendiary The Times **PRESS NIGHT: TUESDAY 24 FEBRUARY, 7.30PM** Following the critical success of Kingston 14 at Theatre Royal Stratford East earlier this year, the BAFTA award-winning playwright Roy Williams is set to return with a thrilling and fast-paced new version of Sophocles Greek classic. Directed by Pilot Theatre s Artistic Director Marcus Romer and co-produced with Derby Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East, Antigone comes to London following a major national tour that received rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. The production will run at Theatre Royal Stratford East from Thursday 19 February Saturday 14 March 2015 with Press Night on Tuesday 24 February. Roy Williams new version of Antigone re-imagines Sophocles tale about loyalty and truth, human nature and human behaviour in a contemporary world, creating a new piece of theatre that will reverberate with today s audiences. On adapting Sophocles Greek classic, Roy Williams said: I was intrigued to know if it was possible to set Antigone in a world that I have written about before, i.e. the gangster culture that is too often the life of a lot of young people today. It has always disturbed me to hear young people say that being in a gang makes them feel powerful. But as we all know power does corrupt. Creon begins the play feeling all-powerful with his gang running tings in Thebes. It is almost like he and others like him, have put aside other feelings that make us human, like love, insecurity, fear, and masculinity, in favour of a live fast, die young mentality. Roy Williams is one of the country s leading contemporary playwrights. His recent works include Wildefire (Hampstead Theatre), Kingston 14 (Theatre Royal Stratford East), The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (Pilot Theatre/ UK Tour), the Olivier nominated Sucker Punch (Royal Court Theatre), Fallout (Royal Court Theatre), Sing Yer Heart out for the Lads (National Theatre). This will be the third time that Williams has worked with Pilot Theatre the other two being the successful touring productions of The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner and Sing Yer Heart out for the Lads.

2 Kerry Michael, Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Stratford East said: Roy Williams is one of the UK s most exciting contemporary playwrights and we re delighted to have him back on our stage with this bold, emotional and compelling new work. The show has received rave reviews from audiences and critics alike on its tour of the UK and we can t wait to hear what our audiences have to say. The show is directed by Marcus Romer, Artistic Director of Pilot Theatre, who aim to inspire creativity and new ways of thinking and are strategic innovators in the field of digital networks and leaders in the delivery and distribution of work for, by and with young people. Last year the company received much acclaim for their production of Blood + Chocolate. Referring to the technical aspects of the forthcoming production, Marcus Romer said: We will be using cameras integrated into the set, watching the characters' every moves - the CCTV behaving like the all-seeing Gods watching and recording all the activity as it unfolds. The production is being supported by an extensive National Schools programme that is being run alongside the tour. The programme provides an informative education resource pack, exploring the themes and story of Antigone and their relevance in today s society. The programme will also offer workshop activities and bespoke participatory projects. Antigone s cast features Doreen Blackstock (The Container, Young Vic) as Eunice, Gamba Cole (Kingston 14, Theatre Royal Stratford East) as Eamon, Savannah Gordon-Liburd (Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, Pilot Theatre) as Antigone, Luke James (Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, Pilot Theatre) as Guard, Mark Monero (One Man Two Guvnors, National Tour) as Creon, Sean Sagar (Ill Manors) as Soldier 3/Sentry, Frieda Thiel (My Brother the Devil) as Esme, Lloyd Thomas (Buried Child, Leicester Curve) as Soldier 2 and Oliver Wilson (Henry V, Propeller Theatre Company and Blue/Orange, National Tour) as Soldier 1/Tyrese. The production is designed by Joanna Scotcher (The Railway Children, Waterloo Station), lighting by Alexandra Stafford (See How They Run, York Theatre Royal) and music by Sandy Nuttgens (The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, Pilot Theatre). For further information, including interviews and images please contact Felix Mussell, Press & Marketing Manager on or press@stratfordeast.com Notes to Editors Listings information Antigone will run at Theatre Royal Stratford East from Thursday 19 February 2015 to Saturday 14 March Tickets start from just 6 to 22.50, with concessions available on all performances. To book tickets call the Box Office on , visit or book in person at Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, London E15 1BN. Access performances: Signed performance: Friday 6 March, 2pm. Captioned performance: Thursday 5 March 7.30pm. Audio performance: Saturday 7 March, 3pm. Newham Discount Night: Thursday 19 February, 7.30pm tickets available for Newham residents who are first-time bookers (proof of address required. Call to book. Offer not available online). Antigone is suitable for 14+ Production Creative Team

3 Pilot Theatre in partnership with Derby Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East present ANTIGONE A version by Roy Williams Director: Marcus Romer Designer: Joanna Scotcher Lighting: Alexandra Stafford Music: Sandy Nuttgens Cast: Doreen Blackstock (Eunice) Gamba Cole (Eamon) Savannah Gordon-Liburd (Antigone) Luke James (Guard) Mark Monero (Creon) Sean Sagar (Soldier 3/Sentry) Frieda Thiel (Esme) Lloyd Thomas (Soldier 2) Oliver Wilson (Soldier 1/Tyrese) About Roy Williams Roy Williams began writing plays in 1990 and is now arguably one of the country's leading dramatists. In 2000 he was the joint-winner of The George Devine Award and in 2001 he was awarded the Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright. He was awarded the OBE for Services to Drama in the 2008 Birthday Honours List and received the Best Play Award at the Writers Guild Awards in 2011 for Sucker Punch. His plays include Wildefire (Hampstead Theatre), Kingston 14 (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Sucker Punch (Royal Court Theatre, nominated for Olivier Award for Best Play), Category B (Tricycle Theatre), Angel House (Eclipse Theatre, UK Tour), Days of Significance (RSC), Joe Guy (Soho Theatre/Tiata Fahodzi), There's Only One Wayne Matthews (Polka Theatre), Baby Girl (NT Connections), Absolute Beginners (Lyric Hammersmith), Little Sweet Thing (Nottingham Playhouse), Slow Time (NT Education), Fallout (Royal Court Theatre), Sing Yer Heart Out For The Lads (National Theatre), Clubland, The Gift (Birmingham Rep/Tricycle Theatre), Local Boy (Hampstead Theatre), Souls, Advice For The Young At Heart (Theatre Centre), Lift Off (Royal Court), Starstruck (Tricycle, Winner of John Whiting Award, Alfred Fagon Award & EMMA Award for Best Play), Josie's Boy (Red Ladder Theatre Co) and The No Boys Cricket Club (Theatre Royal, Stratford East). His work for television includes Let It Snow (Endor Productions/Sky), Fallout (Company Pictures/ Channel 4, Screen Nation Award for Achievement in Screenwriting), Offside (BBC, Winner of BAFTA Children's Film & TV Award for Best Schools Drama) and Babyfather (BBC). In 2012, Roy co-wrote the movie Fast Girls. For radio, his work includes adaptations of ER Braithwaite's A Choice Of Straws and To Sir With Love and original plays, Tell Tale and Homeboys and the returning series The Interrogation. Roy is currently working on new plays for the National Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, Sonia Friedman Productions, and Atlantic Theatre Company, New York. He is also adapting his play, Sucker Punch for 55 Films Tour Dates Previously, Antigone toured to the following venues:

4 19th September - 4th October Derby Theatre 7-11 October - Northern Stage October - Lakeside Arts Centre October - Lawrence Batley Theatre October -York Theatre Royal 4-8 November -Watford Palace Theatre November -Gulbenkian, Canterbury November -Theatre Royal Winchester November -Exeter Northcott Theatre Education An online resource pack accompanies this production and is free to download Visit About Theatre Royal Stratford East A People s Theatre This famous producing theatre, located in the heart of London s East End on the edge of the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, prides itself on creating world class work that reflects the concerns, hopes and dreams of its community. A prolific developer of new work, this award-winning theatre attracts artists and audiences often not represented in other venues. Through a continuous loop it inspires and is inspired by its vibrant, young and diverse audience. New Writing Theatre Royal Stratford East is committed to supporting the development of exciting new voices and to putting bold new work on its stage. As part of this, the venue s bi-annual Angelic Tales New Writing Festival features rehearsed readings by more than twenty emerging writers and has led to work going on to become full main stage productions. New writing recently staged by Theatre Royal Stratford East includes Roy Williams Kingston 14, Somalia Seaton s Crowning Glory, Tanika Gupta s Love N Stuff, Rikki Beadle Blair s Gutted and Cora Bissett s Olivier-award- winning Roadkill. About Pilot Theatre Pilot Theatre is a multi-platform theatre organisation delivering critically acclaimed work regionally, nationally and internationally. Pilot aim to inspire creativity and new ways of thinking and are strategic innovators in the field of digital networks and leaders in the delivery and distribution of work for, by and with young people. Last year the company received much praise for their co-production with Slung Low and York Theatre Royal of the highly acclaimed Blood + Chocolate. About Derby Theatre Derby Theatre was accepted as a National Portfolio Organisation by Arts Council England on Tue 1 July 2014 and has a long and rich history of delivering high quality drama to audiences. Previously Derby Playhouse, Derby Theatre, which sits at the heart of the city, is now owned and run by the University of Derby. The Theatre is rooted in the local community but international in its outlook. We produce and present high quality performances working with the best local, regional and national talent. In 2012, the theatre was awarded strategic funding by Arts Council England to develop a new model for regional theatre in the 21 st Century. From 2013, under the new artistic directorship of Sarah Brigham, who works alongside General Manager, Gary

5 Johnson, we are transforming from a traditional producing house to an organisation of training mentorship and artistic excellence; we will be an exemplar, a new way of looking at the role and responsibility of theatre to its community. Our focus will ensure that each part of our process will be open to public learning opportunities. It will build the organisation s ability to take artistic risks by bringing creative and audiences along on a creative path via the co-production of narratives.