OUR LADIES of PERPETUAL SUCCOUR Dorfman Theatre Previews from 8 August, Press Night 10 August, Final Performance 1 October
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24 May 2016 The National Theatre of Scotland and Live Theatre’s co-production OUR LADIES OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR Dorfman Theatre Previews from 8 August, Press Night 10 August, final performance 1 October Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, the critically-acclaimed stage adaptation of Alan Warner’s cult Scottish novel The Sopranos, by Lee Hall and directed by Vicky Featherstone receives its London premiere at the Dorfman Theatre on 8 August (press night 10 August). The production premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2015, and enjoyed a successful sell-out run at the Traverse Theatre, earning critical and audience acclaim, and picking up four awards before embarking on a sell-out Scottish tour and run at Newcastle’s Live Theatre. The full cast includes Melissa Allan, Caroline Deyga, Karen Fishwick, Kirsty MacLaren, Frances Mayli McCann and Dawn Sievewright with musicians Amy Shackcloth, Laura Bangay, Becky Brass and Emily Linden. Music Arrangement and Supervision is by Martin Lowe, Design by Chloe Lamford, Lighting Design by Lizzie Powell and Choreography by Imogen Knight. Alan Warner’s novel and Lee Hall’s musical stage play tell the story of six girls on the cusp of change. Love, lust, pregnancy and death all spiral out of control in a single day. Funny, sad, rude and beautifully sung, Our Ladies.... is a tribute to being young, lost and out of control, featuring a soundtrack of classical music and 70s pop rock, with music by Handel, Bach and ELO including the songs Mr Blue Sky, Don’t Bring Me Down, Long Black Road and more. Vicky Featherstone, Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre, collaborates with Lee Hall, (Shakespeare in Love, Billy Elliot and The Pitmen Painters), to create a wild and tender play meets gig about singing, sex and Sambuca and suitable for those aged 16+ Our Ladies marks the National Theatre of Scotland’s return to the National Theatre in London, following the sell-out co-production of The James Plays in 2014 which is currently touring. The production also marks Vicky Featherstone’s directorial debut at the NT and a return for Lee Hall whose Live Theatre’s The Pitman Painters was co-produced by the National Theatre of Great Britain in 2009. Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre of Great Britain says “We’re delighted to be welcoming Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour to the National – not simply to give London audiences the chance to see this exhilarating play, but also because it reunites us with so many friends and neighbours: the National Theatre of Scotland, Live Theatre, Lee Hall and Vicky Featherstone. It will be a joy to have the uproarious Ladies at the Dorfman.” Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour arrives at the National Theatre following a UK and international tour, in 2016. Full tour details available from www.nationaltheatrescotland.com WATCH- The cast of Our Ladies sing ELO’s Mr Blue Sky, live from BBC Edinburgh Nights at Potterrow during the Edinburgh Fringe 2015. Listen to the Spotify playlist here Images for The Ladies of Perpetual Succour can be downloaded here. Join the conversation: #OurLadies The Dorfman Partner is Neptune Investment Management. Press night: Wednesday 10 August, 7pm ENDS Press contacts: National Theatre of Great Britain Martin Shippen - Press Manager – 020 7452 3233 / [email protected] National Theatre of Scotland Emma Schad - Press Manager - 0227 9016 / [email protected] Notes to Editors 1. Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour is directed by Vicky Featherstone and adapted by Lee Hall from the novel The Sopranos by Alan Warner. The show will feature design by Chloe Lamford, musical arrangement by Martin Lowe, choreography by Imogen Knight, Lighting Design by Lizzie Powell and sound design by Mike Walker. The cast includes Melissa Allan, Caroline Deyga, Kirsty Findlay, Karen Fishwick, Kirsty McLaren, Frances Mayli McCann, Joanne McGuiness and Dawn Sievewright. The band is Laura Bangay, Becky Brass, Emily Linden and Amy Shackcloth. 2. The production will run for 63 performances between 8 August and 1 October. 3. The Platform event with Vicky Featherstone and Lee Hall will take place on 1 September. There will be an In Focus event on Cult Fiction on Stage on 12 September. 4. Captioned performances will take place on 12 and 21 September at 8pm. Audio Described performances will take place on 9 & 10 September at 5.30pm. A pre-show Touch Tour will take place at prior to the 5.30pm performance on 10 September. Artists biographies Vicky Featherstone- Director of Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour Vicky is the Artistic Director at the Royal Court Theatre. In this role her directing credits have included Dennis Kelly’s The Ritual Slaughter of George Mastromas, Abi Morgan’s The Mistress Contract and Molly Davies’ God Bless the Child, Zinnie Harris’ How to Hold Your Breath, Alistair McDowell’s X, and David Ireland’s Cyprus Avenue at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. She opened her first season at the Royal Court Theatre with Open Court – a festival of plays, ideas and events, chosen by over 140 writers. At National Theatre of Scotland, her credits included Enquirer (co- directed with John Tiffany), Appointment with the Wicker Man and 27. Vicky Featherstone was the inaugural Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Scotland (2004 to 2013) and was previously Artistic Director of Paines Plough (1997 to 2004). Lee Hall – Adapter of Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour Lee was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1966. He studied English Literature at the University of Cambridge and has worked as a writer in theatre, TV, radio and film. He has been writer in residence at the Royal Shakespeare Company and Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne. Previous theatre work includes Shakespeare In Love (Noel Coward Theatre), The Pitmen Painters (2007- 2013), Live Theatre/ Royal National Theatre, Broadway, West End, UK Tours (winner Evening Standard Best Play Award, TMA Best New Play Award); and Billy Elliot - the Musical, London 2004, Australia 2006-7, Broadway, 2008, Chicago, 2010 (Olivier Award - Best Musical, 9 Tony Awards including Best Book). Film and television credits include War Horse (2011), DreamWorks; Toast (2010); and Billy Elliot (2000), Working Title Films (Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay). Alan Warner – writer of The Sopranos Alan Warner was born in Oban in 1964 and grew up there. He is the author of eight novels including Morvern Callar which was made into a film starring Samantha Morton in 2002, These Demented Lands, The Man Who Walks, The Worms Can Carry Me To Heaven, The Stars in the Bright Sky which was longlisted for the 2010 Man Booker Prize and The Deadman's Pedal which won the 2013 James Tait Black Prize. His latest novel is Their Lips Talk of Mischief, published by Faber in 2014. His novel The Sopranos was first published in 1998. The National Theatre of Great Britain is dedicated to making the very best theatre and sharing it with as many people as possible. We produce up to 30 productions at our home on the South Bank in London each year, ranging from re-imagined classics – such as Greek tragedy and Shakespeare – to modern masterpieces and new work by contemporary writers and theatre-makers. The work we make strives to be as open, as diverse, as collaborative and as national as possible. Equally we are committed to education, with a wide-ranging Learning programme for all ages in our new Clore Learning Centre and in schools and communities across the UK. The National’s work is also seen on tour throughout the UK and internationally, and in collaborations and co-productions with regional theatres. Popular shows transfer to the West End and occasionally to Broadway. The National Theatre Live programme of cinema broadcasts is now regularly available in 2,000 cinemas in 50 countries around the world. nationaltheatre.org.uk @nationaltheatre The National Theatre of Scotland is dedicated to playing the great stages, arts centres, village halls, schools and site-specific locations of Scotland, the UK and internationally. As well as creating ground-breaking productions and working with the most talented theatre- makers, the National Theatre of Scotland produces significant community engagement projects, innovates digitally and works constantly to develop new talent. Central to this is finding pioneering ways to reach current and new audiences and to encourage people’s full participation in the Company’s work. With no performance building of its own, the Company works with existing and new venues and companies to create and tour theatre of the highest quality. Founded in 2006, the Company, in its short life, has become a globally significant theatrical player, with an extensive repertoire of award-winning work. The National Theatre of Scotland is supported by the Scottish Government. www.nationaltheatrescotland.com Live Theatre is recognised as one of the great new writing theatres on the international stage. Based in Newcastle upon Tyne it is also deeply rooted in its local community. Live Theatre produces work as varied and diverse as the audiences it engages with. As well as championing the art of writing for stage by producing and presenting new plays, Live Theatre uses theatre to unlock the potential of young people and finds, nurtures and trains creative talent. Through its creative enterprises it is also developing new models of business sustainability and growth. Founded in 1973, the theatre was transformed in 2007. The result is a beautifully restored and refurbished complex of five Grade II listed buildings with state-of-the-art facilities in a unique historical setting, including a cabaret style theatre, a studio theatre, renovated rehearsal rooms, a series of dedicated writer’s rooms as well as a thriving café and bar.