PHOTOGRAPHY MARC BRENNER
NICHE FEATURE
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof A touring theatre co-production by Made At Curve, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse and English Touring Theatre
‘O
n a sweltering Mississippi night, the lies are as stifling as the heat,’ starts the synopsis of Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. This collaborative production directed by Anthony Almeida will be performed at Curve from September 3-18 before touring across England and Wales. Almeida is the winner of the 2019 Royal Theatrical Support Trust (RTST) Sir Peter Hall Director Award. The production is also supported by grant funding from the RTST. Almeida said: “Medea, Hamlet, Hedda Gabler – throughout stage history, a singular heavyweight part headlines our greatest plays. But in his typical swagger, Tennessee Williams tore up the rules – he wrote not just one, but four colossal, enigmatic roles. It’s going to be dynamite to witness these talented actors go headto-head onstage. This entire cast are electric. I’m excited for us to begin rehearsals.” The synopsis continues: “Maggie has fought up from poverty, only to find herself in a passionless, burning marriage. Her husband Brick Pollitt, a former pro footballer, drinks to drown out the hurt he has bottled
up inside.” Siena Kelly, who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Award for her role in Channel 4’s Adult Material at this year’s BAFTAs, will play the role of Maggie. Oliver Johnstone (All My Sons, Old Vic; SkyFall, Eon Productions) will play Maggie’s distant and troubled husband Brick. Teresa Banham (The Crown, Netflix; Robin Hood, BBC) will appear as Big Mama and Peter Forbes (Follies, National Theatre; Judy, Pathé) will play Big Daddy, the Pollitt family’s vivid patriarch. Joining the cast as Gooper and his wife Mae are Sam Alexander (The Watsons, Chichester Festival Theatre) and Shanaya Rafaat (Jude, Hampstead Theatre). Suzette Llewellyn (EastEnders, BBC) will play Doctor Baugh, with Minal Patel (A Christmas Carol, Dominion Theatre) as Reverend Tooker. The roles of the Pollitt family children will be played by local young people at Leicester’s Curve, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse and across the tour. Mark Da Vanzo, Chief Executive at Liverpool and
A PARTICULAR HIGHLIGHT IS THAT LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO BE CAST AND ACT ALONGSIDE A VERY DISTINGUISHED AND TALENTED CAST
Merseyside Theatres Trust, said: “A particular highlight is that local young people will have the chance to be cast and act alongside a very distinguished and talented cast.” Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster said: “These are challenging times to produce theatre and we are indebted to our partners at English Touring Theatre, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, and Mark Hawes and Sir Geoffrey Cass at the Royal Theatrical Support Trust for their unyielding support and collaborative spirit, ensuring this ambitious production can go and can be shared with audiences across the country.” Tickets for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof are on sale now at curveonline.co.uk.
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