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Ruby Wax Brings Losing It Show to Menier in FebDate: 17 December 2010
Comedienne and television personality Ruby Wax’s new stage show, Ruby Wax - Losing It will come to London for a five-week run at the Menier Chocolate Factory it has today (17 December 2010) been announced.
The show, which is directed by Thea Sharrock, seeks to tackle what Wax calls the "big stigma" around mental illness - which affects one in four of the population at some time in their lives. Having played dates across the UK since April 2010, the show will now run at the Menier for a limited season from 24 February (previews from 15 February) to 19 March 2011.
Described in marketing material as a "hilarious and sometimes dark" show, Wax has collaborated with Welsh singer-songwriter Judith Owen, who has herself battled with depression, to write music and lyrics to accompany Wax's material.
Wax promises to use the play with songs to critique what she refers to as the toxins of our time: "envy, fame, television, the insatiable drive to win, getting rich, getting the perfect body, marriage, kids, career and, above all, staying busy while looking like you're having a nice day," all in comedienne's distinctively sharp style.
Wax has worked with the BBC for over 25 years, during which time she has fronted documentaries, comedies and interview shows. Having studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, her early acting career included a five-year stint in the RSC from 1978. Her non-stage credits include script editing for the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, and work as a travel writer and journalist.
Wax previously studied psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and is currently undertaking her Master’s at Oxford University, studying the mind.
Judith Owen is best known as the voice of Richard Thompson’s 1000 Years of Popular Music and until recently was based in Los Angeles. Her latest album The Beautiful Damage Collection features many of the songs from the show.
Ruby Wax - Losing It is directed by Thea Sharrock’s whose recent credits include the National Theatre's critically acclaimed production of After the Dance starring Benedict Cumberbatch. She also directs Blithe Spirit, starring Alison Steadman, which has toured from the Theatre Royal, Bath and will open at the West End's Apollo Theatre in March 2011.
The show is produced at the Menier by Chocolate Factory Productions in conjunction with MJE Productions and 35 pence from every ticket sold for the show will be donated to Comic Relief to contribute to their work with members of the community affected by mental health issues.
- by Andrew Girvan
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