Anya Reiss Attends the 2011 Whatsonstage.com Awards Launch
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Royal Court Debut Reiss' New Play The Acid Test

The Royal Court have announced two new plays for the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, including Anya Reiss' follow up to her award-winning Spur of the Moment - an "unruly new comedy" titled The Acid Test.

Spur of the Moment, which Reiss wrote after completing the Royal Court's Young Writers Programme aged 17, saw her pick up the Most Promising Playwright prize at both the Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle awards as well as earning her a nomination for London Newcomer of the Year at this year's Whatsonstage.com Awards.

The Acid Test will open on 23 May (previews from 13 May 2011) and run until 11 June, directed by Simon Godwin.

Questioning whether age equals maturity The Acid Test tells the story of Dana, Ruth and Jess downing shots and emptying vodka bottles to console the heart-broken, to comfort the anxious and just pass the time. Kicked out from the family home Jess’s dad, Jim, invades the party with just as much recklessness as the girls. As the night passes, Friday night in becomes high drama.

Godwin's recent directing credits include Nick Payne's Wanderlust for the Royal Court and Faith Healer and Far Away at Bristol Old Vic. Godwin also directed work as part of the Royal Court's 2008 and 2010 international residencies. The Acid Test will be designed by Paul Wills, with lighting by Malcolm Rippeth.

Another Young Writers Programme graduate, Penelope Skinner, will make her Royal Court debut with The Village Bike from 1 July (previews from 24 June) to 23 July. Skinner recently collaborated with Moira Buffini, Matt Charman and Jack Thorne on Greenland which continues its run at the NT Lyttelton until 2 April.

A provocative and darkly comic look at fantasy and romance The Village Bike sees a pregnant Becky frustrated by her husband. He is more interested in the baby manual than her new underwear so she turns to the porn stash under the bed. As the summer heats up, a brief encounter sends her speeding downhill towards reckless abandon.

The production is directed by deputy artistic director of the Young Vic, Joe Hill-Gibbins. His Royal Court credits include The Girlfriend Experience, The Family Plays, Bliss, and A Girl In A Car With A Man.

Currently playing at the Royal Court, Richard Bean's The Heretic starring Juliet Stevenson continues until 19 March. As part of the international playwrights season Pedro Miguel Rozo's Our Private Life, translated by Simon Scardifield continues until 12 March 2011.

- by Andrew Girvan

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