Ridley’s BNP-based Moonfleece Bows in East End Date: 8 January 2010
Philip Ridley’s most directly political play to date, Moonfleece, will receive its professional premiere at the height of general election furore this spring.
Originally developed in 2004 for the National Theatre Connections programme for young people, the piece about rising right-wing nationalism and homophobia will initially run from 2 to 13 March as part of the 2010 East Festival at the new Rich Mix multi-platform arts centre in Bethnal Green, marking the first premiere of a Ridley play in the East End where the playwright was born and still lives, works and takes part in community and outreach work.
Set in an abandoned council flat, Moonfleece centres on a young, right-wing activist forced to reassess his personal and political beliefs. The new Supporting Wall production is directed by David Mercatali, with a multi-cultural cast including Sean Verey, David Ames and Krupa Pattani.
Following its opening in east London, nearby Barking & Dagenham which polled 19.4% in favour of the British National Party in last year’s European elections, the production will tour for selected dates in other BNP-affected areas – Bradford, Leicester, Birmingham, Doncaster and Dudley – before returning to London in April for stints at Riverside Studios (6-11 April) and Greenwich Theatre (15-17 April).
Philip Ridley’s other plays include Leaves of Glass, Apocalyptica, Mercury Fur, Piranha Heights, Fairytale Heart, Krindlekrax and his award-winning 1997 piece The Fastest Clock in the Universe, revived last year at Hampstead Theatre. His films include the East End-set gangster biopic The Krays and the upcoming Heartless, which stars Jim Sturgess, Timothy Spall and Luke Treadaway and is due for release next month.
The liberal arts establishment and the real world will never meet.
I just love how some commenters here and the play in general seem fixated on "Fixing" people who have concerns about issues that those who typically attend theatres do not share.
Why not a play about a young marxist activist who hits middle aged BNP members on the head with hammers and attacks police at EDL marches taking a look at themselves and realising that their ideology of hate, fear and jealousy are ultimately self defeating?
THAT would be original. This is the same old tosh you can read with a Guardian subscription. - James
30 Mar 10
Phillip Ridley is one of the finest writers of our generation and guess what.. he's written something worth writing. It's started a debate before it's even come out which proves it must therefore be worth it if of course it stimulates sensible discussion... - Luke Barnes- McEwan
13 Jan 10
Isn't it interesting that when a new play about this subject comes up, certain people start demonstrating why it was written in the first place! Looking forward to it! - Sarah
09 Jan 10
Will Mossop / John Drake - do you know what Nazism was?! Your comments are sickening, and show exactly why we need events that deal with this sensibly, and show up your views for what they really are. There's nothing "ORIGINAL" in giving out racist, ignorant abuse. - Tariq Ladha
09 Jan 10
Those interested in the subject matter might also like to see A Day at the Racists by award-winning playwright Anders Lustgarten at the Finborough Theatre in March 2010 - which has also attracted a lot of comment on right-wing websites. - Finborough Theatre
09 Jan 10
What has happened to What's On Stage? Have we actually beent taken over by the BNP? Jesus... This actually looks like quite a good, interesting play by one of our best playwrights.
John Drake, are you actually suggesting that Philip Ridley is, in your words, 'a Nazi'?! - Tom Day
08 Jan 10
You didn't actually respond to a single thing Paul said! He brought up history and like with all extremists you resort to abuse rather than challenging his actual facts. You appear to be the one with fewer points. Do you have anything sensible to say or have you used up all your arsenal? I personally think a play that can get to the heart of views such as yours is something I'm looking forward to! - Hilary Abingdon
08 Jan 10
Paul Ogden - a foolish excuse for a man, your pathetic opinions are becoming fewer & fewer thank the Lord. The real problems of society are ignorant maniacs like yourself. - Andy
08 Jan 10
I live in South London, in a multi cultural multi ethnic community. Please don't patronise me with your supposed grass roots understanding of this country. The indigenous tribes of this country were actually dark skinned. Did you know this? Of course not. You think you can sing to the tune of history and tradition, when you don't even have the basic kknowledge of the land you live on. You sir, are just as much the ancestor of immigrants as anyone on this land. Read a bit before you open your mouth next time. - Paul Ogden
08 Jan 10
If you want to go against the establishment, then vote BNP. The real enemies of you white left wingers who like to make fun of us conservatives is the muslims, who will cut your head off, rape your daughter and would never let you put on a play about your outdated, wishy washy left wing message. I think it is you Paul who is guilty of ignorance, prejudice and a complete lack of understanding of the problems of today's society. This play will be failure since it does not deal with the realities that we as the native British people face with your imagined multicultural utopia, you are the real nazis who want to wipe us out. Paul, take a walk in the so-called enriched areas of London and we will see if you feel the love. - John Drake
08 Jan 10
Wow, these reactions show just how important this play might be. Ignorance, prejudice and a complete lack of understanding of the real problems in society is alive and well: just read the previous three comments. - Paul Ogden
08 Jan 10
How about a play about Britian's total economic collapse, white working class citizens treated as second class, a traitorous Government, massive crime wave by third world savage immigrants - and a looming civil war - we don't need a "play" it's reality. - andy
08 Jan 10
Same old establishment message, I think they are clutching at straws with this one. I agree with Will. - Mark Jordan
08 Jan 10
All been done before. Nothing original here.
How about a play about somebody brought up as a left wing hippy and Labour member who realises, following the grooming of his daughter by muslim paedophiles and the stabbing of his son by Somali drug dealers, that multi culturalism isn't so wonderful.
Now that would be ORIGINAL and closer to reality. - Will Mossop
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