Off-West End Announcements – 22 May 2009
Old Red Lion Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nevermind, a new play inspired by Nirvana frontman, Kurt Cobain, will premiere next month (16 June-4 July) at the Old Red Lion Theatre, Islington. Eastenders star Chris Coghill, who won plaudits for his controversial portrayal of paedophile Tony King on the soap, plays John, a struggling music journalist who is visited by the ghost of Cobain while writing the rock star’s biography. The Pocket Punks production features another Albert Square alumna in the shape of Daniela Denby-Ashe, also known for her role as Janey Harper on BBC sitcom, My Family. Dylan Brown directs.
Tangram Theatre Company’s critically-acclaimed production of Dr Korczak’s Example is to receive its London premiere at the Arcola Theatre (30 June-18 July), after an award-winning run at Manchester’s Royal Exchange. David Grieg’s play recounts the last days of Dr Korczak, children’s author, therapist and founder of the Jewish Orphanage in Warsaw’s Ghetto, whose writing became the basis of the UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child. His legacy proves particularly relevant in light of the Baby P-prompted debate on child protection.
Want One-Woman Plays? Get Two
The Rosemary Branch fills out the first week of June with two contrasting one-woman shows. LOL (1-3 June) is a satirical comedy about the internet dating scene written and performed by Ros Adler, whose play Jubilate! went down well at the Branch last autumn. It is followed by in The Marvellous Adventures of Mary Seacole (4-7 June), which tells the remarkable story of the black history icon. This is a rare theatre outing for Cleo Sylvestre’s show after an extensive museum tour that took in venues ranging from the National Portrait Gallery to the House of Lords.
– by Nancy Groves
