Theatre News

Ridley’s New Play Napalm Debuts at Southwark

Award-winning playwright Philip Ridley’s new play Tender Napalm will premiere at Southwark Playhouse from 19 April to 14 May 2011. The production will star Vinette Robinson and Jack Gordon.

Billed as a “high-impact, high-concept two hander exploring the universe that is a relationship between a man and a woman”, Tender Napalm is Ridley’s first new play since Piranha Heights in 2008.

The production will reunite the award-winning and provocative playwright with theatre company Supporting Wall and director David Mercatali, following their revival of his BNP-based Moonfleece last year.

Vinette Robinson will be familiar to fans on the television drama Sherlock having played DS Sally Donovan in the BBC mini-series. She has also played leading roles in the BBC’s Hope Springs, Waterloo Road and Party Animals. Her recent stage credits include Welcome to Thebes for the National Theatre, the Royal Court’s Sugar Mummies and Headlong Theatre’s Paradise Lost.

Named one of Screen International’s 2010 Stars of Tomorrow for film performances including the BAFTA-winning Fish Tank, Jack Gordon has played leading roles in War Horse, DNA and The Miracle for the National Theatre. His other stage credits include Lulu at the Gate Theatre. Gordon worked with Ridley on the playwright’s 2010 film Heartless.

Philip Ridley’s other plays include Piranha Heights, Leaves of Glass (both premiered at the Soho Theatre), Mercury Fur (Paines Plough), Vincent River, Ghosts from a Perfect Place (both Hampstead Theatre) and The Pitchfork Disney (Bush Theatre). His third feature film Heartless (starring Jim Sturgess) was recently released in America.