Theatre News

Janie Dee leads cast of Kirkwood’s NSFW at Royal Court

Casting has been announced for Lucy Kirkwood’s new play NSFW at the Royal Court, which premieres in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs on 31 October (previews from 25 October).

Billed as a “sharp new comedy”, the play looks at power games and privacy in the media and beyond. The title stands for ‘Not Safe For Work’, which is online material deemed unsuitable to view in the workplace.

Janie Dee plays Miranda, editor of women’s magazine Electra. Her credits include Private Lives at Nottingham Playhouse, All’s Well that Ends Well at the Globe, The King and I at the Curve, Leicester and A Month in the Country at Chichester Festival Theatre.

Kevin Doyle plays Mr Bradshaw. He last appeared at the Royal Court in Spur of the Moment, while other credits include The White Guard at the National Theatre and extensive work with the RSC. On television, he played Joseph Molesley in ITV’s Downton Abbey.

Sacha Dhawan plays new recruit to Doghouse magazine, Sam. He last appeared at the Royal Court in Free Outgoing, while other stage credits include England People Very Nice, In the Moment and The History Boys at the National Theatre.

Henry Lloyd-Hughes plays Doghouse journalist Rupert. Most recently he appeared in Posh as part of the Royal Court at the Duke of York’s season. His other credits include The Changeling at the Young Vic, Tiger Country at Hampstead, Rope at the Almeida and Punk Rock at the Lyric Hammersmith.

Esther Smith, who last appeared at the Royal Court in Tim Crouch‘s The Author, completes the cast as Doghouse journalist Charlotte.

NSFW is Kirkwood’s Royal Court debut. Her credits include Beauty and the Beast co-devised with Katie Mitchell (National Theatre), Small Hours, co-written with Ed Hime (Hampstead Theatre Downstairs), Tinderbox (Bush Theatre), Hedda (Gate Theatre) and the award-winning it felt empty when the heart went at first but it is alright now (Arcola Theatre) produced by Clean Break, where she is now on the board.

Royal Court associate director Simon Godwin will direct. His recent credits include The Witness by Vivienne Franzmann, Luke Norris’ Goodbye to All That, Anya Reiss’ The Acid Test, and Nick Payne’s Wanderlust.

NSFW runs until 24 November 2012.