Theatre News

Casting announced for Neaptide at the National Theatre

The piece is the first in the theatre’s series focusing on LGBT stories

Jessica Raine, Maureen Beattie, Thomas Arnold, Adjoe Andoh, Ronke Adekoluejo
Jessica Raine, Maureen Beattie, Thomas Arnold, Adjoa Andoh, Ronke Adekoluejo
© Dan Wooller for WhatsOnStage

Casting has been announced for Neaptide, the first performance as part of the National Theatre's event series focusing on LGBT+ stories.

Directed by Sarah Frankcom, the performance will be a rehearsed reading of Sarah Daniels' work, which was the first full-length play by a female playwright at the National Theatre. It is about the public and private battles of a lesbian mother in the '80s. After she comes out to her family, she faces a custody battle and uncertainty over her career as a teacher.

The cast for the reading includes Ronke Adekoluejo (Val), Adjoa Andoh (Beatrice), Simon Armstrong (Sid & Cyril), Thomas Arnold (Colin & Roger), Maureen Beattie (Joyce), Morfydd Clark (Poppy & Terri), Karla Crome (Diane), Helena Lymbery (Anette & Marion), Sarah Niles (Linda) and Jessica Raine (Claire).

It is the first in the five-part series, which includes Wig Out! by Tarell Alvin McCraney, Certain Young Men by Peter Gill, Bent by Martin Sherman and The Drag by Mae West.

Neaptide will run at the National Theatre in the Lyttelton on 6 July, and the Queer Theatre series runs until 10 July.