Theatre News

Full cast announced for Younis’ inaugural Chalet Lines at Bush

7 March 2012

Full casting has been announced for Madani Younis‘ inaugural production as artistic director of the Bush Theatre, Lee Mattinson’s Chalet Lines.

Robyn Addison, Sian Breckin, Monica Dolan, Laura Elphinstone and Gillian Hanna make up the cast of Mattinson’s new play, which is set in Chalet Number 12 at Butlins Skegness and focuses on the women of the Walker family who have been holidaying there since 1961.

Billed as a “shockingly funny journey through five decades of birthdays, weddings and hen dos” the piece questions if “we can we ever really cut the apron string that ties us to our parents?”

This year it’s Nana Barbara’s seventieth and everyone’s airing their dirty laundry. Loretta’s had too many camp cocktails, Jolene’s fallen tits over teeth for a Redcoat and Abigail’s harbouring more than knickers and hairspray in her suitcase.

Younis helms the production, which opens on 12 April (previews from 6 April) for a limited season through to 5 May 2012 at the Bush’s new home on Shepherds Bush Green. The play will transfer to Newcastle’s Live Theatre where it will form part of the autumn season.

Gillian Hanna‘s (Barbara) credits include Brighton (Garter Lane Theatre), The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Theatre Royal Waterford & tour), Smilin’ Through (Drill Hall), Uncle Vanya (Birmingham Rep), Amy’s View (Salisbury Playhouse), Ivanov (National), Night Songs, Fire Face (Royal Court) and Medea (Queen’s Theatre).

She also also been see on television in Strikeback, George Gently, Kindness of Strangers, The Heart Surgeon and Drop the Dead Donkey. Her film credits include Oliver Twist, The Heart of Me, All the Queen’s Men and Les Miserables.

Laura Elphinstone (Abigail) has appeared in A Month in the Country and Top Girls at Chichester Festival Theatre, recently transferring to Trafalgar Studios with the later. Her other stage credits include Pains of Youth, Women of Troy (National Theatre), Bedroom Farce (West Yorkshire Playhouse) and Far From the Madding Crowd (ETT). On television her credits include My So Called Life Sentence and Tess of the D’Urbervilles. She also appeared in the screen adaption of The History Boys.

Robyn Addison‘s (Jolene) theatre credits include Mongrel Island, Realism (Soho Theatre), The Rivals (Theatre Royal Bath & West End). On television her credits include Open Doors, Survivors, Starlings, Waterloo Road, George Gently and The Street.

Sian Breckin (Paula) has been seen on stage in The Baron (Old Vic & Time Warner Ignite) The 24 Hour Plays (Old Vic), The Importance of Being Earnest (Antic Mind Theatre) and Christine (New End Theatre). Her television credits include Scott & Bailey and DCI Banks.

Monica Dolan‘s (Loretta) stage credits include Birth of a Nation (Royal Court), King Lear, The Seagull (RSC), Jane Eyre (Shared Experience and West End), Macbeth (Out of Joint) and She Stoops to Conquer (National and Out of Joint). For television, her credits include Appropriate Adult, U B Dead, Excluded, Occupation, Wallis and Edward and Tipping the Velvet.

Playwright Lee Mattinson’s previous credits include No Wire Hangers (Soho Theatre), Donna Disco (Chicken Pox Fox/Live Theatre), Me and Cilla, M&S S&M, Orlando Spoon, Julian Scary, I Heart Morrissey, Liquorice, Funny Valentine, Shitty Shitty Bang Bang, 6C Nativity, Circus Girl (Live Theatre), Jonathan Likes This (National Theatre/Live Theatre), The Bang Gang (Bad Fox Theatre Company), Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit (NTC), Chocolate (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Paper Men Hold Hands (Monster Productions), Swan Song (New Writing North/Live Theatre), Blue and Grey, Panda (People’s Theatre), Freddy Hearts Freddie, Me Fatty (Ugly Sister Productions) and The Window Letters (Theatre in the Mill).

His most recent play Crocodiles was shortlisted for the 2011 Verity Bargate Award. For television, his work includes Scallywagga; for film, Harvest; and for radio, Me and Cilla (BBC Radio 3), Prom and Snowglobe (BBC Radio Newcastle).