Tamara Harvey directs premiere of Joe Hammond’s Mangrove at 503

Tamara Harvey will direct the world premiere of Royal Court Studio writer Joe Hammond’s debut play Where the Mangrove Grows at Theatre503 later this year.

Running from 6 November to 1 December 2012, the play is based on Hammond’s experiences working with vulnerable young people and centres on a boy’s experiences in care.

Twelve year-old Shaun just can’t work it out. Why hasn’t his Mum come to visit? Why has his care-worker taken away his picture book? And who is the man at the window calling him away? With a bed for a boat and a piece of skirting board for an oar, Shaun sets off for mangroves in this darkly enchanting tale of a lost boy’s transformation.

Harvey’s recent directing credits include Educating Rita (Menier Chocolate Factory/Theatre Royal Bath), Blue Heart Afternoon (Hampstead Theatre), The Kitchen Sink, Sixty-Six Books and The Contingency Plan (Bush Theatre).

Her other credits include Bedroom Farce (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Plague Over England (Finborough and West End) and Dancing at Lughnasa (Birmingham Rep) – she is currently developing a new musical with Tim Rice based on James Jones’ novel From Here to Eternity.

Joining the creative team will be Amy Cook, who recently designed Mudlarks (Theatre503/Bush) and lighting designer Oliver Fenwick, who has recently worked on Berenice at the Donmar.