The Almeida is pleased to announce a third year ... - Almeida Theatre

CASTING ANNOUNCED AND EXTRA PERFORMANCESFOR LYNDSEY TURNER’S PRODUCTION OF LUCY KIRKWOOD’SC H I M E R I C AIn an Almeida Theatre and Headlong co-production, Lyndsey Turner will direct the World Premiere ofLucy Kirkwood’s Chimerica. The new dates for this production are 20 May – 6 July 2013, with pressnight on 28 May. Set designs are by Es Devlin with costumes by Christina Cunningham, lighting by TimLutkin, sound by Carolyn Downing and video design by Finn Ross.The cast is Claudie Blakley, Stephen Campbell Moore, Elizabeth Chan, Vera Chok, Karl Collins,Trevor Cooper, Nancy Crane, Sean Gilder, Sarah Lam, Andrew Leung, David K. S. Tse andBenedict Wong.Tiananmen Square, 1989. As tanks roll through Beijing and soldiers hammer on his hotel door, Joe – ayoung American photojournalist – captures a piece of history. When a cryptic message is left in a Beijingnewspaper more than 20 years later, Joe is driven to discover the truth behind the unknown hero hecaptured on film. Who was he? What happened to him? And could he still be alive?Claudie Blakley (Tessa) was last at the Almeida in The Lady from the Sea. She recently played LadyMacbeth at Sheffield Crucible where she was also seen in Lear. Her other theatre credits include TheComedy of Errors, The Cherry Orchard and Attempts on Her Life for the National Theatre, Di and Vivand Rose for Hampstead Theatre, Love and Money for the Young Vic and Kosher Harry and A Girl In ACar with a Man for the Royal Court. Her television credits include New Tricks, The Night Watch, Nativity,Lark Rise to Candleford and Cranford Chronicles. Her film credits include Lennon Naked, Bright Star,Pride and Prejudice and Gosford Park.Stephen Campbell Moore (Joe) was recently seen on stage at the Donmar Warehouse in Berenice. Hisprevious theatre credits include Clybourne Park for the Royal Court, All My Sons at the Apollo Theatre,Much Ado About Nothing and Antony and Cleopatra for the Royal Shakespeare Company and TheHistory Boys for the National Theatre. Amongst his television credits are The Wrong Mans, Hunted, JustHenry, The Titanic, Lark Rise to Candleford, Ashes to Ashes and Hustle. His film work includesComplicit, Johnny English Reborn, Season of the Witch, A Short Stay in Switzerland, Sea Wolf, TheDay, The History Boys and Bright Young Things.Elizabeth Chan’s (Zhang Shen) theatre credits include Inside Out and Monkey for Polka Theatre, TheWheel for the National Theatre of Scotland, Greenland for the National Theatre, The Script Factor andSoho Slam for Soho Theatre and Nicholas Nickleby for the Lyric Hammersmith. Her television creditsinclude Black Mirror: Going Dark, Coronation Street and Silent Witness.Vera Chok’s (Michelle Cheuk/Mary Wang) theatre credits include Tonseisha – The Man WhoAbandoned the World at the Barbican PitLab, The Firework Maker’s Daughter for Theatre by the Lake,Sir Gawain and the Green Knight for New Perspectives UK tour, The Death of Tintagell for saltpeter,Uncle Vanya for Sturdy Beggars, Mansfield Park and Ride for Eastern Angles and When The LightsWent Out for Tara Arts UK tour. Her screen credits include Coronation Street, Panic and Random 11.5 April 2013 /more….-2-

Salford born actor Benedict Wong (Zhang Lin) can be seen from 11 April 2013 playing the title role atHampstead Theatre in James Macdonald’s production of #aiww: The Arrest of Ai Weiwei. Previously heplayed Laertes in the critically acclaimed Hamlet at the Young Vic opposite Michael Sheen. His manyfilm credits include Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, The Lady, Dirty Pretty Things, Moon, Grow Your Ownand Danny Boyle’s Sunshine. The Counselor directed by Ridley Scott, Hummingbird written and directedby Steven Knight and Kick Ass 2 will be released later this year. Also Wong is soon to be seen in theChannel 4 drama Run, the RTS award winning drama Top Boy and Mathew Baynton and JamesCorden's BBC comedy The Wrong Mans.Lucy Kirkwood’s plays are The Small Hours, co–written with Ed Hime for Hampstead Theatre, Beautyand The Beast for the National Theatre, Bloody Wimmin for the Tricycle’s Women, Power and Politicsseason, It Felt Empty When the Heart Went at First But It is Alright Now for Clean Break TheatreCompany at the Arcola, Guns or Butter for The Union Theatre Terror Festival, Psychogeography andTinderbox for the Bush Theatre an Grady Hot Potato for Bedlam Theatre. Kirkwood adapted HeddaGabler for the Gate Theatre and has written for C4’s Skins. Her play NSFW opened at the Royal Court in2012, directed by Simon Godwin.Lyndsey Turner’s Royal Court production of Posh completed its run in the West End in August 2012and her production of Philadelphia, Here I Come! ran at the Donmar Warehouse last year. Turner’sother productions for the Royal Court includes Contractions, A Miracle and Our Private Life. She isAssociate Director at Sheffield Theatres where her work includes Alice and The Way of the World. Herother theatre credits include Edgar And Annabel and There Is A War for the National Theatre, Joseph Kand Nocturnal for the Gate, My Romantic History for Traverse, Bush, Sheffield Theatres and The Lessonfor the Arcola.PRINCIPAL PARTNERThe Almeida Theatre is grateful to its Principal Partner Aspen whose three year sponsorship started inJuly 2011, building on the long-term relationship between the two companies. Aspen’s support of theAlmeida Theatre ensures continued bold programming and artistic endeavour. Aspen was established in2002 and is a leading global insurance and reinsurance company. www.aspen.coThe Almeida Theatre is supported by Arts Council England.-4-/more....

LISTINGS INFORMATIONAccessAddressCafe-BarBox OfficeChimericaAudio Described performance by VocalEyes 22 June 2013 at 2.30pm, Touch Tour at12.45pmCaptioned performance 11 June 2013 at 7.30pmAlmeida Theatre, Almeida Street, Islington, London, N1 1TAThe Almeida Cafe-Bar is open from 11.30am -11.00pm, Monday to SaturdayPhone 020 7359 4404 (10am – 7.30pm)On line www.almeida.co.ukIn person 10am – 7.30pm, Monday – Saturdaypreview prices £8 - £26, concessions availableafter press night price £8 - £32, concessions availableday seats (2 per person) will go on sale at 11am on day of performance, in person fromBox Office for all performances post press nightsIslington First (if you live or work in Islington) £20, check box office for datesUnder 30s £16 for Monday performancesRegular performances are Monday - Saturday at 7.30pm, Saturday matinees at 2.30pm,Press Nights at 7pmChimerica Wednesday matinees are 5 and 19 June at 2.30pmChimerica Talkback is on 19 June after the 7.30pm performanceWebsitewww.almeida.co.ukPublic booking is now open for ChimericaALMEIDA QUICK REFERENCE21 March – 11 May 2013BEFORE THE PARTYRodney Ackland based on a short story by W. Somerset MaughamDirector Matthew DunsterPress night 28 March20 May – 6 July 2013CHIMERICALucy KirkwoodDirector Lyndsey TurnerPress night 28 May___________________________________________________________________________________For further press information - Premier PR Theatre Department - 020 7292 8330janine.shalom@premiercomms.com, Kerry.lynch@premiercomms.com,dan.macarthur@premiercomms.com5 April 2013