FULL CASTS AND CREATIVE TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR THE FIRST HALF OF IRIS THEATRE’S WINTER SEASON AT THE POD
Iris Theatre today announces the full casts and creative teams for the first four productions in their inaugural Winter Season. The Winter Season will run at new theatre space The POD at the Actors’ Church, Covent Garden from 20 November – 21 December 2021.
- Yan Toby-Amisi writes, directs and stars in Mansa Musa, with a revised performance date of 20 November.
- Relish Theatre, Poppy Pedder and Guttersnipe Theatre present Shuga Fixx vs. The Illuminati, featuring Grace Church (Brooke), Molly McGeachin (Jude), Poppy Pedder (Gemma) and Jack Sears (Lizard King); with original music from Jac Cooper; movement direction from Cameron Carver and Chloe Young; lighting design by Laura Howard; sound design by Harriet North; videography from Poppy Pedder and Kofi Stone; costume design by Isobel Pellow; and animation by James Rudrum (23 November – 27 November)
- Betwixt-and-Between present Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, featuring Charlotte Ellen (Mary/Peter)and Daniel Arbon (George/Others); with original music by Patrick Neil Doyle; movement direction from Lily Howkins; sound design by Elliott Wallis (29 November – 4 December)
- Eden Tredwell presents The Last Nativity featuring Charlie Archer (Blake), Laura Pigott (Mia) and Sarah Whitehouse (Laura) (6 December – 11 December)
Completing the Winter Season will be A Song for Christmaspresented by Iris Theatre and Gartland Productions, with their casts and creative teams announced in due course.
There will also be a series of one-night events throughout weekends in November and December at The POD, which include New Musical Theatre: Open Mic from Mercury Musical Developments and Musical Theatre Network (21 November), That Could be a Sketch: Festive Editionfrom MonkeyMac (5 December), Bare Essentials: Christmas Crackers from Encompass Productions (20 December) and spoken word night Rhymes with Orange (21 December).
Please note the Winter Season will now begin on 20 November rather than an earlier announced date of 13 November.
MANSA MUSA
By Yan Toby-Amisi
20 November, 7:30pm
With an empire worth $400B in its time, what did the richest black man in history do with his wealth?
On his epic and moving journey from the Mali Empire to the city of Mecca, Mansa Musa endeavours to find a route towards hope and belonging by any means necessary.
Yan Toby-Amisi is an actor and playwright, and a recent graduate of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. His theatre credits as an actor include BLUD. (Iris Theatre). He is also a hip-hop artist under the handle Talla.
SHUGA FIXX VS. THE ILLUMINATI
Presented by Relish Theatre; Created by Poppy Pedder and Guttersnipe Theatre
23 – 27 November
Cast: Grace Church (Brooke), Molly McGeachin (Jude), Poppy Pedder (Gemma) and Jack Sears (Lizard King)
Video ensemble: James Boswell, Joshan Chana, Lakeisha Lynch-Stevens, Corey Montague-Sholay and Amber Muldoon as Conspiracy Theorists
Original music: Jac Cooper; Movement Direction: Cameron Carver and Chloe Young; Lighting Design: Laura Howard; Sound Design: Harriet North; Videography: Poppy Pedder and Kofi Stone; Costume Design: Isobel Pellow; Animation: James Rudrum
Brooke, Jude and Gemma are three ordinary galz with extraordinary dreamz. After forming girlband SHUGA FIXX and winning the Triple Threat Teen Awards they fly straight to the top of the charts, and unwittingly straight into the cold reptilian hands of… THE ILLUMINATI. And so begins the fight: good vs. evil, gals in glitter vs. men in cloaks, sisters vs. brethren. Who will win in the millennia’s bloodiest, fiercest, spangliest battle to end all battles?
Featuring tearaways, rhinestoned lizards and original pop hitz, SHUGA FIXX vs The Illuminati, provides a sugar-coated, outrageously silly, high-camp antidote for these strange times.
Grace Church plays Brooke. She is co-founder of Guttersnipe Theatre, Co-Artistic Director of Stumble Trip Theatre and regular collaborator of Frisky Arts. Her theatre credits include BITS (From the Forest Fringe Festival), Moonface (Park Theatre/Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Heather and Harry (Zoo Venues, Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Frills and Spills (Brighton Fringe), Back to the Woods (Wilderness Festival/VAULT Festival), Journey to the North Pole (Bakehouse Factory), You Before Me (The Lantern Theatre), The Question (Latitude Festival) and The Snow Queen (The Garage Theatre).
Molly McGeachin plays Jude. She is co-founder of Guttersnipe Theatre. Her theatre credits include TRIP (Brighton Fringe), Moon, White Girls, Shortcliffs Bed & Breakfast (INK Festival), BITS (From the Forest Fringe Festival), Flood (Tristan Bates Theatre), Moonface (Park Theatre/Edinburgh Fringe Festival), You Before Me (The Lantern Theatre) and The Vagina Monologues (FemTheatre). For film, her credits include The King’s Man.
Poppy Pedder plays Gemma. She is a theatre-maker and actor. Her theatre credits as an actor include King Lear (Bristol Old Vic).Her credits as a producer include KIN (Salisbury Playhouse/UK tour) and short films Chokablok and Pit Stop. Her solo projects and collaborations have been performed at venues such as PULSE Festival Ipswich, Exeter Phoenix, Exeter Bikeshed, Alma Tavern Bristol, Yurt Salon, Camden People’s Theatre, The Garage Norwich, Doña Stoke Newington and Theatre Royal Plymouth.
Jack Sears plays Lizard King. He is a performer and cabaret theatre maker. He trained under Bourgeois & Maurice on Soho Theatre’s Cabaret and Drag course and was a Roundhouse Resident Artist 2018/19. His debut show Parris Is Dreaming recently played a sell-out run at Pleasance London. As a drag artist performing alongside Jonny Woo, Sears has performed at Alexandra Palace, Clapham Grand and Mighty Hoopla. For film, his credits include The Bower.
Guttersnipe Theatre create and produce fresh feminist performance from page to stage with womxn front and centre, both onstage and off it. The core Guttersnipe Team are Grace Church, Lorna Heap, Lucy Mangan and Molly McGeachin, but they work with a wide range of incredible collaborators to make each of their shows. Previous projects include TRIP (Katzpace, Brighton Fringe: The Warren), BITS (From the Forest Fringe Festival) and Moonface (Park Theatre/Edinburgh Fringe).
Relish Theatre is a London based theatre company who specialise in sustainable new writing, delivered by early-career artists, to develop new audiences. Previous projects include Time and Tide (Park Theatre, nominated for Best New Play, Best Supporting Performance – Off-West End Awards), Cuttings (The Hope Theatre), Unicorn (Theatre N16), A Matter of Life and Debt (Edinburgh Fringe).
Age guidance: 15+
PETER PAN IN KENSINGTON GARDENS
Presented by Betwixt-and-Between; Written and directed by Charlotte Ellen
29 November – 4 December
Cast: Charlotte Ellen (Mary/Peter)and Daniel Arbon (George/Others)
Original music: Patrick Neil Doyle; Movement direction: Lily Howkins; Sound design: Elliott Wallis
Before Pan, there was Peter. Mary doesn’t want to grow up, so has run away to Kensington Gardens where her father, George, tells her the incredible origin story of ‘the boy who wouldn’t grow up’. Through games and songs they take a flight of imagination into Peter Pan’s earliest adventures.
Betwixt-and-Between’s magical adaptation of J.M.Barrie’s Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens invites you to fly away with them on this 60-minute story-telling adventure. With original music, puppetry and wonderful characters this charming family show is filled with joy, wit and nostalgia that makes it a festive treat for all ages.
Charlotte Ellen plays Mary/Peter. Her theatre credits include Santa’s Christmas Robin (The Woodville), The Princess and The Frog (Nottingham Playhouse), Cinderella, Peter Pan (Easterbrook Hall), The Twelve Pound Look (Pleasure Dome Theatre/Betwixt- and-Between), The Railway Children (Eastern Angles), and The House of The Heroine (Explore the Arch) and The Monster From The Cold (Showcase Festival).
Daniel Arbon plays George/Others. His credits include The Twelve Pound Look (Pleasure Dome Theatre/Betwixt- and-Between), The Wizard of Oz (Tread the Boards Theatre Company). For television, his credits include James McNeill Whistler and the Case for Beauty. Arbon also works as a filmmaker and director, running a production company Middle Realm Productions, producing shorts, drama and corporate videos.
Betwixt-and-Between is an Ayrshire based theatre company specialising in theatre for all ages founded by Charlotte Ellen in 2018.
Age guidance: 3+
THE LAST NATIVITY
Written by Eden Tredwelll; Directed by Jack Bence
6 – 11 December
Cast: Charlie Archer (Blake), Laura Pigott (Mia) and Sarah Whitehouse (Laura).
Musical Direction: Amir Shoenfeld
It’s Christmas and adult siblings Laura, Blake and Mia are returning to the family home. But when the last-minute addition of Nana Sue means they’re a present short, they decide to pull all the stops out and recreate their childhood Nativity play. Tensions arise, comedy ensues, and Powerpoint skills are tested as they try and recapture the magic of a childhood Christmas in The Last Nativity.
This world première new play, featuring a host of wonderful new music, is written and created by Stiles and Drewe award winner, Eden Tredwell, directed by Jack Bence with Musical Direction from Amir Shoenfeld.
Charlie Archer plays Blake. His theatre credits include Hay Fever, The Libertine (Royal Lyceum Edinburgh/Glasgow Citizens), A Mad World By Masters (Royal Shakespeare Company), Inigo (Pleasance Theatre), A Bright Room Called Day, The Illusion (Southwark Playhouse), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Royal and Derngate), Crows on the Wire, Bunny’s Vendetta (Blue Eagle Productions), Ladybird (New Diorama) and The Band, 100 Word Plays (Soho Theatre). For television, his credits include Anne Boleyn, Us, Crazyhead and New Blood; and for film, Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
Laura Pigott plays Mia. She is a recent graduate of the Guildford School of Acting and was the 2020 recipient of the 2020 BA Musical Theatre Award. Her theatre credits include The Show Must Go On Live! (Palace Theatre) and Singin’ in the Rain, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sister Act (Gaiety Theatre).
Sarah Whitehouse plays Laura. Her theatre credits include Nicola (Theatre 503), The Magnificent Death of Henry Fielding (The Sydenham Centre), Same Time Next Year, Two, Romeo and Juliet (EG Productions – various venues), The True Tales of Robin Hoode (Contexture Theatre), Henry V, The Comedy of Errors, Hamlet, Love’s Labours Lost, As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Winter’s Tale (Pendley Shakespeare Festival), Two (Mockingbird Theatre); for television, her credits include The Joy of Non-Sex, and for film, Lapwing and Life Goes On.
Age guidance: 12+
LISTINGS
WINTER SEASON
THE POD
The Actors’ Church
Bedford Street
London
WC2E 9ED
Box Office: 020 7240 0344 / www.iristheatre.com/
Tickets: £10 / £15
Mansa Musa
20 November 2021
New Musical Theatre: Open Mic Night
21 November 2021
Shuga Fixx Vs. The Illuminati
23 – 27 November 2021
Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens
29 November – 4 December 2021
That Could Be A Sketch! Festive Edition
5 December 2021
The Last Nativity
6 – 11 December 2021
A Song for Christmas
13 – 19 December 2021
Bare Essentials: Christmas Crackers
20 December 2021
Rhymes With Orange: Spoken Word Open Mic
21 December 2021