Banter Productions in association with Jermyn Street Theatre
presents the world premiere of
DESPERATE MEASURES
A new musical based on Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure
Script by Robin Kingsland
Lyrics by Robin Kingsland & Chris Barton
Music by Chris Barton
Jermyn Street Theatre
24 November – 20 December 2015
Desperate Measures, a freewheeling new musical based on Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, is set in London in the ‘swinging sixties’ against a backdrop of starchy middle class morality and hypocrisy in a country on the verge of Beatlemania and the sexual and social permissiveness that we know today.
This is the world of Profumo, Christine Keeler & the Kray twins. Depravity and sexual licence are widespread. Members of parliament rub shoulders with glamour models and journalists are all too happy to take bribes.
MP, Simon Di Angelo, in an attempt to stop the tide of ‘wickedness’ he sees permeating every corner of life decides to revive the Sexual Congress Act. Pop singer Milo Feather breaks the law by getting his girlfriend pregnant and is condemned to hang under the new morality laws. His sister Isobel, a novice nun, sets out to rescue him. But she’s about to take holy orders, and the stakes will threaten all that she lives for.
Desperate Measures stars Ellie Nunn as Isobel. Ellie has appeared in Gatsby (Arts Theatre), Shakespeare in Love (Noel Coward Theatre), Lady Windermere’s Fan (Kings Head Theatre), Bombshells (Jermyn Street Theatre,) and The Last Laundress of Queensway (the Drayton Arms). Her film credits include ‘The Brief History’, ‘Untimely Death of George III’ and ‘Cracks’.
The cast includes Harry Al-Adwani, Angharad George-Carey, Emily-Rose Hurdiss, Alice Jay, Jojo Macari, Callum Macdonald, Charlie Merriman, Timothy Patten, Tosin Thompson, and James Wilson.
Design is by Dee Shulman and the Musical Director is Jordan Li-Smith.
Robin Kingsland’s writing includes TV, radio, urban pantomimes, plays and musicals for young audiences, stage adaptations as well as the shameless plundering of William Shakespeare’s back catalogue. Pcuk – A Mid$ummer Night’s Remix – a modern idiom, blank verse, street dance reworking of another of Shakepeare’s works, was a critical and audience hit at the 2011 Edinburgh Festival, and Prospero’s Children– a re-invention of The Tempest was toured to great acclaim by Quicksilver Theatre.
Robin’s stage adaptations include Around the World in Eighty Days for the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, and All Quiet on the Western Front for Nottingham Playhouse. Robin is also an accomplished stage actor, who has appeared in the West End as troubled Rat-Packer Peter Lawford in Rat Pack Confidential, and as Charlie Malloy in Steven Berkoff’s acclaimed production of On The Waterfront.
Chris Barton has directed for the Royal National Theatre, Watford Palace Theatre, Basingstoke Theatre Royal, California Shakespeare Festival, SNAP Theatre Company, International Theatre Research Group KISS in The Netherlands, and as associate director in the West End and on Broadway, with Ian McKellen’s Richard III and Stephen Daldry’s An Inspector Calls, which he also recreated in Tokyo. He has taught and directed at numerous London Drama Schools, and for several years ran The Contemporary Shakespeare Company, taking tailor-made performance programmes into schools and colleges. Chris is also a musician, writer and actor, and is frequently called upon for his expertise as a deviser of training and entertainment events for corporate clients.
His musical writing credits include More Tales From the Magic Carpet at the Royal National Theatre, andHamlet House of Horror which was a sell-out success at the Old Red Lion in Islington, gaining Critics’ Choice in Time Out, 5 stars in London Theatre Guide and 4 stars in The Daily Mail.
Banter Productions formed earlier this year to produce Jonathan Lewis’ A Level Playing Field. It premiered at Jermyn Street Theatre to much critical acclaim. Desperate Measures will be the Christmas show at Jermyn Street Theatre.
What the critics said about A Level Playing Field:
“Imagine a co-ed Lord of the Flies with iPhones, Facebook, selfies, sexual banter, gobby contempt for the system and dread of not getting into Oxbridge.” **** The Independent
“The atmosphere is so tense in the pressure-cooker of the third-floor music room, and the performances are so strong… the audience is carried along with the frenetic, carefully plotted action.” **** The Public Reviews
“Lewis’ skilled writing and pacing resolves into something valuable, angry, and… darkly entertaining.” Libby Purves on Theatre Cat
“An explosive exploration into teenage angst and expectation that … crackles with emotional integrity” The Stage
Listings Information:
Theatre: Jermyn Street Theatre, 16b Jermyn Street, SE1Y 6ST
Dates: 24 November to 20 December 2015
PRESS NIGHT: Friday 27th November 2015 at 7.30pm
Tuesday to Saturday 7.30pm
Sat & Sun matinees at 3.30pm
Tickets £22.00, £18.00
Earlybird offer: all tickets £17.00 if booked before 31st October
Bookings: 020 7287 2875