Hilary Cordery, Chris Seamore Nelson, Maxine Edwards and Howie Ripley in BLT’s April 2014 production of ‘Clybourne Park’, directed by Pauline Armour.
Fri 4 – Sat 12 April 2014 (not Sun 6)
BLT’s entry for the 2014 BTG Full Length Play Festival and the Kent Festival!
Clybourne Park
by Bruce Norris
Directed by Pauline Armour
Hugely praised by critics and audiences alike, when it opened at the Royal Court in 2010, this smash hit, dark and satirical comedy moved on and played to great acclaim at Wyndhams in 2011 winning the Olivier Award for ‘best new play’. It then went on to take Broadway by storm winning both a Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize.
In 1959 in a suburb of Chicago, Russ and Bev are selling their desirable three bed roomed bungalow at a knock-down price. This enables the first black family to move in, creating a ripple of discontent amongst the white residents of Clybourne Park. In 2009, the same property is being bought by Lindsey and Steve an upwardly mobile white couple, whose plans to raze the house and start again is met with a similar response from the local residents’ association.
Although set in Chicago, the themes are particularly pertinent to modern day Britain as inner city areas become gentrified and communities undergo irrevocable change.
Hailed as ‘shockingly entertaining’ and ‘appallingly funny’, this devastating satire explores the ever contentious themes of race and property ownership from two time periods and leaves the audience asking whether ‘the issues festering beneath the floorboards are actually the same despite the 50 year time difference.’
NOTE: This play contains adult themes and strong language.
Cast:
Russ/Dan – Martin Phillips
Bev/Kathy – Hilary Cordery
Francine/Lena – Maxine Edwards
Jim/Tom/Kenneth – Matthew Platt
Albert/Kevin – Christopher Nelson
Betsy/Lindsey – Laura Kenward
Karl/Steve – Howie Ripley
Clybourne Park picked up a whole string of awards at the 2014 Bromley Theatre Guild Full-Length Drama Festival and the Kent Drama Association Drama Festival in June.
We won (BTG):
- Jago Award for Best Properties –
WINNERS: Daphne Matthews & Bert Howell - Reg Brown Cup for Best Performance by an Actor under 21 –
WINNER: Christopher Nelson - Dorothy Marriot Trophy for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role –
WINNER: Laura Kenward / RUNNER UP: Maxine Edwards - Ralph Allen Cup for Best Performance by an Actress in a Major Role –
RUNNER-UP: Hilary Cordery - Ralph Allen Cup for Best Performance by an Actor in a Major Role –
WINNER: Howie Ripley / RUNNER UP: Matthew Platt - Barbara Barnes Trophy for Best Director – Pauline Armour
- Josiah Merrill Shield for Best Production!
Laura Kenward, Maxine Edwards and Hilary Cordery compare cup sizes at the KDA Drama Festival 2014.
… and at the KDA competition, we won:
- Best Actor – RUNNER UP: Howie Ripley
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role – RUNNER UP: Matthew Platt
- Best Actress – WINNER: Hilary Cordery
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role – WINNER: Laura Kenward
- Best Debut in a Full-Length Play – WINNER: Maxine Edwards / RUNNER UP: Christopher Nelson
- Best Sound – NOMINEE: Colin Adams
- Best Stage Presentation: WINNER: Tony Jenner
- Best Wardrobe Achievement – WINNER: Kerstin Beard
- Best New Festival Director – NOMINEE: Pauline Armour
- Best Director – WINNER: Pauline Armour
- Best Play – WINNER: Clybourne Park
- Special Mention by Adjudicator – Martin Phillips