Studio 180 Theatre Stages North American Premiere of NSFW, Now thru Nov 30

Studio 180 Theatre is delighted to present the work of multi award-winning British playwright Lucy Kirkwood for the first time in North America. NSFW, Kirkwood's acclaimed play from 2012, will be directed by Joel Greenberg and will be performed tonight, November 7 to 30, 2014 at The Theatre Centre.

NSFW, which in this age of easy text-ready acronyms means, "Not Safe for Work", pulls back the curtain on digital media and magazine culture. It's a world where jobs are scarce, beauty standards are punishing and personal integrity is a luxury that few can afford.

For the folks at "Doghouse" (a tawdry men's rag that traffics in titillation) and "Electra" (an elegant women's publication), relationships, legal liability and self-worth are all at stake. Everyone strives for professional success and financial stability -- but at what cost? Who will hold tight to their values? Who will sell out to the highest bidder? And just how old is that girl in the photo?

The North American Premiere production will be directed by Joel Greenberg and features Ian D. Clark, Susan Coyne, Patrick Galligan, James Graham, Jessica Greenberg and Aaron Stern.

The creative team features: set & costume design by Denyse Karn, lighting design by Kimberly Purtell, sound design by Verne Good, properties by Vanessa Janiszewski, stage manager Andrea Schurman and assistant stage manager Laura Baxter.

About the Playwright - Just turned 30, Lucy Kirkwood is widely considered one of the finest young playwrights working in the English language today. Kirkwood began her playwriting career in 2007 when, upon graduating with a degree in English Literature from the University of Edinburgh, she wrote her first full-length stage play, Grady Hot Potato. Her next play, Guns or Butter, was produced at the Terror 2007 Festival at the Union Theatre, London, and was subsequently broadcast by BBC Radio. In 2008, Tinderbox was produced by the Bush Theatre, and in the same year Hedda, her adaptation of Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, was produced by the Gate Theatre, London, to wide critical acclaim. Psychogeography was produced as part of the Terror 2009 Festival. In the same year, Kirkwood's play it felt empty when the heart went at first but it is alright now was produced by Clean Break Theatre Co. at the Arcola Theatre. The play, which received stunning reviews, was nominated for an Evening Standard Award -- Best Newcomer, and made Lucy joint winner of the John Whiting Award in 2010. Kirkwood's stage adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, co-devised and directed by Katie Mitchell, was performed at the National Theatre as its Christmas show in 2011. In the same year, her play The Small Hours (co-written with Ed Hime) opened at the Hampstead earlier, and her play Housekeeping was performed as part of Theatre Uncut season at Southwark Playhouse. NSFW premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in 2012. Her recent success, Chimerica, premiered at the Almeida Theatre in 2013 and subsequently transferred to the West End, earning Lucy the prestigious Olivier and Evening Standard Best New Play awards. Earlier this year, Lucy collaborated with Lost Dog on a Brighton Festival co-commissioned dance project, Like Rabbits, adapted from Virginia Woolf's short story Lappin and Lapinova. Lucy also writes for television, and has written for Skins (Company Pictures) and more recently created and wrote the new series The Smoke (Kudos/Sky 1). She is currently under commission to the Royal Court Theatre, the National Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club in New York. She is also developing a new screenplay for Film4/Ruby Films.

DETAILS:

Studio 180 Theatre presents

NSFW

By Lucy Kirkwood • Directed by Joel Greenberg

November 7-30, 2014

Tuesday-Saturday at 8PM

Wednesday matinees Nov. 12, 19 and 26 at 1:30PM

Saturday* and Sunday matinees at 2PM

*No 2PM show on Saturday, Nov. 8

Tickets: $39 regular • $15 on Tuesdays

The Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen St. West

Tickets available by phone 416-907-0468 and online www.studio180theatre.com

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