A Brand New Play About Nell Gwyn & Aphra Behn Comes to the Tristan Bates

The world premiere of Oranges & Ink by Claire Louise Amias, directed by Alex Pearson, music arranged by William Summers, recorded by The Lovekyn Consort presented by A Monkey with Cymbals, and Tomorrow Theatre Company and Alex Pearson Productions

Cast: Claire Louise Amias and Sarah Lawrie

A play about the real-life friendship between two fearless female libertines, Nell Gwyn and Aphra Behn.

Oranges & Ink opens at Tristan Bates Theatre on Wednesday 27 March 2019 for nine evening performances (excluding Sundays and Mondays), closing on Saturday 6 April.

Aphra Behn and Nell Gwyn were good friends. One of them the first professional female writer and the other an actress turned royal courtesan, they helped each other find success, despite humble beginnings.

Oranges & Ink takes place at a time when fake news about a 'Popish Plot' to kill the King is being used to stir up anti-Catholic feelings. When the public seem more interested in the theatre of politics than in the actual playhouses,

how is Aphra to continue making a living from her plays?

And what will happen to Nell if the King dies? Can she go back to the stage?

Book online at www.tristanbatestheatre.co.uk/whats-on/oranges-ink

By telephone - 020 3841 6611 or email boxoffice@actorscentre.co.uk

Claire Louise Amias plays Aphra Behn | Claire trained at RADA and Bretton Hall. On stage she recently played Mags in HANDBAGGED and Sheila in RELATIVELY SPEAKING (both at Windsor Theatre Royal and on tour for Paul Taylor-Mills), Maggie in HOBSON'S CHOICE (Chesterfield and Sidmouth) and Vivianne in the critically acclaimed WOMEN OF TWILIGHT at the Pleasance and White Bear theatres. Other work includes: CHILD Z (Southwark Playhouse), BLIND EYE (Theatre 503), I'M DREAMING BUT AM I? (Finborough Theatre), THE SHAPE OF THINGS (The Space), CARNIVAL MESSIAH (West Yorkshire Playhouse) and No 1 Tours of HANDBAGGED (Eleanor Lloyd Productions) and FUNNY PECULIAR (Bill Kenwright Ltd). She also wrote and performed the title role in her one-woman show THE MASKS OF Aphra Behn (on tour and at New Wimbledon Theatre), to which this new play is a sequel. Screen work includes main supporting roles in the feature films PROVOKED, TELLING LIES (both of which had worldwide cinema and DVD releases), THE MAGIC HOUR (UK cinema release) and the part-animated BORLEY RECTORY, which is coming out this year. Her TV credits include ROSAMUNDE PILCHER (ZDF; guest lead) and TOMORROW'S TIMES (BBC). www.aMonkeyWithCymbals.co.uk @ClaireLAmias

Sarah Lawrie plays Nell Gwyn | Stage credits include the UK premiere of the Ephron sisters' LOVE, LOSS & WHAT I WORE (Mill at Sonning), Alan Ayckbourn's IMPROBABLE FICTION and TEN TIMES TABLE (also at The Mill at Sonning), THE TALE OF TWO LOVERS directed by Sophie Ward (Arcola TheatreLab), Gretchen in BOEING BOEING (Oldham Coliseum), Emma Bovary in MADAME BOVARY (Hope Theatre), Jane in TREE HOUSE (Tristan Bates Theatre and touring), Katherine in RESTORATION (Salisbury Playhouse), Hannah in LOVE BITES (Southwark Playhouse), Miss Ledbrook in THE LIFE & ADVENTURES OF NICHOLAS NICKLEBY (Chichester Festival Theatre, West End and Toronto), Estella in GREAT EXPECTATIONS, Helen Schwarz in TALES FROM HOLLYWOOD and Aricia in PHEDRE (Perth Theatre), Lulu in SMOKING WITH LULU and Tilda in PAL JOEY (Citizens Theatre, Glasgow), Celia in VOLPONE (Theatre Babel), Amy in MY ROMANTIC HISTORY (Old Red Lion), Mademoiselle Frankenstein and Captain Walton in FRANKENSTEIN (Space Theatre and the London Horror Festival) and Joan Weech in THE TITFIELD THUNDERBOLT (Farnham Maltings). Radio work includes SOMETHING UNDERSTOOD and THE PETTICOAT VOTE (BBC Radio 4). Sarah is also an established theatre producer and founder member of And Tomorrow Theatre Company. www.AndTomorrow.co.uk @La_Lawrie

Director: Alex Pearson Alex works as a freelance director and producer. Recent directing credits include SMASHED FRUIT (Brockley Jack), MACBETH, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, ROMEO AND JULIET and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (The Rose Playhouse) and AREN'T WE ALL OVARY REACTING? (Theatre N16). Earlier director credits include ORIGINS (Theatre N16), ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES (Etcetera Theatre), Ruth Ellis as part of Glass Splinters (The Pleasance), OPEN CAGE (Yard Theatre), SECRETS AND LIES (Kensington Library Theatre) and CHEESE AND CRACKERS (The King's Head). Associate director credits include KING ARTHUR (Merton Arts Space), PERICLES and THE TEMPEST (Glamis Adventure Playground), THE ALCHEMIST (Rose Playhouse), NATURAL AFFECTION (Jermyn Street Theatre), THROUGH THE MILL (London Theatre Workshop) and Revival Director of THE MEDIUM (St Anne's Lutheran Church). Alex is Co-Artistic Director of House on The Hill Productions, which produced the sold-out run of Stephen Sondheim's THE FROGS at Jermyn Street Theatre in 2017. She set up Alex Pearson Productions in November 2017. Its first venture was a rehearsed reading of the late Yair Packer's play SCOOP, a full production of which is planned for 2020. @ProducerPearson

Music arranged and recorded by The Lovekyn Consort www.lokimusic.co.uk | Named after a Medieval chapel in Kingston upon Thames, The Lovekyn Consort recreates music of the past using historical instruments, styles and repertoire along with a vibrant and engaging approach to performance evident in the early music revivals in Britain and North America during the 1970s. With a base in South West London, the three core members of the consort have taken their lively approach to early music to historical venues including the Golden Hinde (London Bridge), Forty Hall (Enfield), and Walpole Old Chapel (Suffolk). Their first album, IN MIRTH AND MOURNING, includes little-known songs from a female vantage point as well as favourites by Campion and his contemporaries.
Patricia Hammond - Voice
William Summers - Renaissance Flute, Recorder
Stephen Carpenter - Renaissance Lute and Renaissance Guitar

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