Brigit Forsyth to Lead World Premiere of NOW THIS IS NOT THE END at Arcola Theatre

Rebecca Targett Productions in association with Raising Silver Theatre today announce the full cast for world première of Rose Lewenstein's new play at the Arcola Theatre. Katie Lewis directs Jasmine Blackborow (Rosie), Daniel Donskoy (Sebastian), Brigit Forsyth (Eva), Wendy Nottingham (Susan),Bernard Lloyd (Arnold) and Andrew Whipp (Paul). The production opens on 5 June, with previews from 3 June, and runs until 27 June 2015.

"They're just stories. There'll come a point when nobody can remember"

Six decades ago, Eva lived in Berlin. She remembers her house on Essener Straße. It used to have a blue door.

Now her granddaughter Rosie is making the city her home. But just as she begins to plan for her future, Eva's oncoming dementia causes Rosie to question her family's past.

As secrets unravel around her, what will Rosie discover? And what will be lost forever?

Now This Is Not The End is the story of three generations of women, two capital cities and one vital struggle to keep memories alive.

Developed at the Royal Court by one of our most exciting emerging playwrights, Rose Lewenstein's poignant drama asks how the actions of our ancestors shape our future, how we come to have an identity of our own, and what - if anything - it means to have a homeland.

Rose Lewenstein's first play Ain't No Law Against Fish 'n' Chips received a staged reading at the Royal Court Young Writers Festival 2012. Her other plays include Game of Life (The Yard Theatre), Only Human (Theatre 503) and Entries on Love (Rich Mix). She developed Now This is Not the End on the Royal Court's Supergroup. She is currently developing Psychoslut, which she wrote whilst on attachment at the Royal Court, and writing a new playDarknet, which was researched and developed at BAC and Cambridge Junction. Her first novel has just been long-listed for the Bath Novel Award.

Jasmine Blackborow plays Rosie. Recently graduated from RCSSD, her theatre work includes Dracula (New Vic Theatre) and Noises in the Dark(Roundhouse).

Daniel Donskoy plays Sebastian. For theatre his work includes Bad Jews (Theatre Royal Bath, Arts Theatre) Soviet Zion (The Lost Theatre), and Porn Virgins (Phoenix Arts Club). For film, his credits include The Honourable Rebel, Fatal Romantics and Prometheus Rising.

Brigit Forsyth plays Eva. Her recent theatre roles include People (National Theatre tour), The Missing (National Theatre of Scotland), Calendar Girls(Noel Coward Theatre and national tour), Carrie's War (national tour), Noises Off (Birmingham REP), The Triumph Of Love, The Importance of Being Earnest (Royal Exchange, Manchester), Humble Boy (national tour) and Hamlet (West Yorkshire Playhouse). On television, Forsyth is perhaps best known as Thelma from Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads. More recently, she has co-starred with David Jason in Still Open All Hours. Her other extensive television work includes Playing the Field, Tom, Dick and Harriet; The Practice, Sharon and Elsie, Waterloo Road, Down to Earth, The Eustace Bros. and Nice Town; and for film, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads and Fanny and Elvis.

Bernard Lloyd plays Arnold. His theatre work includes - for Chichester Festival Theatre, The Last Confession (also Theatre Royal Haymarket and international tour), Pravda (also Birmingham REP) and Nicholas Nickleby; King Lear (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Imagine This (New London Theatre), Le Cid (National Theatre), as well as extensive work for the RSC. For television, his credits include Lewis, Trial and Retribution, A Christmas Carol, Pavements of Gold, Food for Ravens, A Dangerous Man, The Man from Pru and Under Milk Wood; and for film, The Young Victoria.

Wendy Nottingham plays Susan. Her theatre work includes Forgotten Voices (Pleasance, Edinburgh), Donkey Heart (Old Red Lion), The Winslow Boy(Old Vic), In Basildon (Royal Court) and Grief (National Theatre). For television, her credits include Mr Selfridge, The Borgias, A Young Doctor's Notebook, Crimson Petal and the White, Getting On, Kingdom and Housewife 49; and for film, Madame Bovary, Pudsey, Atonement, Notes on a Scandal, Babel, Vera Drake, Topsy Turvy and Secrets and Lies.

Andrew Whipp plays Paul. His theatre work includes Farragut North (Southwark Playhouse), Macbeth, King Lear (Shakespeare's Globe), Celebration, Arcadia (Gate Theatre Dublin) and Before the Flood (Royal Court). For television, his credits include The Coroner, A Song for Jenny, Suspicion, Spotlessand Critical; and for film, Silent Hours, The Fourth Kind and Amazing Grace.

Co-Artistic Director of Raising Self Theatre, Katie Lewis directs. She was Resident Director on the recent National Theatre's UK Tour of One Man Two Guvnors, and was Resident Assistant Director for the Royal Shakespeare Company 2013 Season. Her other directing credits include Daisy Pulls It Off, A Pocketful of Dreams - A Tennesse Williams Collection (ALRA), The Firewatchers (Old Red Lion), Red Riding Hood and The Wolves (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Killing Dad (Whitechapel Gallery), The Summer Display (Off Cuts, Old Red Lion), Eight (Lowry Studio), The Jewish Wife, Mr Happiness (Library Theatre), The Mixer, Fractures (Slice, Theatre 503), and Spoonface Steinberg (Etcetera, King's Head). Lewis has also worked as a director, assistant director and workshop leader for Theatre Royal Bath, Clean Break Theatre Company, The Library Theatre Manchester, Arts Educational Schools, ALRA, Churchill and Queens Youth Theatres.

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