Full Casting Announced For Polka Theatre's Production Of Jacqueline Wilson's DOUBLE ACT

Full casting is today announced for Polka Theatre's production of Double Act. Vicky Ireland, former Artistic Director of Polka Theatre, directs Ruby Ablett (Ruby), Lydia Orange (Garnet), Davina Moon (Rose), Erika Poole (Gran), Joseph Rowe (Jeremy, the blob) and Phil Yarrow (Dad).

Meet Ruby and Garnet. They're twins, identical and inseparable - and do absolutely EVERYTHING together. But their lives are about to change. Recently, Dad's gone a bit weird. He's been acting strange ever since he started dating that frizzy dizzy Rose. And now he's only gone and bought a bookshop in the country...

Vicky Ireland's funny and gripping stage adaptation, based on Jacqueline Wilson's multi award-winning book, was an instant hit when it premièred at Polka in 2003 and loved by thousands of children during a UK tour.

Jacqueline Wilson is one of Britain's most popular authors, selling over 38 million books in the UK alone. Her most successful and enduring creation is the Tracy Beaker series. In 2002 she was awarded the OBE for services to literacy in schools and in 2008 she became Dame Jacqueline Wilson. In the same year she became the Foundling Museum's first Coram Foundling Fellow. From 2005 to 2007 she was the Children's Laureate. Her recent titles include Opal Plumstead and Katy and the forthcoming My Mum Tracy Beaker.

Ruby Ablett plays Ruby. Her theatre credits include Why is the Sky Blue? (Southwark Playhouse), Threepenny Opera, A Christmas Carol (Bolton Octagon) and The True History of Julia Pastrana (Hope Mill Theatre).

Lydia Orange plays Garnet. Theatre credits include The Governess (UK tour) and Romeo and Juliet (The Leicester Square Theatre), and for film, Mad to be Normal, Cutting Room and Dust.

Davina Moon plays Rose. Theatre credits include Yellow Face (National Theatre), Privates on Parade (Noël Coward), Annie Get Your Gun (Young Vic), Miss Saigon (Theatre Royal), Bombay Dreams (Apollo Victoria) and Wah! Wah! Girls (Sadler's Wells). Broadway credits include Around the World in Eighty Days. Film credits include Disney's Aladdin and Dirty God.

Erika Poole returns to Polka to play Gran. Her credits for the company include BFG. Further theatre credits include George's Marvellous Medicine (UK Tour).

Joseph Rowe plays Jeremy, the Blob. Theatre credits include Counting Stars (The Albany), Light Shining (National Theatre), The Low Road (Royal Court Theatre), Pieces of Vincent (Arcola), Macbeth (Broadway Theatre) and Of Mice and Men (Black Box).

Phil Yarrow returns to Polka to play Dad. His credits for the company include The Borrowers, Hide a Lion, Happy Harry's Café, Gorilla, Wind in the Willows and Charlie & Lola's Extremely New Play. Further theatre credits include Score (Bolton Octagon), Teechers (Hull Truck Theatre) and Such A Curious Dream (Harrogate Theatre).

Vicky Ireland returns to Polka Theatre, where she was Artistic Director from 1988-2002, to direct. She has adapted and directed six books by the author, Jacqueline Wilson, which toured the UK and are published by Nick Hern Books. Television writing includes two series of adaptations of Allan Ahlberg's, Happy Families books for BBC TV, which received a Writer's Guild GB nomination. With the actress Kumiko Mendl, she is Co-artistic Director of A Thousand Cranes Theatre, which creates theatre for children, inspired by stories from Japan and Europe to celebrate and unite the two cultures. Her book with co-editor Paul Harman, 50 Best Plays for Young Audiences, is published by Aurora Metro Press. She is the current Chair of Action for Children's Arts, a Patron of Polka Theatre, Secretary of the Inclusivity network, IIAN.

www.polkatheatre.com

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