Full Casting Announced For SPEECH AND DEBATE At Trafalgar Studios

Defibrillator today announces the full cast for the UK première of Speech and Debate by Stephen Karam whose play The Humans won four Tony Awards in 2016, including Best Play.

Patsy Ferran and Charlotte Lucas join the previously announced Douglas Booth and Tony Revolori in the production, directed by Tom Attenborough, which opens at Trafalgar Studios on 24 February 2017, with previews from 22 February, and runs until 1 April.

Three misfit teenagers are thrown together by a sex scandal involving their high school teacher and join forces to create a kick-ass Speech & Debate team that reveals the truth with hilarious consequences.

A fiercely funny play that grapples with serious modern social issues - homophobia, teenage alienation and the limits of online privacy. Speech and Debate is Karam's first play to be produced in the UK. It premièred at the Roundabout Theatre Company, has received more than 150 productions in the US, and 2017 will see the release of a film version, written by Karam.

Stephen Karam's plays include The Humans (Tony Award for Best Play, finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama), Sons of the Prophet (finalist for 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama), Dark Sisters, columbinus, Girl on Girl, Emma and an adaptation of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard.

Douglas Booth plays Howie. Making his West End debut, his theatre work includes 24 Hour Plays (Old Vic). His television credits include And Then There Were None, Great Expectations, Christopher and his Kind and Worried About The Boy; and for film, The Riot Club, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Jupiter Ascending, Noah, Romeo and Juliet, L.O.L., From Time to Time and the forthcoming A Storm in the Stars, Loving Vincent and Limehouse Golem. He is a High Profile Supporter of UNHCR.

Patsy Ferran plays Diwata. Her theatre credits include As You Like It and Treasure Island (National Theatre), The Merchant of Venice (RSC), The Angry Brigade (Paines Plough) and Blithe Spirit (Gielgud Theatre). Her television credits include Guerilla and Jamestown; and for film, Darkest Hour, God's Own Country, Tulip Fever, The National Phobia Association's Day Out.

Charlotte Lucas plays Teacher/Reporter. Her theatre credits include Red Velvet (Tricycle Theatre, St Ann's Warehouse and Garrick Theatre), The Distance (Sheffield Crucible/Orange Tree Theatre), The Absence of War (Headlong), If Only (Chichester Festival Theatre), Posh (West End and Royal Court), The Changeling (Young Vic), Yes, Prime Minister (West End), Fast Labour (West Yorkshire Playhouse and Hampstead Theatre), World's End (Trafalgar Studios). Her television credits include Broadchurch, Jamaica Inn, WPC 56, Not Going Out, Midsomer Murders, Judge John Deed, Down to Earth, Bad Girls and Adventures Inc; and for film, Clean Skin, A Thousand Kisses Deep, Last Chance Harvey, These Foolish Things and Oh Marbella!

Tony Revolori plays Solomon. This is his UK theatre debut, having previously performed in Mercury Fur in New York (The New Group). His television credits include Son of Zorn, Shameless, My Name is Earl, Entourage and The Unit. His is perhaps best known for playing Zero Moustafa in The Grand Budapest Hotel and his other film work includes Lowriders, The 5th Wave, Dope and the forthcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming, Table 19 and Take the 10.

Tom Attenborough directs. His directing credits include Burbage's Farewell (Chichester Festival Theatre), Twelfth Night, Bell Book & Candle (US & UK tour), Untold Stories (Watermill Theatre), Private Lives (ATG UK tour), Dinner with Friends (Park Theatre), The Whipping Man (The Drum, Theatre Royal Plymouth), The Wasp (Hampstead Theatre Downstairs & Trafalgar Studios), Cinderella & The Beanstalk (Theatre 503), Hay Fever (Kay & McLean Australia Tour), Abigail's Party (Theatre Royal Bath & UK tour). He is the Artistic Director of Rhapsody of Words Productions, Associate Director of the Watermill Theatre and Artistic Associate of HighTide Festival Theatre.

DEFIBRILLATOR is an award-winning London based company with a growing reputation for delivering inspiring and entertaining theatre in both conventional and non-theatre settings. With a history of bringing to life material that may have been forgotten, the company is increasingly developing and discovering new works from UK and international writers for audiences around the world. Defibrillator is led by Artistic Director James Hillier who trained at RADA as an actor and has experience across theatre, film and television and Executive Producer Trish Wadley, supported by the Stage One Bursary Scheme for New Producers. Recent productions include Insignificance (Langham Place, New York) The Armour (The Langham, London), The One Day of the Year, Hard Feelings and Blue Surge (Finborough Theatre) and The Hotel Plays (The Grange Hotel & The Langham, London).

For tickets visit www.ambassadortickets.com/trafalgarstudios or call 0844 871 7632.

http://www.defibrillatortheatre.com/

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