Photo Flash: In Rehearsal with Tricycle Theatre's ARABIAN NIGHTS

Indhu said “Our new production of THE ARABIAN NIGHTS will be the first festive show at the Tricycle. It is the second production in my first season, and I am so excited that it’s directed by Lu Kemp who has brought together a wonderful ensemble cast. This version promises to offer something different for young people as well as adults. It will be very cool with magical moments and superb story telling which will be humorous, dark and engaging. New music composed by the fantastic indie band Take It Easy Hospital will also add an extra edge and bring originality to this modern interpretation”.

The full cast for THE ARABIAN NIGHTS is Jonathan Bonnici (Madman/Ensemble), Denton Chikura (Harun Al Rashid/Ensemble), Tunji Falana (Prince of Fools/Ensemble), Sandy Grierson (Sharyar/Aziz), Éva Magyar (Azizah/ Ensemble), Itxaso Moreno (Jester’s Wife/Ensemble), Adura Onashile(Perfect Love/Ensemble), Tahirah Sharif (Dunyazade/Ensemble), Harmage Singh Kalirai (The Wazir), Ony Uhiara (Scheherezade/Sympathy) andHemi Yeroham (Jester/Ensemble).

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS is written by Mary Zimmerman, adapted from The Book Of The Thousand Nights and One Night and is directed by Lu Kemp. THE ARABIAN NIGHTS runs at the Tricycle Theatre from 30 November until 12 January with press night on 6 December. Design is by Ben Stones, with lighting by Richard Howell, sound by Elena Pena, choreography by Ann Yee and projection design by Andrzej Goulding. Darren Lang is Illusion Consultant for THE ARABIAN NIGHTS and there is original music composed by Iranian band Take It Easy Hospital.

In Baghdad, a young woman starts a revolution through the power of storytelling.
For three years, King Shahryar has taken bloody vengeance against the women of his city, marrying a new bride every night and killing her in the morning. Scheherazade is determined to stop the bloodshed using the only weapons she has – her wit and imagination. Night after night, the King’s newest bride weaves tales of seduction, silliness and suspense. How long can her stories save her?

A punky, modern reimagining of ancient tales. Suitable for ages 10 plus.

Take it Easy Hospital is an Iranian indie pop band formed in the undergrounds of Theran in 2008 by Ash Koosha (singer/producer) and Negar Shaghaghi (singer/songwriter). Their first released EP was titled HUMAN JUNGLE. The two starred in documentary film No One Knows About Persian Cats, which followed the real story of the band trying to find artists in Iran to play in UK music festivals. The film won the Special Jury Prize Ex-Aequo in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.

Jonathan Bonnici’s stage credits include Beyond at Bristol Old Vic, Decades for Headlong Theatre Company, and The Black Album at The National Theatre.

Denton Chikura’s stage credits include Two Gentlemen of Verona at The Globe Theatre, You Can’t Take It With You at Manchester Royal Exchange, and Six Seeds at The National Theatre.

Tunji Falana’s stage credits include Henry V at Southwark Playhouse, Fixer in the HighTide Festival, Ya Get Me at the Old Vic, and Romeo and Juliet at the Harlow Playhouse.

Sandy Grierson’s stage credits include Tonight Sandy Grierson Will Lecture, Box and Dance at the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh Festival, A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Headlong Theatre Company, The 13 Midnight Challenges of Angelus Diablo at the RSC, Gagarin Way at the Theatre Royal Bath, Home at The National Theatre of Scotland, and The Soul of Chien-Nu Leaves Her Body at the Young Vic.

Éva Magyar’s stage credits include The Wild Bride, The Bacchae, and Midnight’s Pumpkin all for Kneehigh Theatre Company, as well as Tristan And Yseult for Kneehigh and The National Theatre, The Party at Battersea Arts Centre, Ramayana at the Lyric Hammersmith, and Romeo and Juliet at the RSC. Éva’s screen credits include X-Men: First Class, Fox London Productions Ltd.

Itxaso Moreno’s stage credits include The Legend of Captain Crow’s Teeth at the Unicorn Theatre, The Tempest at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, and Nation at The National Theatre.

Adura Onashile’s stage credits include Skewered Snails at the Purcell Rooms, Southbank/UK Tour, Roadkill at Traverse, Barbican, and the Theatre Royal Stratford East, Arabian Nights at the RSC, The Rover at Southwark Playhouse, The Icarus Girl at the Arcola Theatre, Ma Vie En Rose at the Young Vic, Medea at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, Macbeth for Out Of Joint, and The Overwhelming at The National Theatre.

Tahirah Sharif’s stage credits include Moon on a Rainbow Shawl at The National Theatre, Crawling in the Dark at The Almeida Theatre, and In His Light at Hampstead Theatre. Tahirah’s screen credits include The Invisible Woman, directed by Ralph Fiennes; One Night and Casualty, BBC;Whitechapel, ITV; and See Me, Film Four.

Harmage Singh Kalirai’s was previously at the Tricycle Theatre in Dragon. Harmage’s other stage credits include Behsharam at Soho Theatre/Birmingham Rep, Arabian Nights at the Young Vic/UK Tour, The Moonstone at the Royal Exchange Manchester, The Illusion at the Old Vic, and Doolaly Days at Haymarket Leicester. Harmage’s screen credits include The Politician’s Husband, Silent Witness, and Spooks, all for the BBC, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

Ony Uhiara’s was previously at the Tricycle Theatre in Walk Hard, Talk Loud. Ony’s other stage credits include Sixty Six Books at the Bush Theatre, Much Ado About Nothing at The Globe, Charged: Charged Dancing at Soho Theatre, Eurydice at the Young Vic/UK Tour, In the Red and Brown Water at the Young Vic, Noughts and Crosses at the RSC, and Motor Town and Fallout both at the Royal Court. Ony’s screen credits includeStolen, RSJ Films; Rosemary and Thyme, Carlton; and Waking Dead, BBC.

Hemi Yeroham’s stage credits include The Cradle Will Rock at the Arcola Theatre, and Failed States at Pleasance Theatre, London. Hemi’s screen credits include Sunshine and Bad Grandad, Common People, Sky Atlantic – broadcast in January 2013; Eastenders, BBC; Closer, Working Title; andMamma Mia!, Universal.

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS (30 NOVEMBER – 12 JANUARY) will take place at Tricycle Theatre located at 269 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7JR. Tickets may be purchased by calling 020 7328 1000, at the box office from 10am – 9pm Monday – Saturday, 2pm – 9pm on Sundays and online at www.tricycle.co.uk. Check the website for full schedule of performances and ticket prices.

You may reach Tricycle Theatre by Tube: Kilburn (Jubilee Line); Bus: 16, 31, 32, 98, 189, 206, 316, 328; or Train: Brondesbury (London overground).

 

Photo Credit: Tristram Kenton 

Adura Onashile and Itxaso Moreno

Ony Uhiara, Tahirah Sharif, Jonathan Bonnici, Hemi Yeroham and Chikura Denton

Lu Kemp

Ony Uhiara and Itxaso Moreno

The Cast of The Arabian Nights

Ony Uhiara