Unicorn Theatre's Purni Morell Directs ALPHA BETA at Finborough, Now thru July 19

The first major revival of Ted Whitehead's Alpha Beta since 1972, directed by Unicorn Theatre Artistic Director Purni Morell, opens at the Finborough Theatre for a five week season tonight, 18 June, 2015 (Press Nights: Tuesday 23, June and Wednesday, 24 June at 7.30pm).

Mr and Mrs Elliot have imprisoned themselves within a domestic incarceration of marriage, family and society's twitching curtains. Battling through their self-made entrapment for the sake of the kids, they soon begin to destroy each other through an ugly routine of rows, affairs and suicidal blackmail.

Written with a controlled irony and an underlying compassion for its tormented characters, Ted Whitehead's bold and unflinching play asks questions about the choices we make to fit in with social conventions - questions that are just as relevant now as they were in 1972.

Originally performed at the Royal Court and West End with Albert Finney and Rachel Roberts, this new staging directed by Purni Morell and designed by Verity Quinn, will take the Finborough Theatre back to its original use, transforming the space into a domestic living room where the brutal examination of a disintegrating marriage will take place.

"I came galloping by and swept you off your feet... and then we got married and lived miserably ever after. That's the new conclusion, that, to the old fairy tale."

Playwright Ted Whitehead was born in Liverpool in 1933. His first play, The Foursome, premiered at the Royal Court Upstairs in 1971 and transferred to the West End. Alpha Beta premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in1972, directed by Anthony Page, with Albert Finney and Rachel Roberts. It went on to be performed at London's Apollo Theatre. His later plays include The Sea Anchor, Mecca and Old Flames, and an adaptation of The Dance of Death at the Riverside Studios starring Alan Bates. He has also written extensively for television, including adaptations of The Life and Loves of a She Devil and The Mayor of Casterbridge.

Director Purni Morell is Artistic Director at the Unicorn Theatre where she has directed The Velveteen Rabbit, Dora and A Winter's Tale. She was previously Head of the National Theatre Studio where she worked on Ajax by Timberlake Wertenbaker, Public Toilet Land by Hanna Borglund and The Leisure Society by François Archambault. Purni has worked in the literary departments of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, California, and the National Theatre and spent a number of years working as an independent theatre producer in Glasgow. As translator, she has worked for Seattle Children's Theatre, Flemish Opera and the Northern Opera Festival. She was was recently listed in 'The Stage 100' for 2015.

Designer Verity Quinn's previous set and costume designs include The Fourth Wise Man, Seesaw, When I Think About the Universe I Laugh for No Reason and Dora (Unicorn Theatre), Private Peaceful and Selfie (National Youth Theatre), Under the Microscope (Arc Stockton and Live Theatre, Newcastle) and The Trial (The Retz). She has also designed for Northern Stage and The Empty Space. Verity is a co-founding member of Left Luggage Theatre, Club Adelphi and Precious Cargo.

Alpha Beta is supported by Arts Council England and fieldwork, a collective of artists based in south London who share similar values in their approach to seeking out new form and representing the rich diversity of 21st century Britain on stage.

As part of fieldwork's commitment to the next generation of artists, there will be a number of talkback events alongside performances of Alpha Beta. These events will be targeted at emerging artists and audience members and will be an opportunity to discuss relevant production processes with the company, particularly in terms of diversity and best practice values within theatre-making.

DETAILS:

PRESS NIGHT: TUESDAY, 23 JUNE AND WEDNESDAY, 24 JUNE 2015 AT 7.30PM
PHOTOCALL: TUESDAY, 23 JUNE 2015 AT 12PM-12.30PM

Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, London SW10 9ED
Box Office 0844 847 1652 Book online at www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk
Thursday, 18 June - Sunday, 19 July 2015
Tuesday to Saturday Evenings at 7.30pm. Sunday Matinees at 3.00pm. Saturday matinees at 3.00pm (from 3 July 2015).
Prices until 5 July 2015 - Tickets £16, £14 concessions, except Tuesday evenings £14 all seats, and Friday and Saturday evenings £16 all seats. Previews (18 and 19 June) £12 all seats.
£10 tickets for Under 30's for performances from Tuesday to Sunday of the first week when booked online only.
£12 tickets for residents of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea on Saturday, 27 June 2015 when booked online.
Prices from 7 July 2015 - Tickets £18, £16 concessions, except Tuesday evenings £16 all seats, and Friday and Saturday evenings £18 all seats.
Performance Length: Approximately one hour forty minutes with no interval.

Please note, due to the unconventional nature of the set design, the audience will be seated amongst the set. The auditorium always opens 30 minutes before each performance, so that you can choose a seat that suits you best.

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