Casting Announced for Crucible Studio's SISTERS and THERE'S ONLY ONE WAYNE MATTHEWS

As new Artistic Director Daniel Evans opens his inaugural production of An Enemy of the People on the Crucible main stage, the casting has been announced for Sisters and There's Only One Wayne Matthews. These two shows are to be performed in the newly refurbished Crucible Studio.

SISTERS
Stephanie Street's Sisters begins previews Thursday, 11 March at the Crucible Studio and officially makes its world premiere 16 March. 

Sisters reunites Stephanie Street and Ruth Carney following their previous collaboration on The Laramie Project (UK première at Sound Theatre). The production opens on 16 March, with previews from 11th and runs until 27 March 2010.

Based on interviews with dozens of women from across the country and around the Sheffield, Stephanie Street's new play lifts the veil on a world of custom and tradition. Sisters exposes the human stories at the heart of the Muslim community, cutting through the stereotypes and bringing a chorus of voices to life on stage.

A poignant, surprising and insightful journey into the lives of Muslim women.

Stephanie Street's first full length play, she also plays Samina/Maysoon/Faiza. Street began work on Sisters in 2005 shortly after the July 7th bombings in London. As a woman of mixed race, Street noticed that people reacted to her differently following the terrorist attacks, and the play is inspired by this experience. Sisters is a verbatim piece based on interviews with Muslim women from all over the UK, and marks Street's playwrighting debut. Prior to the run at the Crucible, Street conducted interviews with women in Sheffield to develop the play further. As an actor, Street's theatre work includes Mixed Up North (Out of Joint), Behind the Image and Shades (Royal Court) and The Contingency Plan (Bush Theatre); and for television, Monday Monday, Apparitions, Never Better, Primeval and Commander.

Zahra Ahmadi returns to Sheffield Theatres to play Salima/Khadija/Aeeisha/Fatima, where she previously was Assistant Director for Gladiator Games. Her other theatre credits include Script Slam (Soho Theatre), King of Hearts (Out of Joint) Cooking With Elvis (Edinburgh Fringe). Her television work includes Down The Line and Facing Demons. 

Denise Black plays Eileen/Alexandra/Maryam. Her recent theatre credits include Bedroom Farce (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Aristo (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Seagull (Royal Court) and Roots (Royal Exchange Manchester). Her extensive television work includes Robin Hood, No Angels, Clocking Off, Bad Girls, Queer as Folk, The Scarlett Pimpernel and as Denise Osbourne in Coronation Street.

Lena Kaur plays Meena/Farida/Laila/Azra. Her theatre credits include Rubina (Birmingham Rep) The Sky's the Limit (Old Vic) and Silent Cry (West Yorkshire Playhouse). Kaur was a regular on Hollyoaks playing LeIla Roy until January 2010. 

Nisha Nayor plays Shirin/Husna/Jameela/Amina. Her theatre credits include My Enemy My Friend (Chichester Festival Theatre), Summer School (Royal Court Theatre) and Bhangra Girls (Red Ladder Theatre). For television her credits include, Dr Who, Cracker, and as series regulars in Rose and Maloney and The Story of Tracy Beaker.

Director Ruth Carney is Associate Director (Creative Development) at Sheffield Theatres. Her most recent credits as Associate Director include Our House The Musical (National Tour) and The Lord of the Rings (Theatre Royal Drury Lane). As a director, her credits include Touched (North Wall Arts Centre and Latitude), Confessions of a City (Sheffield Theatres), A Model Girl (Greenwich Theatre) and The Lemon Princess (world première at West Yorkshire Playhouse). Carney was joint Artistic Director of the New British Writing Season for the Caird Company, which showcased over fifty new pieces of work.

Designs are by Paul Wills and lighting design by David Howe.

Women only performance - Wed 24 March 10.30am

Produced in association with Let Live Productions

THERE'S ONLY ONE Wayne Matthews

Suitable for ages 9+.

Casting is today announced for Roy Williams' There's Only One Wayne Matthews which is directed by Dawn Walton. Prior to its performances in the Crucible Studio (30 March - 2 April) the production will tour schools in the Yorkshire region from 22 - 26 March. This production will also be staged at both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United football grounds.

There's Only One Wayne Matthews tells the story of a young boy battling the odds (and the bullies) to master the beautiful game. Roy Williams' vibrant play explores friendship, forgiveness and finding out what you're good at.

Troy Glasgow plays Carl. Glasgow's theatre credits include Harper Regan, DNA, The Miracle, (National Theatre) and Low Dat (Birmingham Rep). For television his work includes Dr Who, Skins and Ashes to Ashes.

Isaac Ssebandeke plays Wayne. Ssebandeke theatre credits include The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Hammersmith Lyric Theatre) and The Coat (National Studio). His television credits include Skins and The Well.

Dawn Walton directs. Her recent work includes Oxford Street, 93.2fm, Workers Writes, Drag-On, The Shining (Royal Court, the latter also National Tour) Winners (Young Vic), Serjeant Musgrave's Dance, Balm In Gilead (Corbett Theatre), Glow (Theatre Centre), The Changeling (Mamamissi Productions), Strings (Clean Break Theatre Company), Of Mice and Men (Southwark Playhouse) and Splinters (Talawa Theatre Company). Walton was the recipient of the Jerwood Young Director's award at the Young Vic, formerly Director on Attachment at the Royal Court, and was Acting Head of Studio - National Theatre throughout 2006.

Designs are by Simon Kenny.

For more information on either show including ticket availability, visit sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

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