Henry Naylor's THE COLLECTOR Launches UK Tour Tonight
By: BWW News Desk Sep. 21, 2016
Following acclaimed runs at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival and the Arcola Theatre, Kathryn Barker Productions today announces a UK tour of Henry Naylor's THE COLLECTOR. William Reay, who reprises his role from the Edinburgh and Arcola runs, is joined by Anna Riding and Olivia Beardsley. Michael Cabot directs the production which tours to 29 venues across the UK this autumn, starting at York Theatre Royal's Studio tonight 21 September.
2003. Mazrat Prison, Iraq. Previously one of Saddam's most notorious torture houses, where more than 10,000 people died, it is now under Allied command.
Nassir works here, translating for the American interrogators. He's local, pro-Western, determined to bring liberal values to his country and is about to get married to Zoya, his sweetheart. But when he is recognised by Faisal, new prisoner and psychotic supporter of the old regime, his life becomes a living hell.
Born out of Henry Naylor's own experiences of a visit to Bagram Airbase in 2003, THE COLLECTOR is a compelling tale of murder, evil and betrayal set in occupied Iraq. One of the most highly-acclaimed shows at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival, it won a Scotsman Fringe First Award, which was followed by a sold-out run at the Arcola Theatre.
Henry Naylor is a British comedy writer, director and performer. He has written a number of plays including Finding Bin Laden, Hunting Diana and Echoes, which won the Spirit of the Fringe Award at the Edinburgh Festival and 5 awards, including Critic's Choice, at the Adelaide Fringe Festival. He is also known for working with comedy partner Andy Parsons in Parsons and Naylor's Pull-Out Sections. He was head writer for Spitting Image, and has written for extensively for television, with credits including, Alas Smith and Jones, Dead Ringers and Alistair McGowan's Big Impression.
Olivia Beardsley plays Foster. THE COLLECTOR is Olivia's UK theatre debut. Her theatre credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream (Centennial Park Open Air - Sydney), Charcoal Creek (Merrigong Theatre Company), Dusty - The Original Pop Diva, A Chorus Line, Promises Promises and Shakers (all Australian Institute of Music). Her work for film includes The Babadook.
William Reay reprises the role of Kasprowicz for this national tour. His theatre credits include Flare Path (Original Theatre Company), for Chichester Festival Theatre Royal Hunt of the Sun, Yonadab - Shaffer Celebration Readings and King Lear (also BAM New York), Richard III (Changeling Theatre Company), As You Like It (Iris Theatre Company), Henry IV- Parts 1&2 (Peter Hall Company, Theatre Royal Bath), Double Falsehood (The Union/Charing Cross Theatre), The Tempest (Lord Chamberlains Men). His television credits include Urban Legends; and for film Abdullah and Input = Output.
Anna Riding plays Zoya. Her theatre credits include The Genie of Samarkand (Tara Arts), The Heresy of Love (Bristol Old Vic), The Bare Project (Sheffield Theatres), Caravan and Crap Dad (West Yorkshire Playhouse), The Grand Gesture (Tobacco Factory), After Sunset (Opera North) and Hansel and Gretel (Wakefield Theatre Royal). Her television work includes The 'A' Word, Waterloo Road and The Royal Today.
Director Michael Cabot is Artistic Director of London Classic Theatre, one of the UK's most prolific touring theatre companies. In 2015, LCT celebrated its 15th Anniversary Season with extensive tours of Alan Ayckbourn's Absent Friends and Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot. His recent production of Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party opened in February 2016 at Cheltenham Everyman Theatre. LCT will be touring Terry Johnson's Olivier award-winning farce, Hysteria in Spring 2017.
Kathryn Barker is an emerging independent theatre producer. Kathryn has spent the last two years working as Assistant Producer and Programmer for London Classic Theatre. THE COLLECTOR is her first solo venture as a producer. The focus at Kathryn Barker Productions is on producing first-class, dynamic theatre, championing new writing and promoting gender equality and diversity. For more, visit www.kathrynbarkerproductions.co.uk.
TOUR LISTINGS:
Studio, York Theatre Royal
21-24 September
01904 623568
Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury
27 September
01684 295074
Studio, Courtyard Theatre,
Hereford
28 September
01432 340555
Walker Theatre, Theatre Severn
29 September - 1 October
01743 281281
Dundee Rep
4 October
01382 223530
Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh
5 October
0131 665 9900
Paisley Arts Centre
6 October
0300 300 1210
Tolbooth, Stirling
7 October
01786 27 4000
Customs House, South Shields
9 October
0191 454 1234
Quarry Theatre, Bedford
11 October
01234 362269
The Hafren, Newtown
14 October
01686 614555
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead
18 October
01628 788997
norden.farm
Studio, Hawth Theatre, Crawley
19 October
01293 553636
Cramphorn Theatre, Chelmsford
20-21 October
01245 606505
Theatre Royal, Margate
22 October
01843 292795
Neville Studio, Nottingham Playhouse
25-26 October
0115 941 9419
Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea
28 October
01792 602060
Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis
29 October
01297 442138
Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead
1 November
01442 228 091
Cornerstone, Didcot
2 November
01235 515144
Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
3 November
01902 321321
Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal
4 November
01539 722833
Aberystwyth Arts Centre
8 November
01970 62 3232
Studio, Leicester Curve
10 - 11 November
0116 242 3560
Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds
15 November
01284 755127
Stamford Arts Centre
16 November
01780 763203
Civic Theatre, Barnsley
17 November
01226 327000
Queen's Hall, Hexham
18 November
01434 652477
Alnwick Playhouse
19 November
01665 510785
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