New Play About the Titanic '41N 50W' Runs at St. James Studio Theatre, Oct 4 & 5 - Starring Tina Jones, Rupert Wickham and More

41N 50W is the last known position of the Titanic before she sank at 2.20am on 15th April 1912 during her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. This disaster and the loss of lives on this seemingly invincible vessel shocked those on both sides of the Atlantic and 100 years later still continues to hold a beguiling fascination for young and old alike.

41N 50W is a unique new play written by Robert Neal Marshall, adapted from over 1,100 pages of the original 1912 Senate Hearings that began in New York’s Waldorf Astoria before moving to the Senate Building in Washington only four days after the disaster and one day after the stunned survivors arrived in the city on their rescue ship the Carpathia. Through the testimonies of the participants the world found out for the first time what had happened on that fateful night.

41N 50W is a documentary style drama based on the actual words spoken at the hearing. It is not just a retelling of this familiar story but takes a unique point of view by focusing on the experiences of key players surrounding the tragedy. As the magnitude of the disaster unfolds and the real life drama becomes apparent through the testimonies at the hearing, the audience like the journalists and public who attended these hearings see the pieces of a puzzle come together as those involved desperately try to find out the truth, whilst struggling to take action amidst misinformation and confusion.

41N 50W is performed in a “reading” format with a cast of 5 talented actors playing multiple survivors , closely connected witnesses and Senator Alden Smith who questions them. The imagery is created by the powerful script aided by projections of original photographs and materials, the sound effects and lighting.

Following a reading of 41N 50W to an invited audience on the on 14th August, Robert Neal Marshall and Jenny Montefiore on behalf of 41N productions are delighted to announce four performances in The St James Studio at London’s newest theatre complex The St James Theatre - part of the studio’s short pre-opening season.

Directed by Norma Atallah. Starring (in alphabetical order) BRADLEY CLARKSON, TINA JONES, PATRICK TOOMEY, BRYAN TORFEH and RUPERT WICKHAM.

St. James Theatre is located at 12 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JA. For tickets and more information, visit www.stjamestheatre.co.uk/events/41n-50w or call the Box Office at 0844 262 2140. Performances play Thursday 4th October at 15.00**, and 20.00 Friday 5th October at 18.00and 20.30. ** School Matinee information available on request. Tickets Prices: £15.00 - £20.00.

For further information about 41N 50W www.41N50W.com.

The St. James Theatre is the first new theatre complex to be built in central London in 30 years and is on the site of The Charlotte Chapel which was converted in 1924 into the St. James' Picture Theatre. From 1931 this became The Westminster Theatre which, like the Titanic, had a sad ending when after its last production in 2001 a fire destroyed all of the building except for the dressing rooms. When the St. James Theatre officially opens to the public in September it will house a 312 seat theatre as well as a smaller 100 seat studio space for theatre, comedy, cabaret, events, television, internet broadcasts and private and corporate functions. There is also be an all day/ evening brasserie and bar on site. The first production in the main theatre is ‘Bully Boy’ which opens on 18 September followed by ‘ Daddy Long Legs’ on 31 October, ‘Cinderella: A Fairy Tale’ on 12 December and ‘Our Country’s Good’ on 30 January 2013.

CAST BIOS

Bradley Clarkson played the role of ‘Jack Worthing’ in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST THE MUSICAL at the Theatre Royal Windsor.Prior to this he played the role of ‘Norman’ in DREAMBOATS AND PETTICOATS at The Playhouse Theatre, West End, ‘Sky Masterson’ in GUYS AND DOLLS at The Gordon Craig Theatre, ‘Mark’ in OUR DAY OUT at The Royal Court, Liverpool, ‘Edwin/Gossamer’ in THE WOLF AND THE LAMB and ‘Sebastian’ in TWELFTH NIGHT both at Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds. He has also appeared with Ray Davies from The Kinks in the musical COME DANCING playing the role of ‘Arthur’ at Theatre Royal, Stratford East. On TV he has appeared on the ITV show GREASE IS THE WORD where he reached the semi final. Bradley won Best Male Newcomer from The Stage for his performance in his Mountview Showcase.

Tina Jones is an accomplished actress with many credits. Her work includes Carla in the U.K. premiere of 'Helver's Night' by Ingmar Villqist for Brit-Pol Theatre, Lady Windermere's Fan at the Haymarket Theatre West End, directed by Peter Hall and Jack and The Beanstalk at the legendary Stratford East Theatre. Other acting work includes: The Comedy of Errors, Red Star, The Devils, Mother Courage - (RSC). Lady Anne in Richard III (Old Vic). Ophelia in Hamlet, Jessica in The Merchant of Venice, Marguerite in Faust, Alison in Look Back In Anger and Geraldine in What The Butler Saw - (Young Vic). Yvette in Camille - (The Comedy Theatre). Blondie in Archangels Don't Play Pinball - (Bristol Old Vic). Mary McGinty in Once a Catholic - (Sheffield Crucible). Kate Hardcastle in She Stoops To Conquer - (Liverpool Everyman). Marquise de Merteuil in Les Liaisons Dangereuses - (Cheltenham Everyman). Musicals: Jesus Christ Superstar (Palace). Girlfriends, (The Playhouse). All The Trimmings (Lyric Theatre Hammersmith). Invade My Privacy (Criterion, Kings Head and Riverside). Forbidden Planet (Miranda). The Threepenny Opera (Mrs. Peachum). The Mother (QEH), Blitz! (Mrs Blitztien) Queens Theatre Hornchurch. Seasons and tours with Bubble Theatre, Paines Plough and The Rocky Horror Show in Japan. TV includes: Sorry! Secret Army, Split Screen, Eastenders, The Bill, Silent Witness, Roger Roger, The Brokers Man, Maisie Raine, London's Burning, Crime Monthly, Hale and Pace and Heartbeat, Shockers II.

Patrick Toomey was born in Sydney, Australia, and trained as an actor at LAMDA in London. He has worked extensively in film, television and theatre for 23 years. Highlights including appearing appearing with Kristin Scott-Thomas and Romain Suris in the French language film Arsène Lupin, appearances in London’s West End and at Shakespeare’s Globe, and touring the world as Orlando in the Cheek By Jowl company’s celebrated all-male production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It. He lives in London with his wife - actress Sarah Woodward - and their two daughters.

Bryan Torfeh has appeared in numerous shows in London, including Fagin and Scrooge in "Dickens Unplugged and the musicals "High Society" and "Oliver" and was featured in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of "Nicholas Nickleby" on Broadway. Additional credits include Sidney Bruhl in “Deathtrap,” Elomire in “La Bete” and Bernard in “Boeing Boeing.” At Asol0 Rep, Salieri in "Amadeus" and productions of "The Constant Wife,' "The Play's The Thing" and "Murderers."

Rupert Wickham: In addition to his work at the National Theatre, Rupert is an experienced actor with a wide variety of parts to his credit in plays in London’s West End, Manchester, Chichester, Ludlow, and Exeter. He has played many Shakespeare parts in his time, including Mercutio, Hamlet, Macbeth, Iago, and Angelo in Measure for Measure. In television he has appeared in Killing Hitler, The Cinder Path, The Real Thomas Becket, A Dance to the Music of Time, Peak Practice and Band of Brothers. His film work includes The Brylcreem Boys and The Bourne Identity.

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