Tanya Burr to Star in Major Revival of Judy Upton's CONFIDENCE

Boundless Theatre today announce Tanya Burr, will star in a major revival of Judy Upton's Confidence. First performed in 1998 at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Artistic Director of Boundless, Rob Drummer, will direct Burr in the role of Ella and the production opens at Southwark Playhouse on 25 May with previews from 23 May.

Mixtapes, Argos catalogue Christmas lists, VHS. Crop tops, chokers, disposable cameras, Boundless Theatre is bringing the 90s back. As another summer season on the seafront gets underway Ella is turning up the heat in a high stakes game to get as far away as possible. Whilst Ruby keeps the café going and Dean mans the ice cream kiosk Ella learns there's no fast track to success.

'If you're not interested in earning a new pair of Nikes by the end of the day...complete designer wardrobe by the end of the week...all the beers you can drink...if you don't want to meet Uma Thurman...then okay, stay here, as King of the Slackers, that's fine by me.'

Confidence, will explode back on to stage, for a new generation of dreamers.

Artistic Director of Boundless, Rob Drummer says: 'Rediscovering Judy's play in the context of 2018 and looking at the legacy of 90s youth culture is an exciting prospect. In the hedonism of the 90s and the changing tide of political optimism did young people get what they want? For a new generation now, we want to see what has changed and why instilling confidence in young people to take up space and have a voice matters more than ever.'

Judy Upton is an award-winning playwright and her stage plays include Ashes and Sand, (George Devine Award), Bruises (Royal Court Theatre), Sunspots and People On The River, (Finborough Theatre), To Blusher With Love (Channel Theatre), Know Your Rights (Red Room at Battersea Arts Centre), Sliding With Suzanne (Royal Court/Out Of Joint), Team Spirit (National Theatre), The Girlz (Orange Tree Theatre), Gaby Goes Global (New Wimbledon Theatre), Flick To Kick (Cambridge Hotbed Festival), Noctropia (Hampstead Theatre) and Come To Where I'm From (Paines Plough).

Tanya Burr makes her professional stage debut as Ella. This year, she has starred in Go90'sLove and Cheese as part of the Love, Daily series. She has appeared in pilot series, Making It and plays the lead in the forthcoming Disconnect - a short film. Tanya also runs a successful YouTube channel.

Rob Drummer joined Boundless Theatre in July 2016 as Artistic Director and his previous work for the company includes Natives by Glenn Waldron. He previously worked as co-director on the company's production of Sense by Anja Hilling at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA), alongside Andrea Ferran. He was a mentor to emerging playwrights from the UK, Germany, Netherlands and Norway on the European Writers' Lab component of the company's Theatre Café Festival. Prior to becoming Artistic Director of Boundless Theatre he was Associate Dramaturg at the Bush Theatre where he ran the Literary Department, responsible for all playwriting work including the commissioning and development of new plays for production. He has established ongoing partnerships with Playwrights of New York (PoNY), delivered projects with Kudos Film & Television and established a partnership with Drama Centre London and Oberon Books on the Student Guide to Writing: Playwriting. Before joining the Bush he was the first Literary Manager for HighTide Festival Theatre where he supported the expansion of the festival, doubling the number of productions and for HighTide he also directed Eisteddfod, Endless Poem and Perish. As a Dramaturg and director he has worked with playwrights at theatres including the National Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Contact, York Theatre Royal and Theatre503. He was one of the first recipients of an Artists' International Development Fund from the Arts Council and British Council and spent time working in South Africa with playwrights and theatre makers at the Baxter and Market Theatres.

Boundless Theatre creates exhilarating, relevant and shareable theatre with and for teenagers, young adults and curious others, responding to a vibrant and diverse global culture. They promote conversation, collaboration and exchange across the UK, Europe and internationally.

The company has continued to push the boundaries of work for this audience since it was established fifteen years ago. Under Rob Drummer's artistic direction the company has a bold new brand that celebrates the unlimited potential of our young adult audience.

Beyond their work on stage they empower and inspire teenagers and young adults through a range of opportunities across the UK. Through the Associates programme and artistic development initiatives they invest in future artists now, and empower a new generation of artists to be extraordinary.

www.boundlesstheatre.org.uk

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