UK's F*CK THE POLAR BEARS, by Tanya Ronder, Announces Full Cast

The cast for the world premiere production of F*CK THE POLAR BEARS by Tanya Ronder is: Jon Foster, Salóme R Gunnarsdóttir, Susan Stanley and Andrew Whipp.

The production, directed by Caroline Byrne, previews from 11 September (press night 16 September).

F*CK THE POLAR BEARS is a raucous new environmental comedy about a family with the world at their feet, but plagued by the everyday hypocrisies and First World Problems of a prosperous life.

Gordon and Serena have worked hard to get where they are. He's on the verge of a massive promotion at an energy company. She's preparing for a move into the house of their dreams. The family appear to be cooking on gas.

But behind their perfect front door, light bulbs are blowing, the drains keep blocking, and a phone inexplicably refuses to charge. Not to mention that daughter Rachel's adored toy polar bear is nowhere to be found.

As Gordon chases the spectres behind these mysterious events, he spirals out of control and the family are forced to ask whether the life they desire is worth its cost.

Andrew Whipp and Susan Stanley will play Gordon and Serena, seemingly the perfect couple. Salóme R Gunnarsdóttir takes the role of Blundhilde, their long-suffering idealistic au pair, with Jon Foster as Gordon's troubled brother, the black sheep of the family. Bella Anne Padden and Eléa Vicas will share the role of the couple's young daughter Rachel.

Jon Foster's theatre work includes buckets (Orange Tree Theatre), All I Want (Jackson's Lane) Idomeneus, Trojan Women, Dream Story, Mud (Gate Theatre), Cheese (fanSHEN), A Beginning, A New Way to Please You, Sejanus: His Fall, Speaking Like Magpies, Thomas More (RSC), How to Tell the Monsters from the Misfits (Birmingham Rep), Long Time Dead (Paines Plough) and After Heggarty (Finborough). Television includes Da Vinci's Demons, New Tricks, Law and Order, The Bill, The IT Crowd, The Last Enemy, Instinctand Silent Witness.

Salóme R Gunnarsdóttir makes her London theatre debut in F*ck the Polar Bears. Orignially from Iceland, theatre work includes The Crucible, Spamalot, Assumblywomen and Óvitar, all at the National Theatre of Iceland. Film and television credits include The Lava Field: Hraunið (Pegasus Pictures), Stelpurnar 5 (Saga Films), Autumn Lights, Bakk (Mystery Island), Paris of the North, Megaphone (Zik Zak Filmworks). She has most recently filmed the role of Toma in Legends for Fox 21.

Susan Stanley most recently played the title role in Portia Coughlan (The Old Red Lion; nominated Best Female Performance, Offies 2015). Other theatre credits include: The Separation (Theatre503), Almost Maine (Park Theatre), The Separation (Project Arts Centre, Dublin), The Last Confessions of a Scallywag(The Mill at Sonning) and Bedbound (The Lion and Unicorn).

Andrew Whipp's theatre credits include Now This Is Not the End (Arcola), Farragut North (Southwark Playhouse), The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (Belgrade Theatre), Macbeth (Shakespeare's Globe), Celebration, Arcadia (Gate Theatre, Dublin; The Sunday Times Irish Edition Best Performance 2012), Before the Flood (Royal Court), Much Ado about Nothing (Stafford), Best Men (The Sticking Place), The Misanthrope (Bury St Edmonds), King Lear (Shakespeare's Globe) and The Child (Gate Theatre).Television includes Death in Paradise, A Song for Jenny, Holby City, EastEnders, Heartbeat, Doctors and Emmerdale.

Tanya Ronder's adaptations for theatre include Dara and Liolà (National Theatre); Macbett (RSC); Filumena and Blood Wedding (Almeida); Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, 02 and USA tour; Vernon God Little (Olivier nomination for Best New Play, What's on Stage nom. for Best New Comedy) and Peribanez(Young Vic). Vernon God Little was revived by the Young Vic in 2011 as part of their anniversary season. Her first original play Table (National Theatre) opened the Shed to critical acclaim in 2013. Films include the short, King Bastard (dir Rufus Norris). Tanya is currently developing a series for BBC, Big Amy, with co-writer Deborah Bruce.

Caroline Byrne's directing credits include Electra (RWCMD, Cardiff), Eclipsed (Gate Theatre), Gate 35 Gala (Louise Blouin Foundation), Leaving Home Party (Farnham Maltings Tour), By Mr Farquhar (UK City of Culture 2013), Text Messages (Project, Dublin), Shakespeare in a Suitcase (co-directed with Tim Crouch for RSC),The Recovery Position (Lion and Unicorn), Twizzler Soaked Ecstasy (devised, Bernhard Theatre Studio), The Children (Embassy Theatre), Attempts on her Life (Durham Theatre, Berkeley, USA). As Assistant Director: Adler and Gibb (Royal Court), Wendy and Peter Pan (RSC) and King Lear (RSC Tour). As Associate Director at the Gate Theatre (2014/15): Grounded and Purple Heart.

Rebecca Lenkiewicz's THE INVISIBLE is currently playing at the Bush until 15 August.

F*CK THE POLAR BEARS will be followed in the Bush's autumn season by RADAR, the Bush Theatre's annual festival of new writing (November 2015; on sale September 2015) and FORGET ME NOT by Tom Holloway (8 December 2015 - 16 January 2016), a co-production between the Bush Theatre and HighTide Festival Theatre.

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