Casting update for I'll Be The Devil
22 January 2008
I’ll Be The Devil is a ferocious new play about the lasting effects of occupation on a war-torn country. It is written in response to Shakespeare’s The Tempest. It previews in London’s Tricycle Theatre from 21 February, running until 8 March 2008.
It is an epic and brutal journey into the dark heart of occupied Ireland during the eighteenth century. Knowing that her soldier lover is leaving for England, a local woman unleashes a sequence of events that will result in tragedy for both their children. With poetic fearlessness, Leo Butler shows us what happens when a violent foreign power is in intimate and callous contact with the primitive heart of an ancient society.
Leo Butler is currently the Writers’ Tutor for the advanced playwrights at the Royal Court Theatre. His recent plays include Lucky Dog and Redundant for which he won the George Devine Award for Most Promising Playwright in 2001. He is currently writing a new play for the RSC which explores faith on an epic scale.
Ramin Gray, has directed some of the most memorable and hard-hitting theatre of the past five years. He directed David Greig’s The American Pilot for the RSC in 2005, and Motortown by Simon Stephens for the Royal Court Theatre in 2006. His recent productions include The Ugly One and The Arsonists both at The Royal Court where he is an Associate Director.
Joining Ramin on the creative team are: Lizzie Clachan (Designer), Charles Balfour (Lighting), Peter Cowdrey (Music), Fergus O’Hare (Sound), Philip d’Orleans (Fights) and Anna Morrisey (Movement).
The cast is: Tom Burke (Dermot), Billy Carter (O’Connor), John McEnery (Colonel Fleming), Colm Gormley (Lance Corporal Finnigan), JD Kelleher (Captain Skelton), Andrew Macklin (Ryan), Edward Macliam (Captain Farrell), Eoin McCarthy (Lieutenant Coyle), Gerard Murphy (Sergeant Browne), David Toole (Potboy), Derbhle Crotty (Maryanne) and Samantha Young (Ellen).
Tom Burke’s recent stage work includes Scenes from an Execution at Hackney Empire, The Cut at the Donmar Warehouse, Malcolm in John Caird’s Macbeth at the Almeida and Romeo in Tim Carrol’s Romeo and Juliet at the Globe Theatre.
Eoin McCarthy’s films include: Alien vs Prediator, A Changed Man, Ulysses, Tomorrow Never Dies and Ken Loach’s Land and Freedom. On TV his work includes: Monarch of the Glen and Ballykissangel. He appeared in Michael Bogdanov’s production of The Hostage by Brendan Behan for the RSC in 1994. Other theatre credits include Trevor Nunn’s production of Lady From the Sea at the Almeida and Richard Eyre’s production of Amy’s View for the National Theatre.
Newry born Gerard Murphy’s previous RSC acting credits have included: Antigone (1991/2), the title role in Dr Faustus (1989) and the title role in Oedipus (1991/2). For the Company he directed Jean Genet’s Deathwatch and The Maids (1987) and Edward II (1990/91). His recent theatre work includes The Chorus and Exeter in Henry V at the Royal Exchange in Manchester, Salieri in Amadeus at The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield and Colonel Pickering in My Fair Lady which toured to Singapore and Kuala Lumpa. He is an RSC Associate Artist. His films include Batman Returns and Waterworld with Kevin Costner, and for television: Trial and Retribution, Vanity Fair, Taggart and Father Ted.
Billy Carter last performed with the RSC in 2002 in Gregory Doran’s Jacobean Season playing the lead in Eastward Ho, Soza in The Island Princess, Freneze in The Malcontent and the Second Tribune in The Roman Actor. His most recent stage credits include: Howard Davis’ A Moon for the Misbegotten at the Old Vic and on Broadway, Assassins at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield and Translations at the National Theatre. On television he appeared in Perfect Day and played Doctor Wilson in Primaeval. Films include Festival and Up on the Roof.
In 2007, Derbhle Crotty played Lady Macbeth in Conall Morrison’s Macbeth and Lady Duncan in Silviu Purcarete’s Macbett and went on to perform in the world premiere of The Penelopiad, based on Margaret Atwood’s book in Stratford, Newcastle and Canada. In 1997, her RSC roles included Ophelia in Hamlet and La Madrecida in Camino Real.
Edward Macliam has recently been seen on TV in Eastenders, Lovesoup, The Last Detective and Sugar Rush. Samantha Young played Pixie Pumpkin in Gobbo, the title role in Zinnie Harris’ Julie and Abigail in The Crucible for the National Theatre of Scotland.
Andrew Macklin’s most recent stage work includes Sean in All Over Town for the Project Theatre, Keiran in The Irish Curse for the Dublin Theatre Festival and Ray in Martin McDonagh’s The Beauty Queen of Leenane.
Further information
Tricycle Theatre, London
21 February – 8 March 2008
Press Night: Wednesday 27 February, 7pm
Box Office 020 7328 1000 www.tricycle.co.uk
For more information please contact;
Nada Zakula
01789 412622
nada.zakula@rsc.org.uk
or
Philippa Harland
0207 845 0512
philippa.harland@rsc.org.uk
For press ticket enquiries please contact Victoria Wilson on 020 7845 0513 or victoria.wilson@rsc.org.uk
A preview image for the show can be downloaded from www.epo-online.com and production pictures will be available from 25 February 2008.
Notes to Editors:
The production contains strong language, violence and explicit scenes of an adult nature.
The RSC Literary Department is generously supported by The Drue Heinz Trust.
The RSC’s New Work is generously supported by Christopher Seton Abele on behalf of the Argosy Foundation.
