Noughts & Crosses at Hackney Emplre
14 February 2008
"Stirring theatre...Noughts & Crosses is young people’s theatre that engages with issues of political urgency; that is enough to make it recommended family viewing"
The Times
"Absorbing...the acting is uniformly impressive"
The Guardian
Following its successful opening in Stratford-upon-Avon, the Royal Shakespeare Company concludes its UK tour of a brand new stage adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s extraordinary novel, Noughts & Crosses, at Hackney Empire.
Inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Noughts & Crosses tells the love story of Sephy and Callum, two young people kept apart by bigotry, terrorism and injustice. Sephy, a Prime Minister’s daughter from the powerful Crosses, falls for rebel Callum, son of a dangerous agitator from the opposing clan of Noughts. Their desire to be together threatens family loyalties and sparks a growing political crisis. It is a powerful story of love, passion, murder, violence, desertion and disloyalty.
The production is adapted and directed by former RSC Associate Director, Dominic Cooke, now Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre, and is aimed at anyone aged 11 and over.
Malorie Blackman, the writer of the original novel from which the play is adapted, is a best-selling author of books for children and young adults.
Commenting on Noughts & Crosses, Malorie Blackman said: ‘I wanted to turn society on its head in my story with new names for the major divisions in society – ‘Noughts’ being the underclass and ‘Crosses’ the majority ruling class. I wanted to see this new world through the eyes of the main two characters, Callum (a nought) and Sephy (a cross). Race and racism are emotive issues that most people loathe to discuss but I think they should be discussed, no matter how painful.’
As well as the hugely successful Noughts & Crosses trilogy, Malorie’s other novels include The Stuff of Nightmares, Hacker, A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E. and Thief!, which won the 1996 Young Telegraph/Fully Booked Award. Pig-Heart Boy was short-listed for the Carnegie Medal and adapted for a BAFTA award-winning TV serial. She has written scripts for episodes of CITV’s series, Whizziwig, her book Operation Gadgetman was made into a TV film, and she wrote a play called The Amazing Birthday for Polka Theatre.
Dominic Cooke, now Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre, is a former Associate Director of the RSC where his most recent productions included Pericles, The Winter’s Tale and The Crucible, for which he won Best Director and Best Revival in the 2007 Laurence Olivier Awards. He recently directed Ionesco’s Rhinoceros for the Royal Court Theatre.
Ony Uhiara, who appeared in Dominic’s productions of The Winter’s Tale and Pericles for the RSC, plays Sephy, and Richard Madden (Romeo in the Globe’s 2007 production of Romeo and Juliet) plays Callum.
Jo Martin, who plays Sephy’s mother Jasmine, makes a welcome return to the RSC. Her previous RSC credits include: Don Carlos and Oroonoko in 2000. Jo’s film and TV work includes: Madge in Doctors, Natalie in The Crouches, Rochelle in Chef! with Lenny Henry, a prison warden in Batman Begins and a prison governor in Batman Returns, both for Warner Brothers in 2006. Michelle Butterly (Meggie) returns to the RSC following her recent roles in the Gunpowder Season in 2005.
The cast also includes: Charles Abomeli (Jack/Mr Pinguile/Executioner), Davinia Anderson (Dionne/Journalist), Doreene Blackstock (Kelani Adams/Governor/Lola), Daniel Bowers (Peter/Protester/Elderly Man), Louise Callaghan (Lynette/Leila), Christopher Daley (Colin/Morgan), Tyrone Huggins (Kamal/Mr Corser), Tracy Ifeachor (Minerva), Phil McKee (Ryan), Jenny Ogilvie (Sarah Pike/Shania), Clarence Smith (Reporter/Policemen/Stanhope) and Freddy White (Jude).
Joining Dominic Cooke on the creative team are: designer Kandis Cook; lighting designer, Wolfgang Gobbel; sound designer, Christopher Shutt; composer, Gary Yershon; fight director, Terry King; and movement is by Liz Ranken.
Further information
Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman, Hackney Empire.
Tuesday 1 – Saturday 5 April 2008.
Evenings 7.30pm, Wednesday & Saturday matinee 2.30pm
Tickets Prices: £20, £18.50, £16.50 (evenings & Saturday matinee) £12 (Wednesday matinee). Concessions available.
Box Office: 020 8985 2424 or www.hackneyempire.co.uk
16-25 yr old £5 Tickets
40 tickets will be held off sale, 20 can be booked in advance and 20 are available during the week of performance. Terms and conditions apply.
For more information, please contact;
Allan Watson
Press and Media Relations Manager
Hackney Empire
020 8510 4505
allan.watson@hackneyempire.co.uk
Victoria Wilson
RSC Press and Marketing Assistant
0207 845 0513
victoria.wilson@rsc.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
Production images are available to download free of charge by registering with www.epo-online.com, or on request from Allan Watson or Vicky Wilson.
Q and As
A number of Q and As with cast and director are available on request from Allan Watson or Vicky Wilson.
EPK
An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) featuring a short, broadcast quality video extract from the production is available on request from Vicky Wilson.
Further information Noughts & Crosses is on the English Key Stage 3 (ages 11-14) curriculum as a text which can be chosen to study as contemporary fiction.
More information on Malorie Blackman on www.malorieblackman.co.uk
Noughts and Crosses Tour Schedule
Northern Stage, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
14-24 February 2008
Box Office: 0191 230 5151
www.northernstage.co.uk
Liverpool Playhouse
26 February – 1 March 2008
Box Office: 0151 709 4776
Online Booking (24 hour) www.everymanplayhouse.com
Poole Lighthouse
4 – 8 March 2008
Box Office: 08700 668701
www.lighthousepoole.co.uk
Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
18 – 22 March 2008
Box Office: 029 20 646900
www.shermantheatre.co.uk
Nottingham Playhouse
25 – 29 March 2008
Box Office: 0115 941 9419
www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk
Hackney Empire
1-5 April 2008
Box Office: 020 8985 2424
www.hackneyempire.co.uk
