|   Leeds Playhouse has announced the company of DECADES: STORIES FROM THE CITY, six monologues specially commissioned from northern writers to celebrate its 50th anniversary at the Playhouse, live and online from Wednesday 19 May to Saturday 5 June 2021.      Writers Simon Armitage, Leanna Benjamin, Kamal Kaan, Alice Nutter, Maxine Peake and Stan Owens, who all have strong connections to the Playhouse, have each taken a particular decade from across the Playhouse’s lifespan covering the 1970s to the 2020s as their inspiration, creating a diverse collection of stories firmly rooted in the North.      The cast comprises Connor Elliott (THE BODYGUARD by Simon Armitage), Cassie Layton (AND AFTER WE SAILED A THOUSAND SKIES by Kamal Kaan), Akiel Dowe (PIE IN THE BUS STOP by Stan Owens), Nicole Botha (THE UNKNOWN by Leanna Benjamin), Isobel Coward (NICER THAN ORANGE SQUASH by Alice Nutter) and Eva Scott (DON’T YOU KNOW IT’S GOING TO BE ALRIGHT by Maxine Peake).      Isobel Coward joins the company of DECADES: STORIES FROM THE CITY direct from performing in THE LARAMIE PROJECT at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Eva Scott is welcomed to the cast having performed in various roles on stage and television including CORONATION STREET and the national tour of Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s TRIAL BY LAUGHTER. More recently, she was chosen by the BBC to be one of its 16 Comedy Room writers for 2019/20. And Cassie Layton joins the company following roles with Out Of Joint, including PITCAIRN, and a starring role in the Globe’s ROMEO & JULIET. She most recently appeared in HOLE by Ellie Kendrick at the Royal Court Theatre.      Akiel Dowe and Nicole Botha are making their professional debuts at the Playhouse after graduating from LAMDA and The London School of Musical Theatre.      And 15-year-old Connor Elliott is making his first appearance at Leeds Playhouse. He has studied at Scala School of Performing Arts for nearly 10 years, and his recent credits include: Benji in PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT; Young Tumble in THE TALE OF MR TUMBLE; Hal in BBC Radio Drama 2 CLOWNS ONE TRUMPET; CLASS DISMISSED and GIGGLEBIZ for the BBC; and Channel 4’s GOGGLESPROGS.      The six specially-commissioned monologues that make up DECADES: STORIES FROM THE CITY create a social history of the North, shining a light on life, love, hardship and ambition. The productions can be experienced live at the theatre, either as six pieces in one evening or in two sets of three. The show will also be available online via Playhouse: At Home. All performances will include creative audio description.      Leeds Playhouse is welcoming audiences back into the building for the first time since November and having had a trial run in October is confident that it can do so again safely and efficiently. The Playhouse will continue to abide by national guidelines and will keep audiences informed about its ongoing covid safety measures as it reopens.      DECADES: STORIES FROM THE CITY will play at Leeds Playhouse and online from Wednesday 19 May to Saturday 5 June.      Directing each of these powerful and witty monologues, which will be shown in rep under the title DECADES: STORIES FROM THE CITY, are Leeds Playhouse’s Artistic Director James Brining, Associate Director Amy Leach and RTYDS Resident Assistant Director Sameena Hussain, Evie Manning of Common Wealth Theatre, Theatre State’s Tess Seddon and Theatre Director Amanda Huxtable.      The full creative team includes: Set & Costume Designer Amanda Stoodley; Lighting Designer Kieron Johnson; Sound Designer & Composer (70s-90s) Annie May Fletcher; Sound Designer & Composer (2000s-20s) Charlotte Bickley; Assistant Directors Lladel Bryant, Mariyah Kayat and Hassan Khan; Casting Director Lucy Casson; Composer & Arranger (2010s) Elion Morris; Composer & Vocal Coach (2010s) Zoe Katsilerou; Film Company Phil Barber for Sodium; Film Coordinator Simon Wainwright; Audio Description Consultant Vicky Ackroyd. DECADES: STORIES FROM OUR CITY Leeds Playhouse Courtyard Theatre and At Home Live at the Playhouse Wednesday 19 – Saturday 29 May Available online At Home Monday 24 May – Saturday 5 June Book online at www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk Book over the phone 0113 213 7700 |
