Vincent River - Trafalgar Studios

Philip Ridley's Vincent River will be at Trafalgar Studios from 16 May to 22 June.

This modern classic was a huge success when it premiered at  Hampstead Theatre in 2001, and a West End smash at Trafalgar Studios in 2007.

This production was seen at London's Park Theatre in 2018 and found favour with ActDrop's critic who rated the show 5 stars, saying:

"Robert Chevara's production of Philip Ridley's profoundly moving play, elicits edgy, mesmerising and convincing portrayals of two characters desperate for answers about a violent death."

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Thrilling, heartbreaking and darkly humorous by turns, Vincent River is now seen as one of the most powerful explorations of hate crime - and society's need to crush 'difference' - ever written.

Louise Jameson and Thomas Mahy will reprise their roles from the Park Theatre production.

Ms Jameson played the iconic role of assistant Leela in Dr Who opposite Tom Baker in the Seventies.

She later starred in Tenko, Bergerac and EastEnders.

In a 40-year career, her first love, the theatre, has seen her on stage at the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company, amongst many others.

Ms Jameson was nominated for an Off West End Award for her performance in Vincent River at Park Theatre.

Thomas Mahy graduated from Drama Centre, London in 2017.

He was also nominated for an Off West End Award for his performance in Vincent River at Park Theatre, which was his London professional debut.

Director Robert Chevara is an award-winning theatre and opera director, known in the UK and US for his passionate, visionary work.

His production of Tennessee Williams's In The Bar Of A Tokyo Hotel at Charing Cross Theatre was named by The Times as one of the 10 best productions of 2017.

Mr Chevara said ...

"Vincent River is a modern classic and a dazzling, prescient piece of theatre.

The play is even more prophetic now than when it was first produced.

The murder of Jo Cox MP in 2016 shocked the nation and hate crimes have risen by 17% this last year alone.

But hate crimes against LGBT people in the UK have surged over 78% in the last five years.

One in five LGBT people have experienced a hate crime because of their sexual orientation in the last 12 months and four in five younger LGBT people have not reported the hate crimes they've endured, and are particularly reluctant to go to the police."

Producer Danielle Tarento said ...

"Having produced the 20th anniversary production of The Pitchfork Disney back in 2012, I am delighted to be returning to Philip's work and transferring Vincent River

to Trafalgar Studios."

About the playwright

Philip Ridley has written many highly regarded and hugely influential stage plays including the seminal The Pitchfork Disney, The Fastest Clock In The Universe (winner of a Time Out Award, the Critics' Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright, and the Meyer-Whitworth Prize), Ghost From A Perfect Place (nominated for The Evening Standard Best New Play Award), Vincent River,

Mercury Fur, Leaves of Glass, Piranha Heights, Tender Napalm (nominated for the London Fringe Best Play Award), Shivered (nominated for the Off-West End Best New Play Award), Dark Vanilla Jungle (winner of an Edinburgh Festival Fringe First Award), Radiant Vermin, Tonight With Donny Stixx and Karagula (nominated for the Off-West End Best New Play Award).

In 2012 WhatsOnStage named him a Jubilee Playwright (one of the most influential British writers to have emerged in the past six decades).

Mr Ridley has won both the Evening Standard's Most Promising Newcomer to British Film and Most Promising Playwright Awards, the only person ever to receive both prizes.

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