Lonely Planet
London theatre news: Thursday 20 April 2017
Gay - London Fringe - Shows
Playwright Steven Dietz was recently placed eighth on the list of the Top Ten Most Produced Playwrights in America. Now his most widely performed work, Lonely Planet, gets its UK premiere at the Tabard Theatre from 27 June.
Image: Tabard Theatre
Recipient of the PEN U.S.A. Award in Drama (1994), Lonely Planet originally premiered in Northlight Theatre, Illinois in 1993.
Considered his most widely performed work, this production marks Lonely Planet's UK premiere, from award-winning playwright Steven Dietz, recently placed eighth on the list of the Top Ten Most Produced Playwrights in America.
It's the 1980's in an unknown American city.
There is no internet and mobile phones are a rarity, sharing information and knowledge is near impossible.
It's dark, and communication is hard.
A poster appears at a local store, it's a photo of a person's torso with lesions all over.
It's an unknown condition that spreads quickly.
Lonely Planet is a heartfelt, funny and ultimately moving play that focuses on the friendship between Jody, a cautious and thoughtful man who insulates himself in the map store he owns; and Carl, a frequent visitor to the store with an unusually vivid imagination and multiple, ever-changing occupations.
Carl notices Jody has been isolating himself from the world and starts bringing chairs into his shop to convince him to confront the fears which prevent him from leaving his store.
The play shows an individual's struggle to come to terms with illness, their own mortality and the stigma associated with AIDS.
Steven Dietz's 30 plus plays and adaptations have been seen at over 100 regional theatres in the United States, as well as Off-Broadway.
International productions have been seen in over 20 countries and his work has been translated into 10 languages.
Dietz is a two-time winner of the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays Award for Fiction and Still Life with Iris, as well as a two-time finalist for the Steinberg New Play Award for Last of the Boys and Becky's New Car.
He received the PEN USA West Award in Drama for Lonely Planet and the 2007 Edgar Award© for Drama for Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure.
During the run at the Tabard Theatre there will be five Q&A dates that will concentrate on the subjects raised in the play and how they affect society today.
The dates and participants are yet to be finalised, but we will publish all the information a soon as it is available.
Cast
Jody - Alexander McMorran
Carl - Aaron Vodovoz
Creatives
Writer - Steven Dietz
Set & Costume Design - Nik Corrall
Sound Design - Peter West
Lighting: Will Scarnell
Stage Manager: Rachel Graham
Producer - Aaron Vodovoz for Surgent Theatre Company
Venue
Tabard Theatre
2 Bath Road
London W4 1LW
Dates
Tuesday 27 June to Saturday 15 July 2017 at 7.30pm
Tickets
£20, £18 concessions
£10 previews 27/28 June
Links
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