Yahoo News Cassie and the Lights at Theatre Royal Plymouth - tickets, cast, dates and more
The production of 'Cassie and the Lights' is being brought to The Drum at Theatre Royal Plymouth by 3 Hearts Canvas and Patch of Blue, in association with Southwark Playhouse and Verse Unbound. The show began on April 24 and will continue until Saturday, April 27.
The play features Alex Brain as Cassie, Helen Chong as Tin, and Martha Walker as Kit, under the direction of Alex Howarth. Voiceovers are provided by Bethany Antonia (Jasmine), Louisa Harland (Alice), Oli Higginson (Mark), Wendi Peters (Teacher) and John Thomson (Lawyer).
After receiving critical acclaim in New York and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, this captivating play, created and directed by Alex Howarth, is based on real-life events and interviews with children in care. It features live music, original scenic design by Alex Howarth, set and costume design by Ruth Badila, and composition by Imogen Mason and Ellie Mason.
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The story revolves around teenager Cassie who, after her mother's disappearance, wants to take care of her sisters by herself. The question arises whether she is ready to be a parent now, or should she let foster parents adopt her sisters and form a new family?
'Cassie and the Lights' celebrates the resilience of teenagers and offers a tender and playful exploration of what constitutes a family and what keeps it together.
Alex Brain, who identifies as they/them, plays the role of Cassie. Their theatre credits include 'The Railway Children' (York Theatre Royal), 'Back to Blackbrick' (Arts Theatre, UK tour), 'When We Ran' (The Pleasance Edinburgh), 'The Tortoise and The Hare' (UK tour), and 'We Live By The Sea'.
59E59 Theatres New York, Arts Theatre, SoHo Playhouse New York, Adelaide Festival Australia, China National Tour, Greenwich Theatre, Pleasance Edinburgh, and The Gods The Gods The Gods (Australia and New Zealand Tour) are among their theatre credits. They have also appeared in television shows such as Primeval and Enid.
Helen Chong, who identifies as she/her, will be playing the character Tin. Her theatre portfolio includes the Off-Broadway production of Cassie and the Lights (VAULT Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival and 59E59, New York), A. L. I. C. E. in Wanderlust (Lawrence Batley Theatre), Four Models in Bright Hats Think About the Future (Live Theatre), and Jack and the Beanstalk (Applecart Arts). She has also been seen on TV in The Dumping Ground and The Hermit.
Martha Walker, who also identifies as she/her, will be making her professional stage debut as Kit.
Bethany Antonia will be portraying Jasmine. Her television appearances include House of the Dragon, Doctor Who, Nolly, LAVA, Stay Close and Get Even; and her film credits include The Velveteen Rabbit, Sense and Sensibility and Pin Cushion.
Louisa Harland will be taking on the role of Alice. Her theatre credits include Cotton Fingers (National Theatre Wales), Glass, Kill, Bluebeard, Imp (Royal Court), Dancing at Lughnasa (National Theatre), and Ulster American (Riverside Studios).
She has also starred in TV shows like Love/Hate, The Deceived, Harley and the Davidsons, Big Boys, and Derry Girls; and films such as Lost in London, Boys from County Hell and Joy. Her upcoming projects include Renegade Nell and Long Days Journey into Night.
Oli Higginson, who will be playing Mark, has an impressive list of theatre credits including Othello, Julius Ceasar (Shakespeare's Globe), Smoke, The Last Five Years (Southwark Playhouse Borough), Lava (Soho Theatre), A Christmas Carol (The Old Vic), The Last Five Years, Maggie and Ted (Garrick Theatre), The Haystack (Hampstead Theatre), Napoleon Blown Apart (Arcola Theatre), and The Assassination of Marcus Garvey (Theatre 503). His television appearances include Julia, The Chelsea Detective, Bridgerton, This England, The Pursuit of Love and Cursed.
He is also a budding writer, currently working on his debut play with the Orange Tree Theatre as part of their Writers Collective.
Wendi Peters, cast as Mrs Jacobson, has performed in her one-woman show Let Me Sing And I'm Happy (St James Theatre), and most recently Wendi Peters: Live at Zedel (The Crazy Coqs). Her theatre credits include You Are Here (Southwark Playhouse), Big!
The Musical (Dominion Theatre), White Christmas (Dominion Theatre, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, The Lowry, Manchester), The Clockmaker's Daughter, State Fair (Cadogan Hall), Is There Anybody There?
(New Adelphi Theatre, Manchester), Hatched 'n' Dispatched (Park Theatre), Our House 10th Anniversary Concert (Savoy Theatre), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Arts Theatre), April in Paris (Hull Truck, UK tour), Grumpy Old Women Live 2 - Chin up Britain (UK tour, Novello Theatre), The.
The Tivoli Theatre in Dublin has hosted the Vagina Monologues, while the Theatre Royal Drury Lane celebrated Stephen Sondheim's 75th Birthday with Children Will Listen and the London Palladium staged Follies in Concert. Her television credits include a regular role as Nina Balsara in Doctors and Cilla Battersby Brown in Coronation Street, as well as appearances in Celebrity Sewing Bee for Children in Need, Keep it in the Family, Adrenaline Junkie with Jack Osbourne, Hetty Feather, Phoenix Rise, Midsomer Murders as Lynda Babbage, Hacker Time, Sadie J, Crime Stories, Bad Girls, Out of the Blue and Cardiac Arrest.
Her filmography includes Gyppo, Coronation St- Out of Africa and In Love and War.
John Thomson, best known for his roles in The Fast Show, Men Behaving Badly, Spitting Image, Cold Feet, The Brothers Grimsby, and Coronation Street (as series regular Jesse Chadwick), will be playing the role of Lawyer. His film credits include 24 Hour Party People alongside Steve Coogan.
This year, he will be starring as Detective Alex Howarth.
Alex Howarth (he/him) is a writer, director and designer who was named one of 'Ten Stage Sensations to Watch Out For in 2023' by The Guardian. With a background in care, Howarth is passionate about amplifying under-represented and northern voices.
His play Cassie and the Lights was nominated for the BBC Writer's Room Popcorn Award and the SitUp Award for social change, and ran at 59E59 Theaters, Off Broadway New York in 2023. He previously worked as a drama therapist for the charity Sense.
He has a rich history of working with disabled artists, including co-creating the one-man show Strictly Lawrie with disabled artist Lawrie Morris. His play about a girl with autism, We Live By the Sea, was highly acclaimed, earning Critic's Pick and Top Theatre of the Year in The New York Times, winning the Best Theatre Award and the Critic's Choice Award at Adelaide Festival, and the Grahame F.
Smith Peace Foundation Award for promoting human rights through theatre. It was also nominated for a Fringe First and the Off West End Awards for Best Production and Best Ensemble.
He served as the assistant director on La Traviata at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and regularly directs at drama schools including Italia Conti, Central School of Speech and Drama, Mountview Theatre School, and Chichester Conservatoire. He adapted and directed the world stage premiere of What's Eating Gilbert Grape, alongside the film's writer and director, Oscar nominee Peter Hedges.
He is currently the Artistic Director of multi-award-winning Patch of Blue, who create original theatre pieces with live music for festivals and touring.
