Sally Knyvette and Theatre503 today announce the full cast for the world première of Burning Bridges, a new play by Amy Shindler. Knyvette directs Anne Adams (Kate), Rae Brogan (Sarah) and Simon Bubb (Dan). The production opens at Theatre 503 on 16 September, with previews from 13 September, and runs until 8 October 2016.
“When she was little she was obsessed with me – if I didn’t play with her or sit next to her she screamed her head off. Then one day she replaced me with a Captain Crunch cereal box.”
When Sarah, a young woman with Asperger’s Syndrome, comes to visit her sister and brother-in-law for a holiday, what starts as a fortnight of family bonding, spirals into a nightmare scenario of accusation and intrigue. A love triangle with a dangerous twist, this moving and funny play explores the everyday dilemmas of a young woman with autism – what to eat, what to watch on TV and what to do about having sex with your sister’s husband…
Taking an incisive, witty look at the pressures on today’s 30-something Career Couples: the gender politics, the unspoken rivalry and the ever-looming issue of parenthood, Burning Bridges collides two very different worlds to create thought-provoking questions about moral responsibility and loyalty, in an exciting and brave new way.
Burning Bridges is Amy Shindler’s first stage play. She has a background in television comedy. As well as a co-creator and writer of the ITV primetime series, Pat and Cabbage, she’s also written on four series of My Family, two series of Trollied, Threesome, and Horrible Histories. She’s currently writing for two new animation series and, with writing partner, Beth Chalmers, is developing a new comedy series for Guilty Party Pictures, a comedy drama series for Red Production Company and a comedy series for Bad Wolf productions in the US. Her radio work includes co-creating and writing the BBC comedy Pauline Pepys’ Dowry, writing on series 2 of Concrete Cow and series 3 and 4 of the award-winning The Sunday Format. She began her career as an actress on TV, film and stage and since 1999 she has played the role of Brenda Tucker on Radio 4’s The Archers. Her film work includes Everest and A Mighty Heart.
Anne Adams plays Kate. Originally from Chicago, her US theatre credits include The Old Masters (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), Imagining Brad, This is Our Youth (Pine Box Theatre), Mauritius (Northlight Theatre) and Orange Lemon Egg Canary (Uma Productions). Her television credits include 50 Ways to Kill Your Lover; and for film, her credits include 55 Steps, Chubby Bunny and Samuel Street.
Rae Brogan plays Sarah. Her theatre credits include Goosebumps Alive (The Vaults), Dick!, The Music Hall Menagerie, Stop Kiss (Leicester Square Theatre) and Newsrevue (Canal Cafe Theatre). Her television credits include Call the Midwife.
Simon Bubb plays Dan. His theatre credits include Far From The Madding Crowd (Watermill Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare’s Globe), People (National Theatre/UK tour), King James: The People Who Walked In Darkness, The Habit Of Art, Saint Joan (National Theatre), War Horse (National Theatre and West End), King John, Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo & Juliet (Royal Shakespeare Company), Noises Off (Old Vic), The Soft Of Her Palm (Finborough Theatre), Hay Fever (Royal Exchange) and The Philanthropist (Donmar Warehouse). His television credits include Red Dwarf, W1A and Father Brown.
Sally Knyvette directs. For Theatre503, she has previously directed A World Elsewhere and for Tricycle Theatre, 12 Angry Men, Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been?, To Kill A Mockingbird, Judgement at Nuremberg and Inherit The Wind. Knyvette is also well known for her lead acting roles as Jenna in cult classic Blake’s 7 and as Kate Sugden in Emmerdale.
Burning Bridges Theatre503, The Latchmere, 503 Battersea Park Road, London, SW11 3BW
www.theatre503.com
Box Office: 020 7978 7040
13 September – 8 October 2016
