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Post by NeilVHughes on Feb 5, 2019 19:41:31 GMT
Erin Doherty and Sophie Melville will star in the world premiere of Wolfie at Theatre503.
Ross Willis' debut play, which follows two twins who are separated at birth, questions who is responsible for the most vulnerable in society.
Doherty is known for her roles in The Divide and Junkyard and will play Princess Anne in the upcoming new season of The Crown. Melville's credits include Iphigenia in Splott, for which she was nominated for both an Evening Standard Award and a Drama Desk Award.
Not been to this Theatre before, worth a punt to see these two exceptional actors.
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Post by Marwood on Feb 5, 2019 19:50:30 GMT
Sorry, I thought/was hoping that this was the long awaited stage version of Citizen Smith (surely only a matter of time after Only Fools and Horses) - as you were...
(I’ll get my coat) 😐
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Post by oxfordsimon on Feb 5, 2019 19:51:28 GMT
Power to the People!
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Post by itsabouttogdown on Feb 7, 2019 18:43:41 GMT
This casting is amazing! I'll be getting a ticket.
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Post by ruperto on Mar 20, 2019 23:56:23 GMT
Just back from the first preview of this. I suspect a lot of people will fall in love with this crazy, big-hearted, funny, angry and tender play about life in, and after, the care system. It’s a very unorthodox, magic-realist take on this topic that fizzes with ideas, and is wonderfully brought to life by its cast of two, the fabulous Erin Doherty and Sophie Melville (who are reunited here after appearing in The Divide at the Old Vic, which I loved).
It’s not neat and it’s not tidy, but it’s all the better for that. There are some bits of what you might call minor audience participation. Sophie Melville bit my knee - it’s that sort of play. Other than that, I won’t spoil its pleasures.
It’s quite long for a two-handler - two hours including a 10 to 15 minute interval - but didn’t feel it. Finished at just gone 9.30pm.
The writer Ross Willis chatted about the play afterwards - he seemed like a really interesting character, and explained that he had been through the care system himself. However, he seemed to feel that a lot of the other things that have been written about this topic fell into the category of “middle class” miseryfest. He also mentioned how much of a fan he was of people like Emma Rice.
Anyway, it’s a quite a special little show.
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Post by foxa on Mar 21, 2019 12:22:32 GMT
I was there last night too!
I was interested in seeing this partly because I had seen an evening of short works-in-progress at the Orange Tree theatre last year and Willis' piece for that was the real standout in terms of originality. (There was another very intricate nuanced piece I also liked and then some others that were a bit 'heh'?)
Like the excerpt I saw, this piece deals with myth/fairy tales and has a rich playful language. Erin Doherty and Sophie Melville are superb as the Sharky twins and I can imagine this could quickly become a favourite at drama festivals and in schools. As there are just the two actors who play dozens of characters (including animals) and run the full gamut of emotions there is lot for performers to get their teeth into.
The production is well staged (director Lisa Spirling), with a particularly strong opening. I did find it slightly overlong, but agree with Ruperto that it is a special little show.
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Post by ruperto on Mar 21, 2019 14:09:55 GMT
Sorry I missed you, foxa! I was sitting at the front, near the guy who was jokingly picked on by the twins for having "judgy eyes" and forced to wear a pair of dark glasses! (If you don't want your knees nibbled, or to be asked to high-five the cast etc, then don't sit in the front row!)
You're absolutely right, I can totally see this becoming a favourite at drama festivals and in schools (notwithstanding the large amounts of effing and jeffing!)
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Post by itsabouttogdown on Mar 24, 2019 0:57:24 GMT
So I caught this tonight after booking it on a punt because of Sophie Melville & Erin Doherty who are incredible in the play. I had never seen anything like it before. It feels like something really special. It’s witty, it's full of wonder, anger, pain and magic. I think in the next few years Ross willis could become a major voice in british theatre.
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Post by NeilVHughes on Mar 30, 2019 19:04:47 GMT
Erin & Sophie inject this dark tale with an energy underserving of the subject matter as they traverse the life of two separated twins left to survive within the ‘care’ system. The ability to morph into the multiple characters by a gesture and expression is phenomenal and a true indication of the talent on the stage made even more so by the proximity to the actors giving them nowhere to hide. Will not be surprised if the production transfers as it deserves a further life, if not I recommend Getting to Theatre 503 pronto as it will be unlikely that you will get to share such an intimate space with Erin & Sophie again. The afternoon was made even more special by sharing it with a fellow boarder crowblack |
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Post by crowblack on Mar 30, 2019 19:52:57 GMT
Hello Neil! Lovely to meet you too! My first theatreboard encounter which was really nice - especially as the friend I was hoping to see it with couldn’t make it. Yes, it was excellent - and I’ve just booked again for a matinee (I was going to the Dorothea Tanning but she may have to wait) - I’ll write more when I get home but yes, I did make the train! Phew! (Journey back only took half the time it took to get there! 5pm kings road quite quiet on a saturday). The playtext is a fiver btw - cover price 9.99 so worth picking up if you are interested. Lovely venue too, with a beer garden and family beer garden areas behind the pub below, v friendly staff and compact and bijou theatre with good rake so I’d imagine all seats have a great view. Catch it while you can but yes, surely a prime candidate for a transfer!
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Post by crowblack on Apr 5, 2019 16:08:52 GMT
Theatre 503 tweet hinting there might be a transfer for this - it's now completely sold out.
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Post by itsabouttogdown on Apr 5, 2019 22:38:00 GMT
Yes this makes me so happy as I just tried to book another ticket and saw the entire run had sold out. Any idea where it's transferring to?
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Post by crowblack on Apr 6, 2019 10:36:38 GMT
Any idea where it's transferring to? No, just a tweet by the theatre in response to Milly Thomas' hope for a transfer saying "we're on it". |
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Post by QueerTheatre on Apr 9, 2019 23:33:04 GMT
I saw this tonight and was just blown away. The writing is simply magical, yet never shy's away from the harsh realities of the subjects it explores. Add in 2 beautiful performances AND £5 tickets, well this is easily the best night at the theatre i've had so far this year. I even bought a programme!!
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