The final members of the cast for the European premiere production of Working at the Southwark Playhouse have been confirmed.
Completing the cast for the European premiere of Working will be six performers who will be making their professional debut in the production. They are: Patrick Coulter (Bird College of Dance), Nicola Espallardo (Guildford School of Acting), Izuka Hoyle, Luke Latchman, Huon Mackley (all Arts Educational Schools, London) and Kerri Norville (Bird College of Dance).
They will be joining the previously announced Gillian Bevan, Dean Chisnall, Krysten Cummings, Siubhan Harrison, Peter Polycarpou and Liam Tamne in the production directed by Luke Sheppard.
In order to cast the final members of the cast the creative team auditioned over 130 drama school students and aspiring young performers to discover new talent.
Speaking of the news, director Luke Sheppard said: “I’m thrilled we are able to welcome these graduates to our company. They are integral to the vision of our production. I hope that this opportunity reflects a fundamental theme of the piece: a new generation asking questions of those who have trod the career path that lies ahead, holding a mirror up to the changing landscape of employment.”
Opening for previews at the Southwark Playhouse from the 2nd June, Working is based on Studs Terkel’s best-selling book of interviews with the American workforce: Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do.
This highly original and universal portrait of the American workday is told from the perspective of those that the world so often overlooks – the schoolteacher, the housewife, the fireman and the waitress amongst many – whose daily grind and aspirations reflect the truths of the people that make up a nation.
Employing a range of musical styles and genres from contributing composers such as five-time Grammy Award winner James Taylor and Pulitzer Prize winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton; In The Heights), Working makes for a strikingly dynamic and contemporary look at what it is to work and what it is to be a musical.
The musical originally opened on Broadway in 1978, directed by Stephen Schwartz with a cast including Patti LuPone, Bob Gunton, Joe Mantegna, David Patrick Kelly and Rex Everhart. It was last seen ff-Broadway in December 2012, under the direction of Gordon Greenberg.
This production will have choreography by Fabian Aloise, set design by Jean Chan, costume design by Gabriella Slade, lighting design by Nic Farman and sound design by Tom Marshall.
Working will play at the Southwark Playhouse from the 2nd June until the 8th July. For more information and to book tickets visit: http://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/show/working/