New rehearsal images have been released for the world premiere of Kevin Armento’s Devil with the Blue Dress which will play at the Bunker Theatre from the 29th March. Here’s a glimpse of what has been happening in rehearsals…
January 1998: America is rocked by one of the biggest political sex scandals of all time.
Slyly exhuming the little blue dress that launched the biggest media circus of a generation, the five women who were at the centre of the infamous Monica Lewinsky scandal collide on stage in this political thriller. A First Lady, a secretary, a daughter, a confidant, and an intern take us through the corridors of power and behind the closed doors where the abuse of that power took place.
Directed by Joshua McTaggart, this world premiere production is set to star Emma Handy (Handbagged, Tricyle Theatre; Miss Julie, Chichester Festival Theatre; Flare Path, Theatre Royal Haymarket), Dawn Hope (Follies, National Theatre; The Scottsboro Boys, Young Vic Theatre and Garrick Theatre; Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, New Players Theatre and National Tour), Daniella Isaacs (Hear Me Raw, Soho Theatre, Arcola Theatre, Underbelly Edinburgh; Fleabag, BBC/Amazon; Mush and Me, The Bush, Holden Street Theatre Award winner at Adelaide Fringe, Underbelly – Ideas Tap Underbelly Award winner), Flora Montgomery (Gaslight, Royal Alexandra Toronto; Arcadia, English Touring Theatre; Quirk, BBC1) and Kristy Philipps (Hush, Paines Plough; Clean Break, ITV1; Vera, ITV).
Talking about the play Kevin Armento said: “England boasts such a rich tradition of political theatre and I’m thrilled to share this American story in that context at one of London’s most exciting new venues. This scandal was an even crazier spectacle than people remember and some of the most surprising details have been forgotten by history – in no small part because of who got to write that history. As both our countries pass through this major moment of cultural reckoning regarding abuses of power and the gender norms those abuses have enforced, it’s a story that merits new interrogation.”
Produced by The Bunker Theatre, Seaview Productions and Desara Bosnja, the production is set to feature designs by Basia Bińkowska, lighting design by Jess Bernberg and sound by Anna Clock.
Devil with the Blue Dress will play at The Bunker Theatre from the 29th March until the 28th April. For more information and to book tickets visit: https://www.bunkertheatre.com/whats-on/devil-with-the-blue-dress/about