ALL MY SONS, directed by Artistic Director Michael Buffong
Talawa’s critically acclaimed production of Arthur Miller’s ALL MY SONS, directed by Artistic Director Michael Buffong will set out on a UK tour in February 2015, in the centenary year of Miller’s birth.
The production played to full houses and standing ovations when it opened in a co-production with Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester last year and will now open at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich on Thursday 12 February 2015 then tour to Cambridge Arts Theatre, Salisbury Playhouse, Watford Palace Theatre, Oxford Playhouse, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Richmond Theatre, Mercury Theatre Colchester and MalvernTheatres.
Ray Shell and Doña Croll lead the cast in this searing investigation of honesty, guilt and the corrupting power of greed. One hundred years after Arthur Miller’s birth, it is still very clear why All My Sons, Miller’s first major success, established him as one of the greatest dramatists of the 20th Century.
1947. Joe and Kate Keller, an all-American couple, are living with the ghosts of World War II.
Joe is successful, a self-made businessman, loving family man and pillar of the community. He is a partner in a machine shop building fighterplane parts. Joe and Kate’s happiness is clouded by one thing – their son is missing in action, presumed dead by all but his mother …
“a flawless production that succeeds in seeing the play in terms that are neither specifically black nor white, but ultimately honours Miller’s ability to see things human.” ***** The Guardian
Artistic Director of Talawa Michael Buffong directs. His credits at Talawa include God’s Property with Soho Theatre and The Albany and The Serpent’s Tooth with the Almeida Theatre. Further credits include Moon On A Rainbow Shawl at the National Theatre and the multi-award winning ARaisin In The Sun at the Royal Exchange Manchester.
Doña Croll returns to Talawa to play the role of Kate Keller. Her credits include Twelfth Night at Sheffield Crucible, The American Plan at Bath Theatre Royal & St. James Theatre, Heresy Of Love at Royal Shakespeare Company and The Riots at the Tricycle. On screen, she is best known for her roles in Gimme Gimme Gimme, Doctors, Family Affairs, Casualty and most recently the ITV series The Ice CreamGirls.
Ray Shell’s most recent credits include The Bodyguard, Perseverance Drive at the Bush Theatre,and Driving Miss Daisy at the Wyndhams Theatre. He also originated the role of Rusty in the original West End production of Starlight Express. A published novelist alongside his theatre career, his books include Iced, The Devil Has Quentin’s Heart, Spike Lee: The Eternal Maverick and hisnew novel, Feedin’ Miranda will be published early next year. His musical White Folks was produced in concert at The Cochrane Theatre and at The Pleasance Theatre, London.
Talawa Theatre Company is the UK’s primary Black-led theatre company. Led by Artistic Director Michael Buffong, Talawa aims to create work informed by the wealth and diversity of the Black British experience, invest in talent, build audiences and inspire dialogue with and within communities across Britain.
The production is designed by Ellen Cairns, with lighting by Johanna Town and sound by Emma Laxton.
The full cast includes Kemi Bo-Jacobs (Ann Deever), Doña Croll (Kate Keller), Andrea Davy (Sue Bayliss), Ashley Gerlach (George Deever), Bethan Mary James (Lydia Lubey), Leemore Marrett Jr (Chris Keller), Ray Shell (Joe Keller) and Chinna Wodu (Frank Lubey).
The All My Sons tour is supported by Arts Council England.
ALL MY SONS UK TOUR DATES
Thursday 12 – Saturday 21 February
New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich
Box Office: 01473 295 900
www.wolseytheatre.co.uk
PRESS NIGHT: Tuesday 17 February at 7.45pm
Tuesday 24 – Saturday 28 February
Cambridge Arts Theatre
Box Office: 01223 503 333
www.cambridgeartstheatre.co.uk
Tuesday 3 March – Saturday 7 March
Salisbury Playhouse
Box Office: 01722 320 333
http://www.salisburyplayhouse.com/
Tuesday 10 – Saturday 14 March
Watford Palace Theatre
Box Office: 01923 225 671
www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk
Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 March
Oxford Playhouse
Box Office: 01865 305 305
www.oxfordplayhouse.com
Tuesday 24 – Saturday 28 March
Birmingham Rep
Box Office: 0121 236 4455
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
Tuesday 31 March – Saturday 5 April
Richmond Theatre
Box Office: 0844 871 7615
http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre/
Tuesday 14 – Saturday 18 April
Mercury, Colchester
Box Office: 01206 573 948
www.mercurytheatre.co.uk
Tuesday 21 – Saturday 25 April
Malvern Theatres (Festival Theatre)
Box Office: 01684 892 277
www.malvern-theatres.co.uk