Amanda Abbington, Nikki Amuka-Bird & More to Star in The Royal Court's GOD BLESS THE CHILD

Casting is announced today for God Bless the Child, a new play at the Royal Court Theatre written by Molly Davies and directed by Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone, premiering on 12 November at Jerwood Theatre Upstairs.

The cast includes Amanda Abbington who returns to the stage after roles as Miss Mardle in Mr Selfridge and Mary Morstan in the BBC's Sherlock; Ian Charleson Award-nominee Nikki Amuka-Bird whose credits include Birdland (Royal Court) Twelfth Night (Bristol Old Vic) and the BBC's Small Island; Julie Hesmondhalgh, best known as Hayley Patterson in Coronation Street and Ony Uhiara, known for her work at the Royal Shakespeare Company, Young Vic and Bush Theatre. Set in the classroom of 4N, the cast will be joined by two groups of eight year old actors who will perform on alternate evenings, with a girl and a boy alternating the lead role each night.

After years working in the schools system as a Teaching Assistant writer Molly Davies imagines a mutiny of eight year olds in this new play about government schemes and their place in the education system. Through the new 'Badger Do Best' behavioural initiative the production examines what educational tools we use to teach our children and who takes ultimate responsibility in a bureaucratic education system.

The production is directed by Vicky Featherstone, designed by Chloe Lamford, with lighting by Philip Gladwell, music and sound design by Mark Melville and movement by Imogen Knight.

Molly Davies' first play A Miracle was produced in 2009 at the Royal Court Theatre as part of the 2009 Young Writers Festival. Her other credits include Shooting Truth for National Theatre Connections and Orpheus & Eurydice for National Youth Theatre and Old Vic Tunnels.

Artistic Director of the Royal Court Vicky Featherstone directs. Since she started at the Royal Court, her credits have included Dennis Kelly's The Ritual Slaughter of George Mastromas and Abi Morgan's The Mistress Contract. She opened her first season at the Royal Court with Open Court - a festival of plays, ideas and events, chosen by over 140 writers. At National Theatre of Scotland, her credits included Enquirer (co-directed with John Tiffany), Appointment With The Wicker Man and 27 and prior to Scotland, Vicky was Artistic Director of Paines Plough. She will also direct Zinnie Harris' play How to Hold Your Breath this season.

God Bless the Child is part of the Royal Court's Jerwood New Playwrights programme, which aims to discover and support the next generation of world class playwrights, supported by the Jerwood Charitable Foundation.

The Big Idea: God Bless the Child
Tickets to go on sale later in 2014

The Big Idea is a new strand of work at the Royal Court launched during last year's Open Court festival, offering audiences radical thinking and provocative discussion inspired by the work on stage.

'Imagination and institutions: how should we inspire our children?' Teachers, students, writers and other experts come together to discuss.
Saturday 22 November, 1pm

Post Show Discussion: In conversation with Molly Davies
Wednesday 3 December

Carpet Time: stories by eight-year-olds.

A new performance for adults, in which carpet time is turned on its head. Instead of the children listening to stories told by adults, we join children on the carpet, around the building to listen to the stories they want to tell us. Saturday 6 December, 1pm and 1.30pm.