Hunter And Magni Lead Cast In TELL THEM THAT I AM YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL At Arcola, Sep 6-Oct 8

TELL THEM THAT I AM YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL
Text by Gilles Aufray
Directed by Marcello Magni
Created and performed by Marcello Magni, Kathryn Hunter, Patrice Naiambana, David Bartlomeij Soroczynski and Kora player Tunde Jegede.

ARCOLA THEATRE 6 September - 8 October

Greed. Hospitality. Sacrifice. Knowledge. Truth. Freedom. Love.

Seven words, seven stories, seven moments of theatre played in an empty space like a game, magical and dangerous. A farmer proposes marriage under the stars in Italy, a kidney donor is on the run in Paris, birds come to life in ancient India, a brother plays dead in Senegal, and a young lover is in search of Truth.

An international company draw on their wealth of experience working with Complicite, Peter Brook, Jacques Lecoq and others to devise a new play based on stories from around the world.

TELL THEM THAT I AM YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL explores our relationship with the "other": the person we think we know but don't, the stranger on the street, the person who is different.

Kathryn Hunter recently toured her acclaimed solo show KAFKA'S MONKEY worldwide. She has played title roles in RICHARD III, KING LEAR, MOTHER COURAGE, YERMA (at the Arcola), SPOONFACE STEINBERG and CELESTINA. Also Cleopatra in ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA and The Fool in KING LEAR (RSC), Beckett's FRAGMENTS (world tour),THE SKRIKER and her Olivier Award-winning performance in THE VISIT with Complicite at The National Theatre. She directed OTHELLO (RSC) and PERICLES (Globe), GLORY OF LIVING (Royal Court) and MR PUNTILLA AND HIS MAN MATTI (Almeida - Duke of York). TV includes ROME and on film HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX and Mike Leigh's ALL OR NOTHING.

MARCELLO MAGNI is a founder member of Complicite, appearing in their productions including A MINUTE TOO LATE and THE STREET OF CROCODILES. Also Beckett's FRAGMENTS for Peter Brook (world tour), OTHELLO (RSC), PERICLES and THE COMEDY OF ERRORS (Globe), RED DEMON and KING LEAR (Young Vic). TV includes DOCTOR WHO and NINE on film.

PATRICE NAIAMBANA played the title role in Kathryn Hunter's RSC production of OTHELLO. Other work includes THE HISTORIES CYCLE, THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, CYMBELINE and THE SPANISH TRAGEDY (RSC); and PERICLES (Shakespeare's Globe). As Artistic Director and Founder of Tribal Soul Theatre Company, he won a Fringe First award for his one-man show THE MAN WHO COMMITTED THOUGHT.

BARTLOMIEJ SORCZYNSKI was born in Poland and lives in Canada. He has toured worldwide with several acclaimed productions including Cirque Éloize with which he has performed since 2002. He appeared in Irina Brook's productions of THE TEMPEST and SOMEWHERE...LA MANCHA at Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord, Paris.

TUNDE JEGEDE is a composer and musician, having worked with many international orchestras, ensembles and institutions for concerts, theatre, television and films. These include the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Philharmonia, National Symphony Orchestra of France, London Sinfonietta, and composing the soundtrack for the film, 500 YEARS LATER. he has worked with many artists including including Evelyn Glennie, the Brodsky Quartet, Kasse Mady Diabate, Oumou Sangare, Nana Vasconcelos, Des'ree, Caron Wheeler, Courtney Pine, Talvin Singh and Bheki Mseleku.