PLASTIC FIGURINES, Play About Life with Autism, Comes to London This Autumn

Celebrating a decade of new theatre making, Box of Tricks is thrilled to announce the transfer of Ella Carmen Greenhill's movingly funny and touching play PLASTIC FIGURINES to New Diorama Theatre in London from 27 September - 22 October 2016. Following a critically-acclaimed national tour last spring, Plastic Figurines plays at the New Diorama for a four-week run.

Rose loves her brother Mikey. Mikey loves Rose, Bruce Willis films and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but he hates change. When their mum is diagnosed with leukaemia, their world is plunged into chaos. Rose returns home to find a very different brother to when she left. Today is his eighteenth birthday and Rose wants everything to be perfect, but life with Mikey isn't ever that simple.

Inspired by events in Greenhill's life, Plastic Figurines is a funny and heartfelt new play that explores autism and the relationship between siblings with very different views of the world.

The production is directed by Box of Tricks' Joint Artistic Director and co-founder Adam Quayle. The two-hander will feature Jamie Samuel (Jumpers for Goalposts, Paines Plough, Hull Truck and Watford Palace - winner of Best Actor at Off West End Awards 2014) and Vanessa Schofield (credits include The Sisterhood at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, The Borrowers at the New Vic Theatre and The Wizard of Oz at the Lowry Theatre).

Award-winning playwright Ella Carmen Greenhill has been a writer-in-residence with Paines Plough and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse. Last year, she was named as one of Theatre503's 503Five playwrights and was a winner of ITV's Original Voices Scheme and is now a regular writer for Coronation Street. She developed a play for young people as part of the 2012 Skylines project with Theatre Centre and Manchester Royal Exchange as well as a collaborative project with Unity Theatre in Liverpool.

Playwright Ella Carmen Greenhill said about the play: "Plastic Figurines is in many ways a very personal play. It is inspired by my own experiences of autism, sibling relationships and losing my mum. At the same time it is a complete work of fiction and, whilst Rose and Michael are very close to my heart, they are not me and my brother. During the research process I spoke to a lot of people about their experiences of being close to someone on the autistic spectrum, a great piece I read said "If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism". I think that's so true and it really gave me the freedom to show my own experience through the play. "

The production launches Manchester-based Box of Tricks' 10th Anniversary Season and marks their first production to have a full London run since they relocated from London to Manchester in 2012.

Tickets for Plastic Figurines are priced at £14.50 (£13.50 concessions) and can be obtained by visiting the Box Office or by calling 0207 383 9034. Tickets are also available online at www.newdiorama.com.

IF YOU GO:

PLASTIC FIGURINES - Box of Tricks

Tue 27 Sept - Sat 22 Oct @ 19:30

(No shows Sundays and Mondays)

Saturday Matinees @ 15:30

Tickets: £14.50 standard/£13.50 concessions

New Diorama Theatre, 15-16 Triton St, London NW1 3BF

Bookings: newdiorama.com | 020 7383 9034

Captioned Performance: Wednesday 19th October @ 19:30

Relaxed performance: Saturday 22 October @ 15:30

Box of Tricks is a Manchester-based theatre company that champions the next generation of playwrights, producing top quality new plays on local and national stages. Artistic Directors: Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder & Adam Quayle. Associate Producer: Amy Fisher. For further information on Box of Tricks and the production, visit www.boxoftrickstheatre.co.uk.

New Diorama Theatre is a pioneering venue in the heart of London dedicated to providing a home for theatre ensembles, both emerging and established, from across the UK. Since opening in 2010, New Diorama has welcomed over 120,000 audience members and has developed productions that have toured both nationally and internationally. Having received two prestigious Peter Brook Awards for their programme, New Diorama were also the recipients of the 2013/14 Les Enfants Terribles Prize and Artistic and Executive Director David Byrne was awarded the OffWestEnd Award for Best Artistic Director in 2014. Supported by a strong community programme New Diorama were Mayor of Camden's Official Charity in 2012/13 and are proud of their work with Access, being the only non-government funded Studio Theatres to offer access performances throughout their whole season.