Penny Dreadful to Present HOW TO BE IMMORTAL National Tour, 28 Jan - 23 March

Penny Dreadful Theatre will present a brand new show about love, death and science; the world premiere and national tour of HOW TO BE IMMORTAL, by Mira Dovreni. Directed by Kirsty Housley, created with the cast: Clare Perkins, Anna-Helena McLean and John McKeever, and with scientists Gareth Ackland (UCL), Anna Gutierrez-del-Arroyo (UCL), and Duncan Wilson (Manchester). The show is designed by Angela Simpson, and features lighting design by Matt Haskins, music and sound design by Barnaby Race, with animation artist Gemma Burditt.

The NATIONAL TOUR runs 28 January 2014 ­ 23 March 2014. Press Night 29 January at 7.45pm, The Albany, Deptford, London. See below for full tour listings

From the creators of highly acclaimed, innovative shows including The Bitches Ball, The Missionary¹s Position and Penny Dreadful¹s Etherdome, comes a new show exploring one of the great moments in scientific discovery the eternal human cancer cells.

In Penny Dreadful Theatre¹s new show, HOW TO BE IMMORTAL, writer Mira Dovreni weaves together three different stories contemplating immortality. They are set over different centuries and continents: the true story of Henrietta Lacks and her immortal cells takes place in West Virginia in the 1950s, while a young couple in present day London experience a similar situation, but handled very differently. A third story explores one of the most extraordinary advances in science - the mapping of DNA ­ only possible because of Henrietta¹s immortal cells.

Created in collaboration with scientists from UCL and Manchester University and with original music based on a sound code interpreting DNA, this show blends science and human emotion in a unique exploration of the different things our loved ones leave us when they die.

Rosa has fallen in love with Mick the decorator. She plays the cello, he plays the squeezebox ­ an unlikely combination but they sound great together. Trouble is she¹s pregnant and he¹s about to die.

Henrietta Lacks died in West Virginia in 1951, but her cells are still alive, dividing endlessly in laboratories all over the world. It¹s taken Deborah Lacks years to come to terms with her mother¹s death. Now she¹s got to deal with her immortality.

If we didn¹t have bodies would we live forever? Its 1950 and Doctor George Gey and his wife Margaret are about to make a mind-bending discovery using homemade apparatus and some calves liver puree. All they need is the right biopsies.

Writer Mira Dovreni is one of the founders of Penny Dreadful Theatre and her extensive performing credits include The Bitches Ball and The Missionary¹s Position. This is her debut as a playwright.

Actor Claire Perkins has just finished season in Eastenders, playing the popular character Ava Hartman.
Director Kirsty Housley¹s extensive credits in theatre include working on the recent international tour with Complicite.

NATIONAL TOUR 2014 ­ LISTINGS INFORMATION

January
28-29 Jan at 7.45pm, The Albany, Deptford, London
020 8692 4446 www.thealbany.org.uk

30 Jan at 8pm mac birmingham
0121 446 3232 www.macarts.co.uk

31 Jan at 8pm Ustinov, Bath
01225 448844 www.theatreroyal.org.uk

February
1 Feb at 8pm Ustinov, Bath
01225 448844 www.theatreroyal.org.uk

4 Feb at 8pm Jackson¹s Lane, London
020 8341 4421 www.jacksonslane.org.uk

5 Feb at 7.30pm Pontardawe Arts Centre
01792 863722 www.pontardaweartscentre.com

6 Feb at 7.30pm Borough Theatre, Abergavenny
01873 850805 www.boroughtheatreabergavenny.co.uk

7-8 Feb at 8pm Unity Theatre, Liverpool
0151 709 4988 www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk

12 Feb at 7.30pm Barnsley Civic
01226 327000 www.barnsleycivic.co.uk

13 Feb at 7.45pm HarroGate Theatre
01423 502 116 www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk

14 Feb at 7.30pm Uppingham Theatre
01572 820 820 www.upthearts.co.uk

15 Feb at 7.30pm Quay Arts, Isle of Wight
01983 822 490 www.quayarts.org

21-22 Feb at 7.30pm Live Theatre, Newcastle
0191 232 1232 www.live.org.uk

24 Feb at 7.30pm New Vic, Stoke
01782 717 962 www.newvictheatre.org.uk

25 Feb at 7.45pm Stahl Theatre, Oundle
01832 273 930 www.oundleschool.org.uk/arts/theatre

27 Feb at 7.30pm Richard Burton Theatre, RWCMD, Cardiff
029 2039 1391 www.rwcmd.ac.uk/whats_on/theatre.aspx

28 Feb at 7.30pm Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven
01946 692 422 www.rosehilltheatre.co.uk

March
1 Mar at 8pm Brewery Theatre, Kendal
01539 725 133 www.breweryarts.co.uk

4-5 & 7-8 Mar at 9.30pm and 9 Mar at 7.30pm
Soho Theatre, London
020 7478 0100 www.sohotheatre.com

11-12 Mar at 7.30pm Mumford Theatre, Cambridge
01223 352932 www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/microsites/mumford_theatre.html

13 Mar at 8pm Severn Theatre, Shrewsbury
01743 281 281 www.theatresevern.co.uk

15 Mar at 8pm Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
01723 370 541 www.sjt.uk.com

18-20 Mar at 8pm The Lowry, Salford
0843 208 6000 www.thelowry.com