Maxine Peake to Lead UK's HOW TO HOLD YOUR BREATH; Production Details Announced Soon

Maxine Peake will return to The Royal Court to appear in Zinnie Harris' How to Hold Your Breath, with full casting to be announced soon. The production, written by Zinnie Harris, will be directed by the Royal Court's Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone, premiering on 4 February at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs.

Maxine Peake is known for her varied career in film, on stage and more recently as a playwright. Well known for her roles in BAFTA nominated TV dramas such as Silk, The Village, The Street and Shameless, her extensive theatre credits also include Mother Theresa is Dead at The Royal Court, The Cherry Orchard, The Relapse and Luther all at The National Theatre and most recently, a radical re-imagining of William Shakespeare's Hamlet at Manchester Royal Exchange. In 2014 Peake wrote her first radio play Beryl: A Love Story on Two Wheels, which was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and subsequently adapted and produced at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Peake is also appearing in two films in Spring 2015, Hamlet (filmed during its run at the Royal Exchange) and Carol Morley's black comedy The Falling. Her previous film work includes Private Peaceful, Run and Jump, Keeping Rosy and The Theory of Everything.

Starting with a seemingly innocent one night stand, this darkly witty and magical play from Zinnie Harris dives into our recent European history, providing an epic look at the true cost of our principles and how we live now.

The production is directed by Vicky Featherstone, designed by Chloe Lamford, with lighting by Paul Constable, music by Stuart Earl and movement by Ann Yee.

2071
What is happening to our climate? What do we know and how do we know it? What could the future look like?

Ahead of How to Hold Your Breath at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Katie Mitchell (Ten Billion, Lungs, Wastwater, Waves), Duncan MacMillan (Headlong's 1984, Lungs) and Professor Chris Rapley's dynamic collaboration on climate change 2071 returns due to popular demand for three performances. The production's original sell-out run played from 5 - 15 November 2014.

2071 addresses what many feel is the most important issue of our time. It aims to present what science can tell us about our climate - past, present and future - and what options lie before us. The Earth is a hugely complex system, and our knowledge of it contains many gaps, uncertainties and apparent contradictions. A highly emotive issue, climate change needs to be addressed collectively, with mutual respect and humility. Rapley, Macmillan and Mitchell will unwrap this complex and contested issue in a unique piece of theatre.

For further information please contact Maisie Lawrence or Laura Myers at The Corner Shop PR on 020 7831 7657 or email maisie@thecornershoppr.com /laura@thecornershoppr.com