Cast Announced for CRY HAVOC at Park Theatre

Casting has been announced for the European premiere of Cry Havoc by Tom Coash, starring Marc Antolin (West End, National Theatre, RSC, Young Vic) and James El-Sharawy (Clywd Theatr Cymru, Southwark Playhouse). With a press night at Park Theatre on 29 March, 7pm, this unconventional love story between Briton and Egyptian explores the repression that the LGBTQ+ community still faces in wider international cultures.

"Love is a search for faith. Love is passion. Putting your hand in the fire in believing. What would you do for love?"

Set in present-day Cairo, Cry Havoc is a passionate love story between between two men who are worlds apart. In times of turmoil, Mohammed questions his responsibility towards society when he contemplates leaving Egypt for a life in the UK with his partner, Nicholas. Soon he finds himself torn between life-changing choices. Should he leave Egypt in order to embrace his sexuality? Or should he defend his home and become the Egyptian he is expected to be, rather than a foreigner in a country he knows nothing about?

Mohammed and Nicholas are forced to confront their identities, traditions, and a repressive government in what becomes a gripping battle between love and faith.

Tom Coash's poignant, intimate play explores the relationship between the Western world and the Islamic Middle East through the eyes of two people asking if love can bridge even the widest cultural divide.

American playwright Tom Coash spent four years teaching playwriting in Cairo and brings a true authenticity to this play. His plays have been performed in the United States, South Africa and the UK among other countries, and have won numerous awards including the American Theatre Critics Association's 'M. Elizabeth Osborn Award', the Clauder Competition for New England Playwrights, and Edgerton Foundation National New Play Award.

Director Pamela Schermann's recent productions include Raving (Crescent Theatre, Birmingham), Othello (Rose Playhouse, London, and NYC), Lady Windermere's Fan (UK/Ireland Tour) and the Off West End - Finalist BEST OPERA PRODUCTION Mozart & Salieri (Arcola Theatre and UK/Denmark Tour).

Marc Antolin, who recently starred as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors at Regents Park Open Air Theatre and as Marc Chagall in Kneehigh/Bristol Old Vic's production The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, plays Nicholas Field. His further credits include The Trial (Young Vic), Taken at Midnight (Theatre Royal Haymarket/Chichester Festival Theatre), Peter Pan (National Theatre), Twelfth Night (The Globe) and Matilda (RSC/Cambridge Theatre).

The role of Mohammed El-Masri will be played by James El-Sharawy, whose credits include The Fifth Column and The Cutting of the Cloth (Southwark Playhouse), Walaa (New Diorama) and Scattered (Clywd Theatr Cymru/Good Chance Theatre, Calais).

Karren Winchester, who appeared in Les Blancs and Children of the Sun (National Theatre) and The Madness of George III (Peter Hall Company, UK Tour and West End), will join the cast as Mrs Nevers.

Set and costume design by Emily Bestow, lighting design by Petr Vocka and sound design by Julian Starr.

www.parktheatre.co.uk