Chicken Palace Announces Performances at Theatre Royal Stratford East

Theatre Royal Stratford East is to stage a new site-specific play written by local emerging East London playwright Lynette Linton. Chicken Palace is a fresh, funny and fast-paced one act thriller, which explores perceptions, stereotypes and post-traumatic stress disorder, whilst putting audiences in the middle of the action.

The action takes place on an ordinary night in Singh's Chicken Palace, where taste is queen. A mysterious incident sees customers and staff cowering behind the counter in fear. Can anyone be trusted? Will newly appointed Manager Adesh stop things from spiraling out of control? And will Jamie ever get his box meal number 3?

Chicken Palace is co-directed by Lynette Linton and Marcus Ellard, an associate artist at Theatre Royal Stratford East.

The creative team will be converting a space into a chicken shop, and audience members will sit inside Singh's Chicken Palace as the hour-long show happens around them, and will receive a box of chicken and chips with their ticket (vegetarian option available).

Kerry Michael, artistic director at Theatre Royal Stratford East says: "We've been working with Lynette for some time now and it gives me great pleasure to be able to present her work here. We worked together on Step back in 2013 and it's so exciting to be able to support her in this new piece. Chicken Palace is fun, fresh and full of attitude. It's funny, entertaining and speaks to our younger generation of theatre goers".

Lynette Linton, writer and co-director says: I'm thrilled to be able to bring this play to fruition this summer. We've had incredible support throughout this unforgettable journey, ranging from a successful crowd funding campaign, through to additional support form Theatre Royal Stratford East, Stonecrabs Theatre Company, Unity Theatre Trust and Arts Council England. With that support, I've been able to bring together this piece which is funny, entertaining and thrilling, whilst also using it to challenge perceptions about mob mentality and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder".

Marcus Ellard, co-director of Chicken Palace says: "I'm so excited to be part of this project. I first got involved having been invited to watch a workshop of the piece in 2013. I was hooked from the outset. It's also a real testament to the work, commitment and joy that has been invested by this company of young actors, under Lynette's guidance. The end result is that they've created a world of well-rounded, believable and exciting characters".

Chicken Palace's cast features Maria Louis (People Just Do Nothing, BBC3) as Zofia, Urban Ngendahayo (STEP, Theatre Royal Stratford East) as Stephen, Juliet Okotie (Meet the Adebanjos) as Jade, Ray Sesay (Sons Without Fathers, Arcola Theatre) as Kai, Sarbjot Singh (STEP, Theatre Royal Stratford East) as Adesh, Nicola Taylor (The Kilburn Passion (Tricycle Theatre) as Sophie and Alexander Theo (Screwface, Bush Theatre) as Jamie.

The play runs from 19 - 22 August for 8 performances only

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