THE PITCHFORK DISNEY and SHIVERED To Play At Southwark Playhouse

Award-winning playwright, screenwriter and artist Philip Ridley will be celebrated in Spring 2012 with a 21st anniversary revival of his electrifying debut play The Pitchfork Disney, and the world premiere of his new play Shivered.

Produced by Danielle Tarento, The Pitchfork Disney is a searing, disturbing vision of fear, sexuality and the effects of random violence. First performed at the Bush Theatre in 1991, it was received as evidence of a new and hugely talented voice in British theatre and has come to be seen as the play that kick started the 'in-yer-face' writing revolution. Now regarded as a contemporary classic, it is performed and studied internationally, and has influenced countless writers. The production will be directed by Edward Dick, who directed the critically-acclaimed revival of Ridley's The Fastest Clock in the Universe at Hampstead Theatre in 2009

Ridley's new play, Shivered, following hot on the heels of the success of Tender Napalm, is produced by Aron Rollin and Caitlin Albery Beavan for Moya Productions. The play follows the story of two families as they grapple with war, love, grief, a derelict car plant...and mysterious lights in the sky. Shivered will be directed by Russell Bolam.

Following his debut in 1991, Philip Ridley established himself as one of the leading figures in British theatre. His work is stated as an inspiration by a whole generation of writers, directors and actors. Alongside his other work across several different art forms, his plays have continued to shock, challenge and exhilarate audiences ever since.

Philip Ridley was born in the East End of London where he still lives and works. He studied painting at St Martin's School of Art and his work has been exhibited widely throughout Europe and Japan. As well as three books for adults - and the highly acclaimed screenplay for the The Krays feature film (winner of The Evening Standard Best Film of the Year Award) - he has written eight adult stage plays: The Pitchfork Disney, the multi-award-winning The Fastest Clock in the Universe, Ghost from a Perfect Place, Vincent River, the highly controversial Mercury Fur, Leaves of Glass, Piranha Heights and, most recently, the hugely successful Tender Napalm (nominated for the London Fringe Best Play Award), plus several plays for young people: Karamazoo, Fairytaleheart, Moonfleece, Sparkleshark and Brokenville. He has also written many books for children, including Scribbleboy (shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal), Kasper in the Glitter (nominated for the Whitbread Prize), Mighty Fizz Chilla (shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award), ZinderZunder, Vinegar Street, Zips'Apollo and the bestseller Krindlekrax (winner of both the Smarties Prize and WH Smith's Mind-Boggling Books Award), the stage play of which - adapted by Philip himself - was premiered at the Birmingham Rep Theatre in the summer of 2002. He has also directed three feature films from his own screenplays: The Reflecting Skin (winner of eleven international awards including the prestigious George Sadoul Prize),The Passion of Darkly Noon (winner of the Best Director Prize at the Porto Film Festival) and, most recently, Heartless (winner of The Silver Meliers Award for Best Fantasy Film), starring Jim Sturgess and Noel Clarke. Philip has won both the Evening Standard's Most Promising Newcomer to British Film and Most Promising Playwright Awards; the only person ever to receive both prizes.

Edward Dick trained as an assistant director with Cheek by Jowl. Theatre directing credits include Philip Ridley's The Fastest Clock in the Universe (Hampstead Theatre); Twelfth Night (Regents Park); A Midsummer Night's Dream (Sydney Theatre Company); Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare's Globe); Much Ado About Nothing (Singapore); Our Country's Good (Liverpool Playhouse); Fewer Emergencies (National Theatre, Prague); 'Tis Pity She's A Whore (Southwark Playhouse) and The Age of Consent (Bush Theatre and Edinburgh Fringe). Opera credits include the world premiere of Tarik O' Regan's Heart of Darkness (Royal Opera House); The Rape of Lucretia (Aldeburgh) and The Turn of the Screw (King's Head).

Russell Bolam's theatre credits include The Road to Mecca (Arcola Theatre), The Roman Bath (Arcola Theatre) Captain Oates' Left Sock (Finborough) Three More Sleepless Nights (Tristan Bates Theatre), Fourplay (Tristan Bates Theatre), Fairytaleheart (Old Red Lion) and The Physicists (Aphra Studio). He is currently developing a new site-specific play called The Embassy at The National Theatre Studio.

The Pitchfork Disney
By Philip Ridley
Arcola Theatre
25th Jan - 17th Mar 2012
Box office 020 7503 1646 www.arcolatheatre.com

Shivered
By Philip Ridley
Main House, Southwark Playhouse
7th Mar - 14th Apr 2012
Box office 020 7407 0234 www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

 

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