Elysion Productions Present THE RISE AND DEMISE OF KENNETH KENNEDY-SMYTHE, Now thru June 22

Award winning play The Rise and Demise of Kenneth Kennedy-Smythe makes a welcome return after seven years to celebrate ten years of Studio Salford. The intriguing dark comedy by established writer Mike Heath will be showing at Kings Arms, Salford and Lantern Theatre, Liverpool from today 19 June until 22 June.

A darkly comic political satire about two characters who have to make serious choices, exploring the power of the media during times of war.

The Americans have struck France with no apparent motive. Kenneth, who was correspondent for the BBC, finds himself publicly disgraced and silenced after expressing personal disgust at the actions of the attackers. Kenneth's girlfriend, Jennifer Talia, royal correspondent for the BBC and ceaseless social climber, finds herself caught up in a propaganda trap after being given a position of media power. Her task - to detract the media away from the war...

The excellently written script focuses on the relationship between the characters who are brought to life by a talented cast of local actors; Darren John Langford and CalyTarett.

Produced by Elysion Productions in association with Studio Salford, and directed by Mike Heath, The Rise and Demise of Kenneth Kennedy-Smythe won Best New Writing and Best Director at Studio Salford in 2006.

Mike Heath has worked in fringe theatre since 2003, with work appearing at Studio Salford, 24:7 Theatre Festival, The Buxton Fringe, Re:Play @ The Library Theatre, The Lowry, Liverpool Everyman, Robert Powell Theatre (Salford), The Drill Hall (London)as well as many fringe venues in Manchester, such as Taurus and Joshua Brooks. Mike is half of Manchester Evening News award winning Mediamedea, along with Cathy Crabb, an in-house company at Studio Salford.

This is Elysion Productions' first theatre production following the success of their national tour of Dev's Army which won Best New Writing at Buxton Fringe Festival 2011 as well as receiving a nomination for Best Production and Richard Sails for Best Actor in 2011 and 2012.

It also achieved the Forever Manchester Award at the Not Part Of Festival and reviews described it as; "This play is absolutely, utterly amazing and you really don't need to know your stuff to be lured into its intense charm. If you don't think this is for you, you're wrong" Nikki Beaumont, Large Manchester.

The Rise and Demise of Kenneth Kennedy-Smythe will be playing at Kings Arms, Salford from Wednesday 19 June until Thursday 20 June. Tickets costing £7 and £5 are available from www.elysionproduction.co.uk and www.ticketweb.co.uk It will also be playing at Lantern Theatre from Friday 21 June until Saturday 22 June. Tickets costing £8 and £6 are available from www.elysionproductions.co.uk and www.thelanterntheatre.co.uk

BIOS

Darren John Langford - Kenneth Kennedy-Smythe: Darren trained at The Arden School of Theatre and started his professional career in 2005 as co-producer, writer and actor in One bird, two stones, which premiered at that years 24:7 Theatre festival. He has gone on to become co-artistic director of both Men in dressing gowns Ltd and Page-2-Stage Productions.

Theatre Credits - Pack Up Your Troubles (Musical)- Morphic, The Royal Northern College of Music, Macbeth - Troop, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Robin Hood - Page-2-Stage Productions, Dock's Law - CRIS - The Lowry Theatre, Mother Goose, Sinbad, Cinderella - Pendle Productions, Burnt, Thrasher, Prince Of The Morning, After The Blood Rush - Conor Mckee Productions, Les Hommes Dans Robes De Chambre - Men in dressing gowns Ltd, The Merchant of Venice - Poor Tom Theatre Company, Summerlands - Sasquatch Theatre Company, A Suitable Match, A Right Royal Rebel - Dunham Massey, Candlesticks - The Royal Northern College of Music, Exceeding Expectations - Hope Theatre Company, One Bird Two Stones - Midas Touch Theatre Company.

Film - RED, Speed Dating, Crash, Straws, Daggers - Rob Harris Films, Heaven On Earth - BMF Films, Flight, Guards Red Carerra (Lockah, Music Video) - Antony Barkworth-Knight Films, Applicant - Maggie Ford Films, Murdered - 786 Productions.

TV - Hollyoaks 2008 - 2010, Lime Pictures, Witch Trinity - 2b Acting.

Radio - Ted, Houdini The Hamster - Shortwaves - Conor Mckee Productions, Spooktacular - BBC Radio Lancashire, Silver Street - BBC Radio Birmingham.

Carly Tarett - Jennifer Talia: Carly has toured her two solo shows 'Princess Dee' and 'Sinful: 7 Shorts for 7 Deadly Sins' to Canada, the West End, and the Edinburgh fringe festival. In addition 'Princess Dee' was performed this year by an ensemble cast as part of Wordsmith, the Oldham Coliseum's new writing festival. Carly trained at the Oxford School of Drama, and is a member of Comedysportz Manchester improvisation troupe. This is her debut directing work other than her own.

Gayle Hare - Producer: Studied Arts, Music and Entertainment Management at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Gayle is also Volunteer Coordinator and Front of House Manager for 24/7 Theatre Festival and Front of House Coordinator and Treasurer for Studio Salford.

As producer and/or production manager Gayle has been involved with various professional and fringe theatre productions at The Lowry, New Wimbledon Theatre, The Unity, Stephen Joseph Theatre, LIPA, Citadel Theatre, Stamford Arts Centre, Key Theatre, Everyman Theatre, The Casa, and Taurus Bar; she has also successfully produced shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Buxton Fringe Festival, Preston Tringe Festival, National Student Drama Festival, Write Now Festival, and Not Part Of Festival. Gayle also directs theatre productions and has also worked in film producing feature and short films.

Gayle's production (as director/producer) of Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell for Organised Chaos Productions won the Studio Salford BIFTA awards for Best Production and Best Set Design in November of last year (the show was also nominated for Best Male Actor, Best Female Actor, Best Direction, and Best Lighting Design).

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