Sheffield Theatres' Sarah Kane Season Kicks Off Today with BLASTED

Artistic Director Daniel Evans presents Sheffield's Sarah Kane Season. Richard Wilson will direct Jessica Barden (Cate), Martin Marquez (Ian) and Mark Stanley (Soldier) in the twentieth anniversary production of Blasted; and Charlotte Gwinner will direct Rakie Ayola (M), Pearl Chanda (C), Christopher Fulford (A), Tom Mothersdale (B) in Crave and 4.48 Psychosis, with Fulford appearing in Crave only.

Continuing the tradition of producing whole seasons dedicated to the work of one writer, Sheffield Theatres is proud to present three plays by Sarah Kane - Blasted, Crave and 4.48 Psychosis. These full productions will be accompanied by two semi-staged readings of Phaedra's Love and Cleansed - both directed by Daniel Evans, and a screening of her film, Skin.

Sarah Kane (1971-1999) was Writer in Residence at Paines Plough and Literary Associate at the Bush Theatre. Her complete works will be staged within this season.

Daniel Evans: I had the great privilege of knowing Sarah Kane. I got to act in two world premières of her plays. In fact, I actually got to act alongside her when she stepped in at the last moment to take over from the leading lady, who had injured her spine late on in the run. I remember how 'real' Sarah's acting was. She made our acting look fake and theatrical.

Looking back at her brief career fifteen years after her death, I realise that her acting was characteristic of what I remember most about her as a person and as a writer. She was a truth seeker. She believed passionately that there wasn't anything that couldn't be represented in the theatre, however beautiful or cruel. If something existed, then it could (and should) be portrayed and discussed. She is undoubtedly one of the most courageous people I've known and I'm delighted to be presenting a season of her work here in Sheffield.

In her own way, Sarah Kane's writing changed the face of British Theatre. Much has been said and written about her death, but it's important to say that Sarah had a wonderful, dark sense of humour - and a huge heart. Her plays are full of tenderness and a yearning for love. During our season, there'll be an opportunity to see her complete works - in full productions, in semi-staged readings and also on film.

Tickets for The Sarah Kane Season are on sale now from Sheffield Theatres' Box Office, from £12.00 with a Season Ticket Deal available. To book, or for more information, call 0114 249 6000 or visit sheffieldtheatres.co.uk. A transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office (excl. cash).

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SHEFFIELD THEATRES' SARAH KANE SEASON:

STUDIO

Blasted

By Sarah Kane

TODAY 4 thru 21 February

Press night: 10 February 7.45pm

Cast: Jessica Barden (Cate), Martin Marquez (Ian), Mark Stanley (Soldier)

Director: Richard Wilson; Designer: James Cotterill

Lighting Designer: Paul Keogan; Composer: Olly Fox

Leeds. An expensive hotel room. A middle-aged man attempts to seduce a young woman. Suddenly, there is a knock on the door and their world turns upside down. What happens next pushes us beyond the edge of our darkest imaginings, smashes through our comfortable reality and demands that we question our own morality and humanity. First performed twenty years ago, Blasted's power remains.

Jessica Barden plays Cate. For theatre her work includes Armstrong's War (Finborough Theatre), and Jerusalem (Royal Court). For television, her credits include Murder: 3, The Outcast, Coming Up Chickens, Vera and No Angels; and for film, The Lobster, Far From the Madding Crowd, Mindscape, Lullaby, Hanna, Tamara Drewe and Mrs Ratcliffe's Revolution.

Martin Marquez plays Ian. His theatre work includes The Crucible (West Yorkshire Playhouse), From Here to Eternity (Shaftesbury Theatre), Abigail's Party (Menier Chocolate Factory), Mother Courage and Her Children, Anything Goes, Love's Labour's Lost (National Theatre), Identical Twins, Cleansed (Royal Court), Front Page and Fool for Love (Donmar Warehouse). For television, his credits include Vera, The Job Lot, Knifeman, Benidorm, Twenty Twelve, Hotel Babylon, Lead Balloon and Elizabeth; and for film, LES MISERABLES and The Business.

Mark Stanley plays the Soldier. His theatre work includes Coriolanus (Donmar Warehouse), 'Tis Pity She's a Whore (West Yorkshire Playhouse), and Events Whilst Guarding the Bofors Gun (Finborough Theatre). For television, his work includes Game of Thrones and Air Aces; and for film, Star Wars: Episode VII, Kajaki, Our Kind of Traitor and Mr Turner.

Associate Director of Sheffield Theatres, Richard Wilson, directs. For the company, his work includes Love Your Soldiers, Lungs (as part of Roundabout - co-production with Paines Plough),That Face and The Pride. He recently made his Sheffield Theatres acting debut with Krapp's Last Tape. A multi award-winning actor, his many other directing credits include extensive work for the Royal Court, including Rainbow Kiss, The Woman Before, Under the Whaleback, A Day in the Dull Armour/Grafitti, Where Do We Live, Nightingale and Chase, I Just Stopped By to See the Man and Mr Kolpert. His other credits include East Coast Chicken Supper (Traverse Theatre), Primo (National Theatre/South Africa/Hampstead and Broadway), Playing the Victim (Sheffield Theatres/Traverse/Royal Court/tour), as well as work for the West End, Chichester, Manchester Royal Exchange, Lyric Hammersmith and the Bush.

Age guidance 15+. The play contains strong language and scenes of a sexual and violent nature.

STUDIO

Crave

By Sarah Kane

6 - 21 March

Press performance: 12 March at 2.15pm

Cast: Rakie Ayola (M), Pearl Chanda (C), Christopher Fulford (A), Tom Mothersdale (B)

Director: Charlotte Gwinner; Designer: Signe Beckmann; Associate Designer: Emma Bailey

Lighting Designer: Hartley T A Kemp; Sound Designer: Christopher Shutt

In an unknown city, four unnamed voices begin a poetic ode to love. A one act epic, Crave mines the darkest depths of desire and what it means to love and be loved. Evocative and lyrical, Crave plunges the darkest depths of love's all encompassing power over the individual.

STUDIO

4.48 Psychosis

By Sarah Kane

7 - 21 March

Press night: 12 March at 7.45pm

Cast: Rakie Ayola (M), Pearl Chanda (C), Tom Mothersdale (B)

Director: Charlotte Gwinner; Designer: Signe Beckmann; Associate Designer: Emma Bailey

Lighting Designer: Hartley T A Kemp; Sound Designer: Christopher Shutt

A portrait of a mind in acute despair, where fragments of pain and anger are interspersed with shafts of piercing humour. 4.48 Psychosis is a kaleidoscopic meditation on the unbearable intensity of life.

Rakie Ayola plays M. Her theatre work includes The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Welcome to Thebes (National Theatre), The Winter's Tale (RSC), In the Next Room (Theatre Royal Bath), Sixty-Six Books (Bush Theatre), Twelfth Night (Bristol Old Vic), and Dido Queen of Carthage (Shakespeare's Globe). For television her credits include Code of a Killer, Under Milk Wood, Black Mirror, Doctor Who, Sea of Souls, The Canterbury Tales, Holby City, Maisie Raine, Soldier Soldier and Night Shift; and for film, Now is Good, Judge Dredd, Sahara, The I Inside and Great Moments in Aviation.

Pearl Chanda plays C. For theatre, her work includes Two Gentlemen of Verona (RSC), Godchild (Hampstead Theatre) and The Seagull (Headlong). For television, her work includes Arthur and George; and for film, The Final Haunting and Mr Turner.

Christopher Fulford plays A - in Crave. His theatre work includes The Crucible (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre), The Indian Boy (RSC), Nightingale and Chase, The Kitchen (Royal Court), and Four Nights in Knaresborough (Tricycle Theatre). His television work includes Law and Order, The Musketeers, Pram Face, By Any Means, The Guilty, Twenty Twelve, The Appropriate Adult, Him and Her, Collision, Whitechapel, The Brief, Tom Jones, Moll Flanders, The Sculptress, Prime Suspect and Cracker; and for film, Queen of the Desert, Eliza Graves, Tower Block, Pelican Blood, Scoop, Pierrepoint, Immortal Beloved, Resurrected and A Prayer for the Dying.

Tom Mothersdale plays B. For theatre, his work includes The Cherry Orchard (Young Vic), In Lambeth (Southwark Playhouse), Missing Dates (Hampstead Theatre), King Lear (Chichester Festival Theatre and BAM), Thursday (Adelaide Festival), and Boys and Romeo and Juliet (Headlong). For television, his credits include Peaky Blinders and Eden.

Associate Director of Sheffield Theatres, Charlotte Gwinner directs. Previously for the company she directed Benefactors as part of the Michael Frayn Season. She was 2013 recipient of The Quercus Award, working as Associate Director at Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, where she directed A View from the Bridge. Her other theatre work includes The Distance (Orange Tree Theatre), Our New Girl, The Knowledge, 50 Ways to Leave your Lover and Little Dolls (Bush Theatre), The Uncertainty Files (Paines Plough), Knives and Hens (Bath Theatre Royal), The Confederate (Trafalgar Studios), Men Should Weep (Oxford Stage Company/The Citizens Theatre), Riders to The Sea, The Shadow of the Glen, The Tinker's Wedding and Everything Must Go (Southwark Playhouse), The Blood of Others (Arcola),The Conservatory (Old Red Lion) and The Country of The Blind (Gate). Gwinner is also the Founder and Artistic Director of ANGLE, and previously Associate Director at the Bush and was Director on Attachment at The National Theatre Studio.

The Crucible Lyceum Studio is located at 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA. Box Office 0114 249 6000 - Mon - Sat 10.00am to 8.00pm. On non-performance days the Box Office closes at 6.00pm. A transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office (excl. cash). For tickets and more information, visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.