Southwark Playhouse Opens FEATHERS IN THE SNOW Tonight

The world premiere of Philip Ridley's new play- Feathers in the Snow, directed by David Mercatali (Southwark Playhouse Associate Director) opens at the Main House, Southwark Playhouse for a five-week run tonight, Friday, 7 December.

Beneath a sky full of stars a decision is made. This decision sets off an astonishing chain of events. And a journey involving a talking leopard, a greedy King, a magical bird, a tidal wave, a Sea Witch, a lost soldier, a devious dolphin, a war - and a trail of feathers in the snow…

This family show by acclaimed playwright and children's author Philip Ridley is an epic story of magic and migration. Covering over five hundred years - and with a huge cast - it explores how stories give meaning to random events and our constant need to find somewhere we call 'home'. It will be the final production at Southwark Playhouse's current venue beneath the arches of London Bridge Station before the theatre temporarily relocates to new premises. More details on the new venue will be announced in October.

Feathers in the Snow reunites director David Mercatali with playwright Philip Ridley, following their collaboration in 2011 on Tender Napalm which was named one of the Guardian, Observer and Time Out's best shows of 2011. It went on to tour the UK before returning to Southwark Playhouse for a limited run earlier this year.

Playwright Philip Ridley is a Time Out and Evening Standard Award-winning writer who has enjoyed international acclaim for plays including The Fastest Clock in the Universe, The Pitchfork Disney and Mercury Fur. He has written several highly successful plays for young people including Sparkleshark and Moonfleece and many best-selling children's books including the Smarties Prize and WH Smith Award-winner KrindleKrax and Carnigie Medal nominee Scribbleboy.

Director David Mercatali is Associate Director at Southwark Playhouse. For his work on Philip Ridley's 2011 world premiere, Tender Napalm, at Southwark Playhouse, he was longlisted for the Evening Standard Best Newcomer Award and the OffWestEnd.Com 'Offie' Award for Best Director. In 2012 he also directed the UK Tour of Tender Napalm. Previous work includes Someone to Blame (King's Head Theatre), the world premiere of Philip Ridley's Moonfleece (Riverside Studios and tour), Weights and his own play The Sound (Blue Elephant Theatre), Runners: The Return (Edinburgh Festival) and People's Day (Pleasance London). He was Assistant Director on The Eleventh Capital (Royal Court Theatre) and has developed new work at Southwark Playhouse, Paines Plough and Theatre 503.