THE CALL at the White Bear Theatre Makes Cast and Team Updates

A woman alone in a Samaritan helpline centre takes a call. A voice in the distance. A bomb warning. Or is it a cry for help?

In the aftermath of an attack leaving many innocent victims, unable to cope with the horror and pain, she is interviewed by counter-terrorism. Are they searching for the truth or looking for someone to blame? And what if the answers they get are not those they were looking for?

A woman in search of salvation. A detective in search of the truth. A night neither of them is bound to forget.

Cast Update

Fran - Emma Spearing

Peters - Jason Plessas

Frame - Abe Gibson

Burton - Nicolaus Mackie

Team

Designer - Natalie Jackson

Lighting Designer - Ben Cowens

Sound Designer - Chris Preece

Stage Manager - Max Wilkinson

Steve Gough has worked over a number of years as a scriptwriter and author, producing original dramas for Cinema, TV and radio. He is a two-times winner of BAFTA Wales' Best Film award for his scripts. His films have also won festival awards around the world including a Special Jury Mention at Berlin and a Silver Hugo at Chicago. Recently turning to the theatre, THE CALL is his third play to be premiered on the London fringe.

Originally from Greece, Ria Samartzi trained in Physical Theatre at East 15 Acting School; the Suzuki Method, Viewpoints Technique and theatrical composition with the Siti Company in NYC; and in directing with StoneCrabs Theatre Company. Recent credits include: Conviction (Above the Arts), Lavender Hill Boys (Lion & Unicorn), The House of Cards (Headways Festival, Albany, Deptford), The Brownie Club (Rifco Associates, Watford Palace Studio), Response to John Cage's Manifesto for Music 1954 (Siti Company Studio, NYC). As assistant director: A Secret Life (Theatre 503).

Nicolaus Mackie spent his early life as an actor and filmmaker in India and Australia before returning to the UK to join The National Film and Television School after which he formed Streetwise Film Productions. He then returned to acting in later years as: Menelaus in "Iphegenia"; Phipps "An Ideal Husband"; Major Pollock in "Separate Tables"; Mr Godot in "Godot", (an alternative to "Waiting for Godot") and Croker-Harris in "The Crock" (a sequel to "The Browning Version".

Georgia Harris is an associate of the White Bear Theatre and joins The Call as a producer. Georgia trained in Theatre Direction at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and is Artistic Director of Tripped Theatre Company.

The White Bear is London's only writers theatre, run by writers for writers. It exists to nurture talent, extend possibilities and offer a space where risks can be taken. Those who have cut their teeth at The White Bear include: Joe Penhall, Emily Watson, Tamzin Outhwaite, Kwame Kwei Armah, Vicky Featherstone, Torben Betts, and Lucinda Coxon. The White Bear has also developed and hosted work by a new generation of theatre makers including this year's Verity Bargate winner Vicky Jones, Blanche McIntyre, The Ugly Sisters, and Simon Evans. Former White Bear Associates include Adam Spreadbury-Maher and Box of Tricks Theatre.

We will also offer a platform for emerging theatre-makers to meet and network with other playwrights and practitioners. We dedicate Sunday/Monday night slots to theatre-makers at an early stage in their careers seeking to share their work, as well as more established playwrights' work in progress.

The Call is the second play to open in The White Bear's brand new developed theatre space after a £1.3m redevelopment of the building.

Box Office: www.whitebeartheatre.co.uk. No booking fee for website bookings.

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