UPPER CUT to Play Southwark Playhouse in 2015

Inspired by true political events, this provocative new work by the Writers' Guild Award winning playwright of At the Gates of Gaza unravels the fight for diversity and representation in contemporary politics, dissecting one of the most controversial issues concerning our parliamentary process today. The performance is staged just months after the Labour Black Network relaunched a campaign for all-black shortlists, which made headlines after it was announced at the party's annual conference in September.

The play follows the story of promising Labour politician Karen, who risks her career and reputation on the eve of a general election in a contentious fight over whether to allow all-black parliamentary short lists. Deselected by her party, and betrayed by two men she loves, Karen embarks on a relentless road to power and political redemption, taking the audience on a journey through today's coalition politics, the hope and rebirth of New Labour and the heart of a troubled party under the might of Thatcher's Tory revolution.

The play stars Andrew Scarborough, best known for his role of Tim Drewe in Downton Abbey. His other TV roles include Magistrate Bassat in Jamaica Inn, Dr Jonathan Ormerod in The Royal Today and Kevin Spiers in Bad Girls. He will be joined by rising stars Emma Dennis-Edwards and Akemnji Ndifornyen.

Director Lotte Wakeham said, ""I've been wanting to work with Juliet ever since I read At the Gates of Gaza. I don't think there's anyone better than her to tackle this compelling drama about race, politics and relationships. I'm particularly excited to be directing it at Southwark Playhouse at the start of an election year."

Juliet Gilkes Romero is a playwright and journalist. Her World War One drama At the Gates of Gaza won Best Play Award at the Writers' Guild of Great Britain in 2009.

Lotte Wakeham is a theatre director, who recently directed Lizzie Siddal at the Arcola Theatre (winner of two Off West End Awards). Other credits include The Kissing-Dance (Jermyn Street Theatre, nomination for Best Director in the Off West End Awards), Rumpelstiltskin for Theatre Royal Bath and Before They Were Famous (BBC Radio 4/ Hat Trick). She is associate director of Matilda for the RSC (West End and Broadway). She trained at the National Theatre Studio and at Oxford University.