Strong casts announced for next three Sound Stage Productions

Pitlochry Festival Theatre and The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in association with Naked Productions have announced three more strong casts for their forthcoming Sound Stage plays.

Sound Stage will premiere Tennis Elbow, the new comedy from playwright and artist John Byrne, the creator of the BAFTA award-winning BBC television series Tutti Frutti, and the critically acclaimed plays The Slab Boys Trilogy. The new play, running from 30^th April – 2^nd May, will be Byrne’s first for 13 years, and is the follow up to his acclaimed 1977 debut play Writer’s Cramp.

It’s a bittersweet comedy about the life and work of a mischievous lost artist trying to make her way in the world.

Directed by Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman, Tennis Elbow’s exciting cast will feature Deadwater Fell’s Maureen Beattie, Brian Ferguson, Jessica Hardwick, Corrie’s Cherylee Houston, Dr Who’s Louise Jameson, Anne Odeke, Sally Reid, Kirsty Stuart.

They are joined by All Creatures Great and Small’s Samuel West and Fiona Wood.

“I’m very proud of the entire company,” says John Byrne. “It has some fantastic cameo roles from great actors like Sam, as well as an opportunity for me to work with actors like Brian and Louise who I’ve admired for some time.

“What’s also wonderful is the process is introducing me to new actors like Anne and Cherylee, whilst giving me the opportunity to work with people again like Sally and Jessica. It’s a real privilege to have such talent involved and I hope the audience enjoy our work.”

Caitlin Skinner will direct the premiere of Jaimini Jethwa’s Hindu Times, from 28^th– 30^th May, which tells the story of Hindu deities Vishnu and Brahma as they land in Dundee to restore earth, reunite with Lakshmi, and bring back love, but end up getting right on it. 

The cast will feature Rehanna McDonald, Adam McNamara and Daniel Portman from Game of Thrones.

“I’m excited to showcase Hindu Times, which gives commentary and coincides with events in the world today, bringing the deities to Dundee, in the avatars of Dundee guys affectionately known as ‘minks’, Vishnu aka Vince and Brahma aka Barry, who come to save earth, bring balance, restore essence, spread divinity, and get Vishnu’s chick back, Lakshmi, who’s on her own mission, trapped inside a Dundee lassie Lakhi,” says Jaimini Jethwa,

In June, Isobel McArthur will direct The Mother Load by Lynda Radley.  Three first-time mothers confront their expectations of pregnancy and parenthood in this funny and moving play about unlikely friendship and the messy realities of all our lives.

Premiering from 25^th – 27^th June, the cast will feature Nalini Chetty, Anna Russell-Martin, Wendy Seager and Rosalind Sydney.

Sound Stage is a new audio digital theatre which will premiere eight new audio plays one each month starting in March 2021. The Sound Stage plays are:

Angela by Mark Ravenhill – 26^th March to 28^th March 2021

Tennis Elbow by John Byrne – 30^th April to 2^nd May 2021

Hindu Times by Jaimini Jethwa – 28^th May to 30^th May 2021

The Mother Load by Lynda Radley – 25^th June to 27^th June 2021

Black Diamonds and the Blue Brazil by Gary McNair – 23^rd July to 25^th July 2021

Sophia by Frances Poet – 27^th August to 29^th August 2021

A New Play (Title TBC) by Timberlake Wertenbaker – 24^th September to 26^th September 2021

A New Play (Title TBC) by Roy Williams – 29^th October to 31^st October 2021

Every Sound Stage performance will be accompanied by a post-show event, hosted on Sound Stage, inviting audiences to engage further with these exciting new plays.

Further announcements for the second half of the Sound Stage opening season will be made in the coming months.

Tickets for Sound Stage productions are currently on sale and can be purchased through Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh websites priced from £10 per play across the season.

www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com and www.lyceum.org.uk