10.05.2018
In the run-up to the first of our exciting new plays in May – This Is by award-winning playwright Roy Williams – we asked some of the cast members to give us their thoughts. There's a real buzz around ArtsEd as the world premiere opens on Tuesday 15 May – so grab your tickets now!
Here's the story…
London, 1997-2017. Kelle is smart but she’s fighting the odds. Growing up in a family she doesn’t like and a world that doesn’t expect much of her, everything shifts when her brother is sent to prison. Kelle’s drive to clear his name takes her down a road that she didn’t expect to be on.
This Is charts the ever-changing connections in Kelle’s life as she navigates her way through the upheavals of Britain at the turn of the 21st century.
And here's the cast reactions…
Cash Holland (Kelle) {image1}
What excites you most about This Is?
The plays deals with how people change and how a sibling relationship can develop. Relationships can change drastically in just one moment. It also shows such a wide variety of people from different backgrounds in all different jobs and roles across society, I think that’s really good.
Describe your character Kelle in three words:
Driven / Defiant / Courageous
What does Britishness mean to you?
A cup of tea! It always brings people together. And community.
What do you hope the audience will leave with?
I hope they will have felt Kelle’s passion and connected with the story of her life. I hope people go away thinking about some of the issues that are tackled.
Katie Labey (Zoe/Armed Officer) {image2}
What excites you most about this play?
I think we're already in the making of a great story but the most exciting element for me is that no one will have seen it before, that's the joy of working with new writing.
Describe your character in three words:
Invasive, inquisitive and involved
This Is tackles the subject of Britishness – what does being British mean to you?
To me, being British applies to anyone in the United Kingdom. It's slightly different for me as, being from the Channel Islands, it's a word that simply ties me to the mainland.
What do you want the audience to leave with?
An awareness of our country's history and how much has changed, as well as things that haven't changed enough.
Harry Hancock (Dennis/Patrick) {image3}
What excites you most about this play?
A look back at the past 20 years; the formative years of all of the cast. The play spans from 1997-2017 and pinpoints key moments in the lives of Londoners across these decades. It has made me reminisce and reminded me of the faux pas of humanity, how quick we are to forget the atrocities of our recent history.
Describe your character in three words:
Big Wet Blanket
This Is tackles the subject of Britishness – what does being British mean to you?
Being British for me is about being a Londoner, I was born and raised in this city and love every aspect of it. The hub and versatility of life is infectious and I cant imagine myself anywhere else.
What do you want the audience to leave with?
The play takes you through Kelle’s life and formative years, our biggest goal is for the audience to feel like they know Kelle intimately. Every character aids you to better understand and appreciate her story. And hopefully through her struggles, you can relate to her story in some way.
Alice Cottyn (Beth/Pippa) {image4}
What excites you most about this play?
What I find most exciting about the play is that each character is fighting their own battle on a very human level. Each of us wants something, whether that's to simply fit in, have a loving family and home or just be loved.
Describe your character in three words.
Independent, Broken and Capable
This Is tackles the subject of Britishness – what does being British mean to you?
Britishness to me resembles the United Kingdom. I'm proud to be British but I identify as English and even more than that I have such pride in my Northern roots.
What do you want the audience to leave with?
I want the audience to leave with a sense of togetherness, an awareness of different cultures and an openness to and understanding of the relationships and choices that people choose and make.
Break a leg to all This Is cast members!
15-19 May, 7.30pm, The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Theatre. More info and booking here