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Matthew Kelly stars in world premiere of To Sir, With Love at the New Theatre |
Touring Consortium Theatre Company and Royal and Derngate Northampton present a brand new production of E R Braithwaite’s To Sir, With Love. Starring Matthew Kelly and Ansu Khabia, this world premiere production adapted by acclaimed author Ayub Khan Din (East is East) and directed by Mark Babych will visit the New Theatre, Cardiff from Tuesday 1 – Saturday 5 October. Based on E R Braithwaite’s autobiography, To Sir, With Love is the story of Ricky Braithwaite, an ex-RAF fighter pilot and Cambridge graduate who arrives in London in 1948. Despite his first class degree in electronic engineering, he is turned down for job after job in his chosen profession and discovers the reality of life as a black man in post-war England. Taking the only job he can get, Ricky begins his first teaching post in a tough East End school. Supported by an enlightened headmaster, the determined teacher turns teenage rebelliousness into self respect, contempt into consideration and hate into love - and on the way, Ricky himself learns that he has more in common with his students than he had realised. Made into a major film in 1967 starring Sidney Poitier and featuring a song made famous by Lulu, this new stage adaptation is peppered with the songs and dance of the late 40's; a time of austerity like our own where love, inspiration and hope win through against all the odds. Matthew Kelly will play the role of inspirational Headmaster Florian. One of the UK’s best-loved actors and winner of an Olivier Award for the Touring Consortium Theatre Company production of Of Mice and Men, Kelly has been widely acclaimed for his range of performances across TV and stage, cementing his reputation as one of our most versatile and popular actors. His TV credits include Cold Blood and Benidorm with recent stage roles ranging from Willy Russell’s Educating Rita, to the musicals Spamalot, Lend Me A Tenor and Legally Blonde in the West End, and dramas Troilus and Cressida at the Globe and Waiting For Godot with Ian McKellen. Matthew is also Chief Patron of Touring Consortium Theatre Company and is delighted to be part of the company’s ground-breaking 3 year plan. He will be joined by RSC actor Ansu Khabia, who will play the part of Ricky. In addition to his RSC credits Ansu’s other work includes The Wedding Dance (NITRO); The Great Theatre of the World (Arcola Theatre); Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Much Ado about Nothing (Library Theatre, Manchester) and Mephisto, The Duchess of Malfi, The Liar, The London Project, Romeo and Juliet, El Cid (Drama Centre, London). Ayub Khan Din made his debut as an actor in the 1985 film My Beautiful Launderette. He started his career as a writer in the late 1990’s with the semi autobiographical play East is East, which he then adapted as an award winning and BAFTA nominated screenplay. This was followed by Rafta, Rafta at the National Theatre and West is West, the follow-up film to East is East. To Sir, With Love is at the New Theatre from Tuesday 1 – Saturday 5 October. Tickets are on sale now with prices from £8.50 to £26.00. For further details about the show or to book tickets* visit www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk or call the Box Office on (029) 2087 8889. All tickets subject to a 50p Seating Improvement Contribution and online sales carry a small additional transaction charge To Sir, With Love New Theatre, Cardiff Tuesday 1 – Saturday 5 October Evenings 7.30pm; Thurs & Sat Matinees 2.30pm Tickets: £8.50 - £26.00 Box Office: 029 2087 8889 Book Online: www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk |
| New Theatre Cardiff web site: www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk |
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Monday, September 2, 2013 |
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