Emma Dewhurst joins the company of Merlynn Tong's adaptation of Antigone
Steve Mannix and Tracey Childs today announced that Emma Dewhurst joins the company of the UK première of Antigone by Merlynn Tong
Emma Dewhurst replaces Liz Crowther, who has regretfully had to withdraw from the production due to personal circumstances. The full company, in Dawn Walton’s production, is completed by Francesca Amewudah-Rivers (Ismene), Wendy Kweh (Creon), Joseph Payne (Haemon) and Adeola Yemitan (Antigone). The production opens on 6 October, with previews from 1 October, and runs until 16 October.
A city which belongs to just one man is no true city.
In a war-torn city, two brothers lie dead: one hailed and buried a hero, the other denounced as a traitor, his body to be displayed as a warning to anyone daring to defy the new leader, Creon, who is ruthless in her grip on power.
A grieving, defiant Antigone strikes out against Creon’s brutal regime in a furious act of civil disobedience which will have devastating consequences for them both. The conflict between these fierce, bold women forces them, and those around them, to question their ideas of family and morality, as well as the nature of justice and leadership.
Merlynn Tong credits as a playwright include Good Grief, Ma Ma Ma Mad and Blue Bones – winner of the Matilda Award for Best New Australian Work. As an actor her credits include, White Pearl (Sydney Theatre Company/National Theatre of Parramatta), The Shot (Queensland Theatre), The Lost Lending Library (Punchdrunk/Imaginary Theatre), Viral (Gold Coast Arts Centre) and Straight White Men (La Boite Theatre).
Francesca Amewudah-Rivers plays Ismene. Her theatre credits include Hear Me Now (Theatre503) and Random (Tristan Bates Theatre).
Emma Dewhurst plays Tiresias. Her theatre credits include Rope (Almeida Theatre), Medea (Queen’s Theatre), The Invention of Love (National Theatre), In Flame (Bush Theatre/New Ambassadors Theatre), Dangerous Corner (Royal & Derngate), Fire Eater (Tristan Bates Theatre), Great Expectations (Oxford Stage Company), Smoke (Royal Exchange Theatre), Tess of the D’Urbevilles (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Sweet Sessions (Shared Experience Theatre), In Broad Daylight (Tricycle Theatre/Nuffield Southampton Theatres), Making Houses (RNT/Irish tour) and Princess Ivona (Lyric Hammersmith/UK tour). Her television credits include Parade’s End, The Palace, Trust Me and Covington Cross; and for film, Our Kind of Traitor.
Wendy Kweh plays Creon. Her theatre credits include Crave (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Welkin, Top Girls (National Theatre), Dark Night of the Soul – The Little Sob (Shakespeare’s Globe), A Kettle of Fish (The Yard Theatre), Big Aftermath of a Small Disclosure (UK tour), Describe the Night (Hampstead Theatre), Julius Caesar (Bridge Theatre), The Trap (Omnibus Theatre), Snow in Midsummer (RSC), Boy (Almeida Theatre), You for Me For You (Royal Court Theatre), Image of an Unknown Young Woman (Gate Theatre), Chimerica (Harold Pinter Theatre), Moon Walking in Chinatown (Soho Theatre) and The Oresteia (National Theatre). Her television credits include as series regular DC Suzie Sim in The Bill, The Bay and The Crooked Man; and for film, Hot, Hot, Hot and The Blue Mansion.
Joseph Payne plays Haemon. His theatre credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (London Touring Shakespeare); and for television, The Third Day: Autumn, and the upcoming BBC series Showtrial.
Adeola Yemitan will also be joining the cast, making her professional stage debut in the titular role of Antigone.
Dawn Walton OBE directs. She is Founder, and former Artistic Director and Chief Executive, of Eclipse Theatre, the UK's principal Black-led national production company. Her theatre credits include Salt (Royal Court Theatre/Schaubühne, Berlin/Public Theater, New York), The Gift (Theatre Royal Stratford East/Belgrade Theatre/UK tour), Red Dust Road (National Theatre Scotland/Home), Black Men Walking (Royal Court Theatre/Royal Exchange Theatre/UK tour), The Princess and the Hustler (Bristol Old Vic/UK tour), A Raisin in the Sun (Sheffield Theatres/UK tour), One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show (Tricycle Theatre/UK tour), Michael X (Tabernacle), There’s Only One Wayne Matthews (Sheffield Theatres), The Hounding of David Oluwale (West Yorkshire Playhouse – TMA Award nomination for Best Director), Oxford Street (Royal Court Theatre – Olivier Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre), 92.3FM (Royal Court Theatre and UK tour) and Winners (Young Vic). She developed, produced and directed 10by10 a series of 10 short film dramas for the digital arts platform The Space (ACE/BBC)