Robin Soans is not only a versatile actor (appearing in The Queen and TV series Endeavour) but an astonishing playwright, too. Perseverance Drive, exploring the complicated relationships between a family and God, is his twelfth play but his first commission from the Bush Theatre.
The Story...
The play opens in the island paradise of Barbados. The estranged Gillards have reunited to bury the family matriarch. The values of father and son— God and church for Eli, art and drinking for Josh— are radically different. But four years later, at the request of deceased Grace, they are back together in the family home in Leytonstone.
Soans’s plays often use verbatim theatre techniques, where the dialogue is transcribed directly from speech, and focus on the socio-political; Talking to Terrorists at the Royal Court, Life after Scandal at the Hampstead, The Arab-Israeli Cookbook at the Gate. We can expect beautiful, well-observed writing that The Guardian described as being able to “shed light in dark places.”
The Production...
Artistic Director Madani Younis takes the helm. Younis only took over at the Bush in 2012, when his predecessor Josie Rourke was appointed to the Donmar Warehouse. But in a short time, he has triumphed at the venue. Interestingly, Perseverance Drive is just the second play he will be personally directing. His inaugural production, Chalet Lines, saw him praised by The Stage as a talent “who directs with vigour and empathy.” We’re intrigued to see how he works with Robin Soans's script. Younis promises that this is not a ‘council-estate’ play, but one that tells a universal story of family ties.
Actors reading for roles in Perseverance Drive were asked to prepare gospel songs for their audition; music will play a big part in this production. The cast includes talents from stage, television and film, such as Leo Wringer , who was praised for his role in the Young Vic's Blackta and Frances Ashman , fresh from This May Hurt a Bit for Out of Jo and People at the National.
The Story...
The play opens in the island paradise of Barbados. The estranged Gillards have reunited to bury the family matriarch. The values of father and son— God and church for Eli, art and drinking for Josh— are radically different. But four years later, at the request of deceased Grace, they are back together in the family home in Leytonstone.
Soans’s plays often use verbatim theatre techniques, where the dialogue is transcribed directly from speech, and focus on the socio-political; Talking to Terrorists at the Royal Court, Life after Scandal at the Hampstead, The Arab-Israeli Cookbook at the Gate. We can expect beautiful, well-observed writing that The Guardian described as being able to “shed light in dark places.”
The Production...
Artistic Director Madani Younis takes the helm. Younis only took over at the Bush in 2012, when his predecessor Josie Rourke was appointed to the Donmar Warehouse. But in a short time, he has triumphed at the venue. Interestingly, Perseverance Drive is just the second play he will be personally directing. His inaugural production, Chalet Lines, saw him praised by The Stage as a talent “who directs with vigour and empathy.” We’re intrigued to see how he works with Robin Soans's script. Younis promises that this is not a ‘council-estate’ play, but one that tells a universal story of family ties.
Actors reading for roles in Perseverance Drive were asked to prepare gospel songs for their audition; music will play a big part in this production. The cast includes talents from stage, television and film, such as Leo Wringer , who was praised for his role in the Young Vic's Blackta and Frances Ashman , fresh from This May Hurt a Bit for Out of Jo and People at the National.
| What | Perseverance Drive, Bush Theatre |
| Where | Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, London, W12 8LJ | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Shepherd's Bush Market (underground) |
| When |
04 Jul 14 – 16 Aug 14, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM |
| Price | £10-£15 |
| Website | Click here to book via Bush Theatre |