A thought-provoking new play exploring Britain’s aging population is to be performed at the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds in the new year.
The Wisdom Club is a brand new play by Bury St Edmunds-based writer Danusia Iwaszko and will be directed by acclaimed theatre director Roger Haines – from the Calendar Girls and The Full Monty.
When Susanna tells her mother Megan she no longer wants her to look after the children, Megan can’t help but feel out of a job. If she’s not being a mother or a grandmother, then who and what is she?
If retired brewery worker Lenny knew his retirement was going to be so long he would have started another career.
Ex-hospital worker Rani is on a mission – the friends need to protest and step out of the shadows. This is grey power, not girl power. They’re old but they’re not dead yet.
Starring as Megan is Liz Crowther whose stage credits include Oliver Twist (Regents Park), The White Devil (Royal Shakespeare Company) and her television credits include Miss Marple and Eastenders (BBC).
Susanna will be played by Carol Starks whose theatre credits include Dirty Dancing (Aldwych Theatre), Sweeney Todd (Royal National Theatre) and television credits include Holby City (BBC), Coronation Street and The Bill (ITV).
Playing Rani is Souad Faress who audiences will recognise as the voice of Usha from The Archers (BBC Radio 4), the Dosh khaleen High Priestess in Game of Thrones (HBO) and whose stage credits include The Village (Theatre Royal Stratford East) and Winter Hill (Octagon Theatre).
Lenny will be played by John Branwell who most recently appeared in Mike Leigh’s feature film Peterloo, and whose theatre credits include Hamlet (Bolton Octagon) and King Lear (Northern Broadsides).
Director Mr Haines said: “I am thrilled to be working with this very lovely and talented company of actors.
“I’m certain they will explore Danusia’s wonderful script with rigour and love, and hence I hope the result will be a thoroughly entertaining and inspiring piece of theatre.”
Performances run between Wednesday, January 30, and Saturday, February 9, and there is also an audio described and captioned performance on Saturday February 9 at 3pm, which includes an optional touch tour at 2pm.
Tickets are available from the box office on 01284 769505, book online at www.theatreroyal.org/shows/the-wisdom-club-2/ or visit the theatre in person.
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