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Press Release
16 September 2014
Theatre Royal Plymouth presents
GRAND GUIGNOL

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH’S REVIVAL OF
CARL GROSE’S GRAND GUIGNOL

JONATHAN BROADBENT WILL STAR AS DE LORDE
Jonathan Broadbent will star as De Lorde alongside Paul Chequer (Ratineau),
Matthew Pearson (Binet), Robert Portal (Paulais), Emily Raymond (Maxa) and Andy
Williams (Maurey) in Theatre Royal Plymouth’s revival of Grand Guignol. Written by
Carl Grose and directed by Simon Stokes, Grand Guignol will return to The Drum
from 9 – 18 October before heading to Southwark Playhouse from 23 October – 22
November 2014.
Jonathan Broadbent (De Lorde) recently appeared as Guy in the critically acclaimed
revival of My Night with Reg at the Donmar Warehouse. Jonathan’s previous theatre
credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lyric Hammersmith), Hamlet (Rose
Theatre), Ghost Stories (Duke Of York’s Theatre), Chekhov in Hell (Soho Theatre, The
Drum Theatre Plymouth) and Three Sisters (Lyric Hammersmith). Jonathan has also
appeared on screen in feature films As You Like It and The Magic Flute.
Paul Chequer (Ratineau) is an accomplished stage actor whose theatre credits
include Private Peaceful (National Theatre), War Horse (National Theatre), The
Water Engine (Young Vic) and A Midsummers Night’s Dream (RSC). Paul has also
appeared in British television dramas such as Sherlock, Whitechapel and Silent
Witness.
Matthew Pearson (Binet) has performed on stage in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
(Propeller), Chariots of Fire (Hampstead Theatre and West End), The 39 Steps
(Criterion Theatre) and The Reduced Shakespeare Company’s The Complete Works of
William Shakespeare.
Robert Portal (Paulais) is known for his screen roles in critically acclaimed films such
as The King’s Speech, The Iron Lady and My Week with Marilyn. Robert’s theatre
credits include The Doctor’s Dilemma (National Theatre), Tom and Viv (Almeida
Theatre), The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre) as well as multiple productions with the
Royal Shakespeare Company.
Emily Raymond (Maxa) has performed on stage in Chekhov in Hell (Soho Theatre), An
Ideal Husband (Washington DC), Dangerous Corner (Chichester Festival Theatre and
West End) and has regularly appeared with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Emily
has also appeared in Peak Practice and Robin Hood and has also appeared on film in
Love Lies Bleeding and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Andy Williams (Maurey) last appeared on stage in The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre).
His other theatre credits include War Horse (New London Theatre), Judgment Day
(Almeida Theatre) and A Matter of Life and Death (National Theatre). Andy’s
television credits include Wire in the Blood, Brookside and Waking the Dead.
1903, in the back streets of Monmartre, the Theatre du Grand Guignol opens its doors
to an unsuspecting public. The plays performed, rife with madness and murders, are
sold out every night. A psychiatrist obsessed with the playwright’s gruesome dramas
ingratiates his way into the company. But when he starts to unpick the author’s mind,
the boundaries between theatre and truth begin to blur…
Delighting in this lost theatrical form, Carl Grose’s wild play works fast and loose with
convention. Grand Guignol was a theatre movement of thrill, shock and horror and
the play centres on the original Parisian theatre company and its members. Grand
Guignol is strange, funny, gothic and philosophical - a black comedy, a psychological
thriller and an unrepentant splatter-fest guaranteed to keep you guessing (and
wincing) to the very last horror show.
Carl Grose has written numerous plays including Quick Silver, 49 Donkeys Hanged,
The 13 Midnight Challenges of Angelus Diablo and Gargantua. Previous plays at The
Drum include Superstition Mountain and Horse Piss For Blood, also directed by Simon
Stokes. For the past eighteen years he has worked extensively with the
internationally acclaimed Kneehigh Theatre as both actor and writer. Writing for
Kneehigh includes Tristan & Yseult, The Bacchae, Blast!, Cymbeline, Hansel &
Gretel, The Wild Bride and, most recently, Dead Dog In A Suitcase (and other love
songs) – a new version of The Beggar’s Opera. Carl has written for Told By An Idiot,
National Theatre of Wales, Vesturport, Spymonkey, Soho Theatre and BBC TV and
Radio. He also co-founded the Cornish production company o-region. Carl is currently
writing new plays for the RSC and the National Theatre.
Since taking over as Artistic Director in 1998, Simon Stokes has established the
Theatre Royal Plymouth as one of the UK’s most influential and prolific venues for
new writing. On his watch, Simon has produced and co-produced more than 60 plays,
developing, supporting and premiering work by such names as Abi Morgan, Mike
Bartlett, Anthony Neilson, Debbie Tucker, Alecky Blythe, Mark Ravenhill, Lucinda
Coxon, Bryony Lavery, Chris Goode, Gregory Burke, Philip Ridley and Doug Lucie. He
has close and very long standing production relationships with Frantic Assembly and
the Belgian company Ontroerend Goed as well as Told By An Idiot and Paines Plough
among many others.
Grand Guignol continues to highlight the reputation of the Theatre Royal Plymouth
as one of the best places in the country to see new, exciting and challenging work by
some of our most acclaimed playwrights and theatre makers.
ENDS
For further information please contact Chloe Pritchard-Gordon at The Corner
Shop PR on 020 7831 7657 or email [email protected]
LISTINGS INFORMATION
GRAND GUIGNOL
WRITTEN BY CARL GROSE
DIRECTED BY SIMON STOKES
THE DRUM, THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH
9 - 18 October
Mon - Sat 7.45pm • All Seats £14.70
Press night: Monday 13 October 2014
All Concessions £10.70
Post Show Q&A Wed 15 October
Recommended for everyone aged 14+
Running time 2hrs approx.
Box office 01752 267222
www.theatreroyal.com
Twitter
@TRPlymouth
SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE
23 October – 22 November
Press night: Monday 27 October 2014
Address: 77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD
Nearest Tube: Borough / Elephant and Castle
Box Office
Online: www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk 24 HOURS/NO BOOKING FEES
By Telephone 020 7407 0234 NO BOOKING FEES
Ticket Prices: Previews £10
£18, £16 (conc.)
Concessions
Students, Under 16’s, Unwaged, Registered disabled, Equity, Over 65’s
Registered disabled patrons can bring one companion free of charge.
Twitter
@swkplay
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