Nottingham-born playwright Daniel Hoffmann-Gill’s play Kings, which celebrates the friendships of a group of men living in a hostel in the city, is to have its world première at Nottingham Playhouse.
The production features both able-bodied and disabled actors and two actors who are making their professional acting debuts: one with Downs Syndrome, the other an amputee. This reflects the Playhouse’s decision to incorporate people with disabilities within its creative programming.
Kings is “brimming with black humour”. One of the hostel residents, Wayne, is moving into his own flat, forcing his friends to examine their own lives over Jaffa Cakes, Special Brew and a bit of a sing-song.
The Playhouse’s associate director Fiona Buffini who directs said, “the really exciting thing about Kings is that the characters are such unique and diverse individuals. Similarly with the casting—there’s such a range of experiences in the room, we’re all going to be learning so much from one another.”
Tim Baggaley who plays Big Dave lost his arm in a motorcycle accident. He made his theatre debut in 2015 in the Edith Piaf biography Sacred Heart at the Bridewell Theatre, London.
Nottinghamshire-born Sophie Ellerby (Sarah) appeared as Meghan in Laura Thomas’s Wasteland and took the role of the maid in Blithe Spirit at Nottingham Playhouse, both in 2009.
Joe Doherty (Wayne) made his theatrical debut in Wasteland. He also played Mark in Jane Upton’s Bones, a Fifth Word production in Derby Theatre Studio, in 2012.
James Warrior (Sneinton Elvis) has been an actor for 50 years and was a founder member of Sir Richard Eyre’s company at the National Theatre in 1973.
Chris Lund (Barry) is the first actor with Downs Syndrome to be cast in a role at Nottingham Playhouse and will be making his professional acting debut. Dominic Grove (Kirky) completes the cast.
Designer is Olivia Du Monceau and lighting and sound designer Martin Curtis.
Kings runs in the Neville Studio at Nottingham Playhouse from Wednesday 20 until Saturday 30 April.