Julie Hesmondhalgh and Frances de le Tour are among the actors taking part in a new Nottingham Playhouse digital theatre project.
Still Life: Untold Stories from Nottingham Now is a collection of five short films telling the tales of the city through the eyes of residents who sometimes pass unnoticed. Conceived and commissioned by Nottingham Playhouse, Still Life has paired writers with a member of Nottingham's communities to help them create a piece that sheds light on a previously unexplored story.
Hesmondhalgh, who will appear in Ian Kershaw’s The Greatest Play in the History of the World at the Playhouse from Tuesday 15 until Saturday 19 June, will feature in Amy Guyler's Out of Stock. De la Tour will play Muriel in Alan Bennett's sketch of the same name.
Esh Alladi will play Shaq alongside Nottingham actress Jessica Temple as Lauren in Emteaz Hussain's Pimp My Ride. Conor Glean plays Luke while Nottinghamshire actor Karl Haynes takes the role of Sam in Olu Alakija's Handle with Care. Amelia Harding from the Television Workshop, Nottingham performs in Nathan Ellis's Facts.
Adam Penford, Nottingham Playhouse’s artistic director, said, "the pandemic has changed the way we live and Still Life will capture this moment in time, revealing some of the lesser-known stories of the people of Nottingham in 2021.
“It’s part of our ongoing commitment to nurture the immense talent in the region and provide some much-needed employment to many who’ve had little government support since last March.
“I'm delighted we managed to cast such a talented group of actors, well-known to Playhouse audiences through their local connection and award-winning performances."
Still Life will be directed by Penford and Playhouse associate artist Matthew Xia. Still Life will be unveiled at 7:30PM on Friday 7 May, with the viewing link available until Wednesday 12 May. General on-demand rental for five days will be available from Friday 7 May 2021 until June 17. Tickets are available at the Nottingham Playhouse web site.