Joseph Wilde’s debut vampire tale Cuddles is to start a UK and New York tour in Birmingham.
Originally produced at London’s Ovalhouse Theatre in 2013, Cuddles is an “edgy, funny exploration of a co-dependent relationship between sisters Tabby and Eve”.
Bringing a “dark, punk sensibility to the stage and conceived in the wake of the London riots, the play is a damning look at how society teaches that what we consume dictates our identity, and a consideration of the ways in which our parenting choices directly shape the world of tomorrow”.
Playwright Joseph Wilde said, “for me, what’s most unusual about the play is stylistic approach. There’s not much else on stage that seems to be combining supernatural horror, fairy tales, dark comedy and naturalistic domestic drama. It’s a play about love, sex and control and the only man in it is invisible and silent.
“I think there’s an undeniable power in watching two women whose identities have formed in response to abuse, trapped alone on stage and trying to negotiate a whole new way of living and seeing themselves.”
Director Rebecca Atkinson Lord added, “Joe is one of the most exciting voices writing for theatre right now; he’s not afraid of writing big, morally complex ideas into his plays. That’s what I love about Cuddles.
“It’s feminist and anti-capitalist, grappling with important stuff around the power structures that shape us and our society. As well as that it’s a brilliant, captivating and emotional roller coaster of a story. He manages to make me believe in the impossible and right now, that feels like a valuable skill to have.”
Joseph Wilde trained on the Royal Court young writers’ programme, the Chichester Festival Theatre young writers’ programme and at the University of East Anglia.
Rebecca Atkinson-Lord is director of theatre at Ovalhouse and founding artistic director and chief executive of co-producers Arch 468.
The cast of Cuddles is Carla Langley as Eve and Rendah Heywood as Tabby.
Carla Langley graduated from Italia Conti in 2012. She appeared in Tanya Ronder’s new version of Luigi Pirandello’s Liolà at the National Theatre directed by Richard Eyre, was Princess Ariadne in Kevin Dyer ‘s Minotaur for Theatre Clwyd and had a role in The Three Lives of Lucie Cabrol at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She was nominated for a 2013 Off-West End award for best female performance for her role as Eve in Cuddles.
Rendah Heywood has worked at the National Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and in the West End.
Cuddles opens its tour at mac birmingham on Wednesday and Thursday. It then goes to Brighton, London, Manchester and Plymouth. It will be staged at 59E59 Theatres in New York as part of the Brits off Broadway festival.