Philip Ridley's Dark Vanilla Jungle will debut this summer in Manchester.
The new play from the maverick writer of plays including The Pitchfork Disney, Mercury Fur and Shivered, award-winning film The Krays and Smarties and award-winning children's book Krindlekrax is at Manchester's Royal Exchange Studio from July25-27, before its première at the Edinburgh Fringe.
The production stars Gemma Whelan, best known for leading roles as Yara Greyjoy in TV's Game of Thrones and Rachel in One Man, Two Guvnors (West End); and reunites Ridley with the creative team behind his Tender Napalm, including Evening Standard Award nominated director David Mercatali, designer William Reynolds and BAFTA-nominated composer Nick Bicat.
It’s a new drama about one girl's craving for family and home—and the lengths she will go to achieve them, touching on themes of gang culture, the objectification of women and the impact of trauma on young people.