Suni La is to play the main role in David Greig’s The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart which will have its regional première at the New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
“I’ve been a fan of David Greig’s writing since I was a student in Edinburgh when my drama teacher introduced me to his work. It’s such a delight finally to be in one of his plays,” said La.
“I’m so thrilled to have been considered for the main role in The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart, and I’m thankful to my director, Anna Marsland, who believes in my ability as an actor to tell Prudencia Hart’s story, regardless of my heritage; to have the opportunity to play a main role as a Scottish female in a non-ethnic specific role feels like a step forward in our industry.
“Being Scottish and of mixed Asian heritage, I’ve often had to justify my ‘Scottishness’ at various stages of my working life. This role gives me the chance to play a Scottish character and for people to see beyond race.
“The UK has such a diverse melting pot of people. I’d love to see more people in parts which represent the multitude of interesting people in our world today.”
Prudencia Hart is a post-grad student who is fascinated by folk songs, border ballads and stories from the past that have been long forgotten. She does not seem to belong in the modern world.
La added, “as the play goes on we see Prudencia in various challenging situations and we see her go on quite an adventure in a journey of self-discovery.”
Set in midwinter in the snowy Scottish borders, The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart “ventures into a magical world where anything is possible but nothing is as it seems”.
Anna Marsland returns to the New Vic to direct the production. Her career began at the theatre-in-the-round as assistant director on Theresa Heskins’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol in 2012.
The cast also includes Matthew McVarish, David Fairs, Alice Blundell and Eleanor House. Designer is E M Parry, Simon Slater is musical director, lighting designer is Daniella Beattie, James Earls-Davis is sound designer with Alex Day associate sound designer and Jennifer Jackson is movement director.
The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart runs at the New Vic from Friday 28 June until Saturday 13 July. Press night will be Tuesday 2 July.