My Theatre Mates
Posted on 2 March 2019
"A fascinating portrait of the East End today"
Synergy Theatre in assocation with Theatre503 presents
£18 | £17 | £12 Conc. | £10 Previews & Weds. Mats | ‘Pay What You Can’ Sat. Mats
RUNNING TIME / NOTICES: 2hrs (inc. interval) / Production contains strong language and scenes of violence. Recommended age 14yrs +.
TAILORED PERFORMANCES: 27 Feb, Relaxed; 12noon 6 Mar, Parent & Baby
POST SHOW Q&A: 5 Mar, with writer Martin Askew, director Esther Baker, and cast.
Mark’s mother wants him to bury his father and it’s up to Saleh to find him and bring him home for a proper East End send off. Only Mark is no longer Mark, he’s Abdullah. There is A Field is a London story of faith, death and family strife reshaped by local crises and global events.
Synergy Theatre Project creates groundbreaking work across theatre and the justice system. They began working with Martin after his release from prison, commissioning There is a Field as his debut, full length play. Synergy is continuing their long running partnership with Theatre503 with their first major four week production.
CAST
(L-R) Archie Backhouse, Sarah Finigan, Roseanna Frascona, Sam Frenchum, Fabrizio Santino
RELAXED: For anyone who benefits from a more relaxed performance environment. House lights are left up with audience free to exit and reenter as required. Sound levels are reduced and any strobe / ‘flashing light’ effects will be omitted also.
PARENT & BABY: Similar to our Relaxed Performance in terms of technical alterations, but provided as an opportunity for new mums and dads to enjoy a spot of theatre without the need to hire a babysitter. Please note, we do not exclude other audience members from booking to see this performance.
Martin Askew
Martin Askew grew up in the East End and started writing after witnessing the murder of a close friend. After release from prison he began playwriting with Synergy Theatre Project who commissioned him to write There is a Field. Martin’s screenplay Snow In Paradise was selected for the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. He is also an actor and a workshop facilitator working in pupil referral units.
"A fascinating portrait of the East End today"
"takes a compassionate view of its characters and includes various images of what it means to be a Muslim… told in brief scenes and fast, often funny dialogue"
"On a mostly bare stage, designers Katy McPhee and Patrick Bill make a visually arresting statement about modern, multicultural England"
"drama brought to life by an impressive cast"
"Martin Askew’s There is a Field is an exceedingly strong play that evokes a host of questions related to contemporary religion."