The full cast has been announced for the world premiere of Grud by Sarah Power at Hampstead Downstairs from 28 June to 3 August.
Directed by Jaz Woodcock-Stewart the cast features Catherine Ashdown as Bo and Kadiesha Belgrave as Aicha who are both making their professional stage debuts. They are joined by Karl Theobald as Grud (Green Wing, Plebs and Donkey’s Years, Comedy Theatre).
‘Hey I know you! You’re the one that’s always in the back of the library. Like a little library gremlin. Eating up knowledge. And Haribo.’
It’s a new term at college and, for most of the Sixth Form students, all that matters are mocks, UCAS applications and whether or not Elliot Park and Georgia Smith had sex in the study room at lunchtime.
After losing the election for student president, Aicha is throwing all her energy into the school’s ‘Extended Physics Project’ – or, as she calls it, Space Club. One afternoon, Aicha is surprised by the appearance of the usually introverted and distant Bo, doubling the membership of Space Club. Whilst Aicha is thrilled to have a mysterious new friend, Bo is distracted by the black hole at the heart of her home life. She’s worked so hard to launch herself into bigger and better things – but will Grud eclipse her efforts and pull her off course?
Sarah Power is an alumnus of Hampstead Theatre’s INSPIRE 2022 programme for emerging playwrights.
Her debut play Pig was produced by Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre and her second script Mandrake was longlisted for the Woman’s Prize for Playwriting and the Papatango New Writing Prize. It was also a finalist in the Hope Mill Theatre’s Through the Mill playwriting competition.
Jaz Woodcock-Stewart makes her Hampstead Theatre debut, with previous credits including Paradise Now! (Bush – 2022 Olivier Award nominated), Civilisation (New Diorama, HOME Manchester, Underbelly Edinburgh) and Electric Rosary (Royal Exchange).
Grud will feature design by Noemi Daboczi, lighting design by Cheng Keng.
Grud plays Hampstead Downstairs from 28 June to 3 August.
Tickets are on sale now at hampsteadtheatre.com
