Claybody Theatre have announced full casting for the premiere of The D-Road, Deborah McAndrew’s new play about one of Stoke-on-Trent’s most significant cultural and economic landmarks– The A500 dual carriageway, directed by Conrad Nelson.
The production’s cast will feature Angela Bain ( Brighton Rock, Pilot Theatre; Made in Dagenham (Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and New Wolsey Ipswich) and the films Mary Queen of Scots (Working Title Films) and London Road ( BBC/Cuba Films); Michael Hugo (Around The World In 80 Days (Kenny Wax Family Entertainment and Simon Friend and Royal Exchange and 2019 U.S.A tour); The 39 Steps, The Lady Killers (co-production with Hull Truck); The Borrowers, Far From the Madding Crowd, Alice in Wonderland, The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, The Wicked Lady and Great Expectations, all at New Vic Theatre); Jack Wilkinson (Island Town, Sticks & Stones and How To Spot An Alien, Paine’s Plough Roundabout Season; Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s Globe; King Lear, Northern Broadsides/UK Tour; David Copperfield, Oldham Coliseum (Nominated for Best Actor at MTA Awards) and DeadKidSongs, Theatre Royal Bath) and Riana Duce (Leeds Lads, Red Ladder Theatre)
A house stands marooned on a forgotten island of land somewhere between the railway, the Trent and Mersey Canal, and the D-Road. It’s where Liam lives with his Nana. Liam and his girlfriend, Lois, dream of the bright lights of Manchester, but how can they leave Nana, with her very peculiar phobia? Then a charismatic stranger turns up at the door. Who is he? What does he want? And why is he so interested in the Nana’s back garden?
Playwright Deborah McAndrew said: “I’m thrilled that the cast includes two actors I love writing for – Angela Bain and Michael Hugo. They both have terrific charisma and are very popular with our audience. Jack Wilkinson is an actor I greatly admire, and I’m delighted that he is coming to play a part I created for him. It’s also a huge pleasure to welcome Riana Duce to the Claybody ensemble. She is an exciting young talent, and I’m sure audiences will love her in the role of Lois.”
Written and directed by award-winning husband and wife team of Deborah McAndrew and Conrad Nelson, The D-Road will premiere from the 16-26 October at the Spode Works in Stoke-On-Trent.
