Lucy Benjamin, who is best known for playing Lisa Fowler in EastEnders and Maggie in the BAFTA award-winning series BBC Four series Detectorists, has been cast in the regional premiere of David Eldridge’s In Basildon. This family drama will run at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 14 – 30 March.
In Basildon sees the former EastEnders actress return to her local Theatre after performing in Deadly Murder at the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch in 2015. She is currently performing in The Ruffian on the Stair at the Hope Theatre, Islington until 16 February.
She will be joined by Peter Bray (Much Ado About Nothing, Rose Theatre Kingston); Patrick Driver (Measure for Measure, Shakespeare’s Globe); Emily Houghton (Tomorrow I Was Always a Lion, Arcola Theatre); Beverley Klein (Young Checkov Trilogy, National Theatre); Peter Temple (Boy; Almeida Theatre) and Connie Walker (Trestle, Southwark Playhouse). Completing the cast are David Hemsted (Elexion, Theatre 503) and Charlotte Law (former member of NYT Rep Company) who were cast through the Queen’s Theatre’s open audition process to find local actors.
Written by the award-winning Romford playwright David Eldridge (Market Boy, National Theatre; Beginning, West End) this explosively knotty drama is being brought back to its roots after a 2012 premiere at the Royal Court Theatre.
The production will be directed by the Theatre’s Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul (Abigail’s Party, Rope, The Crucible), with design by Natasha Jenkins and lighting design by Alexandra Stafford.
In Basildon launches the Queen’s Theatre’s Essex on Stage programme, a new two year programme that champions the positive notions of Essex, celebrating theatre made by working class people and raising aspirations for emerging artists from Essex and Outer East London.
