‘It’s incredibly exciting.’ These were the words of national treasure, Stephen Fry, who has lent his support to a new piece of theatre visiting London this week. In The Heart of the Wasp’s Nest is a new comedy by award-winning theatre makers, TilThisNight, and arrives at the Camden People’s Theatre at the end of a UK tour. Nominated for the Best Newcomer Award at this year’s Brighton Fringe Festival, it is a Northern comedy set in a Liverpool 6th form college.
‘It’s a play that’s incredibly personal to me,’ says writer and director, Karl Falconer. ‘I believe our theatres need more stories that accurately reflect the lives of the working-class, and I think the struggle that our government are placing on 6th form education deserves to be shared and better understood.’
The play is the company’s first piece of new writing after a decade of promoting Shakespeare within working-class communities. ‘It’s our first time performing in the capital,’ Karl adds, ‘but we’re really excited to see how this Northern play goes down with a new crowd.’
In The Heart of the Wasp’s Nest has already visited the Brighton Fringe Festival before a sold-out UK tour and has had support from the Royal Shakespeare Company.
‘It’s a love story to the great Northern sitcoms,’ says the show’s co-writer, Natasha Ryan. ‘It’s got a bit of The Royle Family here, a bit of Dinnerladies there. It’s set in Liverpool but it’s a story inspired by #MeToo and a message for everyone.’
The company have a strong track record, with their previous work receiving the thumbs up from figures including Judi Dench and Kenneth Branagh. Their 2013 short film, The Big Day, was part of the official shortlist of the Virgin Media Shorts awards. ‘It’s important for me that we put our Northern, working-class routes at the heart of what we do,’ Karl says. ‘This show is a special moment for us, it’s an absolutely fantastic cast and a script that has really resonated everywhere it’s been. We really do think it’s a piece worth seeing. Having Stephen Fry’s support is the best endorsement we can think of.’
Stephen Fry has financed the company’s work in the past and is championing this piece, alongside the actors Con O’Neill and Maxine Peake.
In The Heart of the Wasp’s Nest is at Camden People’s Theatre Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th July 2018. Visit www.cptheatre.co.uk or call 020 7419 4841.
