The Yard Theatre announces the three-week extension of their smash hit production, The Flea, along with its exceptional new cast. This provocative play, which daringly retells the scandalous true story of a Victorian-era gay brothel linked to the British monarchy, has captivated audiences and critics alike, prompting a demand for tickets.
Following its record-breaking world premiere in 2023, The Flea returns to The Yard and is surpassing even the original run’s impressive sales figures. The production has struck a chord with theatregoers, many of whom are booking return visits to experience the show again. This continued enthusiasm has led to the decision to extend the run for an additional three weeks.
The Flea will now run until November 30, with performances from Monday to Saturday at 7:30pm and additional Saturday matinees at 2:30 pm. This extension offers both new audiences and returning fans the opportunity to be part of this theatrical phenomenon.
As the team returns to rehearsals, this run promises a tweaked and sharpened version of the original sensation.
Directed by The Yard’s founder & Artistic Director Jay Miller, winner of the Off-West End Award for ‘Best Director’ for The Flea (The Crucible and This Beautiful Future) and written by James Fritz (Ross & Rachel and Parliament Square), The Flea explores class divides, corruption and cover-ups, speaking as much to today’s world as that of Victorian Britain.
The Flea explores the infamous 1889 Cleveland Street Scandal, blending historical intrigue with contemporary queer aesthetics. It delves into themes of class divides, corruption, and cover-ups, drawing striking parallels between Victorian Britain and today’s society. Its innovative approach has not only broken box office records but also garnered critical acclaim, including Off West End Awards for Direction and Design.
Jay Miller said, “We’re thrilled to bring The Flea back for an extra bite. It’s a hilarious, infuriating reminder that while fashions change, the power structures that we’ve created remain. In 2023 our audiences saw themselves in this funhouse mirror of British pomp and prejudice. So we’re serving up this scandal again – tweaked, sharpened, and even more revealing. Same glorious depiction of a Britain forever torn between deference and defiance, just now with sharper edges.”
Writer James Fritz is an award-winning playwright from South London. His stage plays include Cashmoney Now (The Big House), Lava (Fifth Word/Soho Theatre), The Fall (National Youth Theatre/Southwark Playhouse), Parliament Square (Royal Exchange/Bush Theatre), Start Swimming (Young Vic), Ross & Rachel (Assembly/BAC/59E59), Four Minutes Twelve Seconds (Hampstead Theatre/Trafalgar Studios) and LINES (Rosemary Branch Theatre). Audio plays include The Test Batsman’s Room At The End Of The World, Dear Harry Kane, Eight Point Nine Nine, Death Of A Cosmonaut, Comment Is Free (all BBC Radio 4), and Skyscraper Lullaby (Audible Originals).
He has won the Critics Circle Theatre Award for ‘Most Promising Playwright’, the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting, The Imison and Tinniswood BBC Audio Drama Awards, and the ARIA Radio Academy Award for ‘Best Drama’ on two separate occasions. He has also been nominated for the Olivier Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre’ and was runner-up in the 2013 Verity Bargate Award.
Director Jay Miller has been Artistic Director of The Yard since he founded it in 2011. Jay’s recent credits at the venue have included The Flea by James Fritz (4* Time Out, The Stage; and ‘Best Director’, Off West End Awards 2023) This Beautiful Future by Rita Kalnejais (5* The Stage), The Crucible (5* The Sunday Times, 5* Evening Standard) and Dirty Crusty by Clare Barron (5* Evening Standard).
Breffni Holahan plays Emily Swinscow and Queen Victoria.
Her theatre credits include Electric Rosary (Royal Exchange), Collapsible (The Bush Theatre and The Abbey Theatre, Dublin), for which she was awarded The Stage Edinburgh Award for Acting Excellence, Drama at Inish (The Abbey Theatre, Dublin), It Was Easy in the End (The Abbey Theatre), and Dog Shit (Theatre503). Her film credits include About Joan directed by Laurent Larivière, opposite Freya Mavor and Isabelle Huppert, and The Racer (Blinder Films). Breffni’s television credits include The Nevers (HBO), Vikings (MGM/History Channel), Everything Not Saved (RTÉ), and Balor Hall (RTÉ).
Stefan Race plays Henry Newlove and Arthur Somerset.
Their theatre credits include Fade (The Lowry, Leeds Playhouse), Let the Right One In (Manchester Royal Exchange), Cherry Jezebel (Liverpool Everyman), Wendy and Peter Pan (Leeds Playhouse), and Alice in Wonderland (HOME). Their film credits include Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, The Batman, The Gallery, and A Christmas Gift from Bob. Stefan’s television credits include Eric (Netflix), G’wed (ITV), and Temple (Sky).
Tomás Azocar-Nevin plays Charlie Swinscow and Bertie.
Tomás graduated from Manchester School of Theatre. His theatre credits include Class (National Youth Theatre of Great Britain), Julius Caesar (Manchester School of Theatre), Pomona (Manchester School of Theatre) as Charlie, Uncle Vanya (Manchester School of Theatre), Spring Awakening (National Youth Theatre of Great Britain), Wait Till the End (The PappyShow), and Herons (Newcastle Theatre Royal). His film credits include Saltburn (directed by Emerald Fennell, Amazon Studios). Tomás’ television credits include The Devil’s Hour (Amazon Studios) as Billy, an upcoming Amazon series, and Sex Education (Netflix).
Will Bliss plays Abberline, Hammond and Gladstone.
His theatre credits include Lost Origin (Almeida Theatre/Hoxton Docks), Jumping the Shark (White Bear Theatre), A Streetcar Named Desire (ETT/Nuffield Theatre/Theatr Clwyd), and several productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company including Dido, Queen of Carthage, Titus Andronicus, Antony & Cleopatra, The Alchemist, Doctor Faustus, and Don Quixote. Other notable performances include Magnificence (Finborough Theatre—Off West End Award Nomination for Best Actor), Love and Money (Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre), Tropicana (Shunt), Lasting Through Tears (Romateatro Festival), and Doublethink (Edinburgh Festival). His film credits include A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow. Will’s television credits include So Long, Marianne, Casualty, Doctors, Stan Lee’s Lucky Man, Mr. Sloane, EastEnders, Jo, Utopia, Holby City, Dave Shakespeare, White Heat, and Oh My God.
Aaron Gill plays Hanks, Barwell and Euston.
Aaron graduated from Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2022. Aaron has recently finished a run of Iqbal Khan’s production of Silence for Tara Arts, in which he played the role of Young Irfan. Last year, he spent nine months performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the role of Hari in The Empress, directed by Pooja Ghai. Further theatre credits include Vinay Patel’s adaptation of The Cherry Orchard, a co-production between ETT and The Yard Theatre. This will be Aaron’s second production at The Yard Theatre. His television credits include Smothered (Sky TV).
The extension of The Flea comes ahead of The Yard’s planned capital redevelopment in 2025, offering audiences a final chance to experience this groundbreaking production in the theatre’s current incarnation.
