Larkrise To Candleford actress Linda Bassett will star in Simon Stephens and Katie Mitchell’s first collaboration Wastwater at the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Downstairs this Spring.
Joining Bassett is a cast comprising of Tom Sturridge, Angus Wright, Amanda Hale and Royal Court regulars Jo McInnes and Paul Ready.
Set on the edges of Heathrow Airport, Wastwater is a snapshot of three different couples who each make a choice that will define the fallout of their future. Bassett, who was last seen at the Royal Court in The Stone and Lucky Dog, will star as Frieda. Well known for her roles in films including The Hours, Calendar Girls and East Is East, Bassett has also worked on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Twelfth Night and Pericles.
Sturridge will star alongside Bassett as Harry. The young actor made his theatrical debut in Stephens’s 2009 play Punk Rock at the Lyric Hammersmith which earned him a Critics’ Circle Award for Outstanding Newcomer and an Evening Standard Award-nomination. On film, Sturridge has appeared in Being Julia, Like Minds and The Boat That Rocked.
McInnes and Ready will play second couple Lisa and Mark who are on the point of a dark sexual betrayal. McInnes appeared in 4.48 Psychosis and Bluebird at the Royal Court and has appeared on screen in Spooks and The Bill. Ready last appeared at the venue in Forty Winks, Black Mill, Crazyblackmuthaf****ingself and Terrorism. He was last seen on stage in London Assurance at the National Theatre where he has also appeared in Three More Sleepless Nights, Time And The Conways and Saint Joan.
As the final couple, Wright and Hale star as Sian and Jonathan. Wright was most recently seen on stage in the Old Vic’s Laurence Olivier Award-nominated production Design For Living. The actor has worked extensively for the National Theatre appearing in Mitchell’s acclaimed The Cat In The Hat, Mrs Affleck, War Horse, Saint Joan and The Seagull.
Hale made her Royal Court debut in The City and has stage credits including Elektra and King Lear at the Young Vic, and Our Class and After Dido at the National Theatre.
Wastwater opens on 5 April, with previews from 31 March, and runs until 7 May.
CM