The Playground Theatre in West London will honour multi-award winning playwright Gail Louw with a five-week season presenting three world premieres along with one acclaimed international production of her best-known work Blonde Poison. Peter Tate, Founder and Artistic Director of The Playground Theatre, encountered Gail Louw’s plays at the Edinburgh Fringe 2023, and was captivated by the dramatic clarity of her writing. He explains, “I admire Louw’s wide divergence in content and wanted to explore more. She is a remarkable writer and what could be a better way to celebrate her work than by presenting a Gail Louw Season at The Playground.”
ll four shows in the season are based on true events with one thing in common; flawed characters.
- STORMING! (world premiere) runs from 20 to 24 February and is directed by Anthony Shrubsall and stars Chris Barritt, Edmund Sage-Green and Bu Kunene
- BLONDE POISON runs from 27 February to 3 March and is directed by Fred Abrahamse and stars Fiona Ramsay.
- RIKA’S ROOMS (world premiere) runs from 5 to 10 March, directed by Anthony Shrubsall and stars Emma Wilkinson Wright (The Mitfords)
- THE GIRL IN THE GREEN JUMPER (world premiere) runs from 13 to 24 March. It is directed by Christian Holder and stars Peter Tate and Natalie Ava Nasr.
Gail Louw, an award-winning playwright, has had 20 of her plays produced, with 13 published in three collections by Oberon Books. She is globally recognised for her monologues and her plays, inspired by real events, often centre on flawed characters. Her most renowned work, Blonde Poison, showcased in this season, has enjoyed eight productions worldwide, including performances at the Sydney Opera House, in LA, and Berlin. This play won the Argus Angel award for Artistic Excellence at the Brighton Festival. Duwayne was honoured as the Best New Play at the Brighton Festival. Her other works, And Thisis My Friend Mr Laurel and Shackleton’s Carpenter, have toured extensively. Gail was born into a Jewish family in South Africa and lived in Israel before moving to the UK in 1976. Once an academic and lecturer, she has focused on playwriting for the last 24 years. The death of her maternal grandparents in a concentration camp and the rich culture of her upbringing have significantly influenced her life. Her earliest plays consistently explored Jewish themes, particularly those related to her mother and aunt.
Ticket prices: General £24 | Concessions £20 Season Pass £60 – See all four plays
Listings Information
The Gail Louw Season
The Playground Theatre
20 February to 24 March 2024
STORMING
20 – 24 February 2024
Tuesday – Saturday | 7.30 pm
Matinee: Saturday | 2.30 pm
General Admission £24
Senior 60+ | Student | Unemployed £20
https://www.theplaygroundtheatre.org.uk/projects/storming
Written by Gail Louw
Directed by Anthony Shrubsall
With Chris Barritt, Edmund Sage-Green and Bu Kunene
Set Design by Male Arcucci
Lighting Design by Chuma Emembolu
Stage Managed by May Bucilliat
BLONDE POISON
27 February to 3 March 2024
Tuesday – Saturday | 7.30 PM
Matinee Saturday | 2.30 PM
Sunday | 4 PM
General Admission £24
Senior 60+ | Student | Unemployed £20
https://www.theplaygroundtheatre.org.uk/projects/blonde-poison-
Written by Gail Louw
Directed by Fred Abrahamse
With Fiona Ramsay
Designed by Marcel Meyer
RIKA’S ROOMS
5 to 10 March 2024
Tuesday – Saturday | 7.30 PM
Sunday | 4 PM
General Admission £24
Senior 60+ | Student | Unemployed £20
https://www.theplaygroundtheatre.org.uk/projects/rikas-rooms
Written by Gail Louw
Directed by Anthony Shrubsall
With Emma Wilkinson Wright (The Mitfords)
Set Design by Male Arcucci
Lighting Design by Chuma Emembolu
THE GIRL IN THE GREEN JUMPER
13 to 24 March 2024
Tuesday – Saturday | 7.30 PM
Sunday | 4 PM
General Admission £24
Senior 60+ | Student | Unemployed £20
https://www.theplaygroundtheatre.org.uk/projects/the-girl-in-the-green-jumper
Written by Gail Louw
Directed by Christian Holder
Peter Tate as Cyril Mann and Natalie Ava Nasr as Renske
Lighting Design by Petr Vocka
Sound Design by Eloise Sheffield