Following their hugely successful production of Spiral last year, Veritas Theatre are delighted to return to Park Theatre in collaboration with KEPOW! Theatre with their production of Beneath The Blue Rinse, a wickedly funny, high octane comedy about growing old passionately and disgracefully. The production runs from 21st May – 15th June, with the official press night being held on Friday 24th May at 7pm.
Beneath The Blue Rinse is directed by Glen Walford (Shirley Valentine – UK Tour) and stars Ian Redford, Marlene Sidaway and Kevin Tomlinson. The play was written by Tom Glover, who was selected as one of three winners of the 2018 BAFTA/Rocliffe New Writing Showcase Competition.
When unscrupulous, over-confident salesman Simon Sudgebury comes knocking on the door of the seemingly timid Flora Parkin, hoping to scare her into buying an expensive alarm system, little does he realise what he is about to let himself in for. Feisty, charismatic 75-year-old Flora and her gentle 72-year-old ‘toy boy’ lover George are not what they first appear!
Whilst being incredibly funny, this explosive play also quashes stereotypes surrounding senior citizens and questions how society views and treats the elderly.
Playwright Tom Glover says:
“I hate little old ladies – the ones you see in dramas who are pottering, harmless cardigan-wearing biddies. I wanted to write a piece which challenged that cliché and packed a punch demonstrating that age is no barrier to radicalism and relevance.”
Marlene Sidaway plays the feisty character of Flora. She is perhaps best known for playing the role of Maureen in Mum (Big Talk). Other recent credits include In The Long Run (ITLR Productions); Doc Martin (ITV); Doctors (BBC); Return To Haifa (Finborough); Talking Heads: A Cream Cracker Under The Setee (West Yorkshire Playhouse) and Kenny Morgan (Arcola).
Kevin Tomlinson plays confidence trickster, Simon. Kevin’s theatre credits include: Spiral (Park Theatre); Seven Ages (Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough); On The Edge! (York Theatre Royal / UK tour); The Ragged Child (Royal and Derngate Theatre, Northampton); Whose Story Is It Anyway? (Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds); Flat 73 (Cheltenham Everyman Theatre); Maestro (Hackney Empire) and Godspell (Royal and Derngate Theatre, Northampton). Kevin also played Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream for BBC2 Open University.
The cast is completed by Ian Redford in the role of George, Flora’s 72-year-old ‘toy boy’ lover. Ian’s credits include Mary and Martha (Working Title Films); The Secret Theatre (Shakespeare’s Globe); Loot (Park Theatre); The Alchemist (RSC); The Seagull (Regent’s Park Theatre Open Air Theatre); Our Country’s Good (Out Of Joint Theatre Company); Love The Sinner (National Theatre); Six Degrees of Separation (Old Vic) and Romeo & Juliet (The Globe).
www.parktheatre.co.uk
Box office: 020 7870 6876*
Beneath The Blue Rinse
Venue: Park90, Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, N4 3JP
Dates: 21 May – 15 Jun
Press night: Fri 24 May, 19:00
Age guidance: 14+
Access Performances: Captioned Performance, Wed 12 Jun 19:45
Performances: Mon – Sat Evenings 7.45pm, Thu & Sat Matinees 3.15pm
Prices: Previews £14.50, Standard £18, Concessions £16.50, Child (Under 16) £13, Park Up Scheme (21 – 28 May) £10, Groups – buy 10 tickets, get the 11th free.
Booking: www.parktheatre.co.uk / 020 7870 6876
*10% telephone booking fee, capped at £2.50 per ticket.
