18 November 2019
Newsdesk
‘Persona’, the world premiere of a new theatrical adaptation of Ingmar Bergman’s 1966 iconic Swedish psychological movie - considered by many critics as one of the greatest films ever made - is to be the opening production in Studio 3 of the new Riverside Studios.
A new adaptation by visionary director Paul Schoolman that presents the thoughts of Ingmar Bergman himself, giving a far deeper understanding of the piece then has ever been presented before, ‘Persona’, will run from Tuesday 21 January - Sunday 23 February, 2020.
Press performances:
Tuesday 28 January at 7.30pm
Wednesday 29 January at 7.30pm
Thursday 30 January at 7.30pm
All reviews are strictly embargoed to 11pm on Thursday 30 January
Olivier Award winner Alice Krige makes her return to the London stage after two decades working in Hollywood movies and on hit TV shows. The cast also includes South African powerhouse of talent Nobuhle Ketelo and Paul Schoolman, who adapted Bergman’s manuscript while working in the film director’s study on the Island of Faro.
‘Persona’ centres on a nurse, Sister Alma and her patient, well-known stage actress Elisabet Vogler, who has suddenly stopped speaking. They move to a cottage, where Alma cares for Elisabet, confides in her and begins having trouble distinguishing herself from her patient.
This adaptation creates the character of The Narrator, using Bergman’s voice for the first time.
The production promises to be a sensory feast, with a fourth character ‘played’ by William Close who will play an original score on his incredible Earth Harp, which will turn the theatre itself into a giant instrument. The Earth Harp earned William a finalist slot on ‘America’s Got Talent’ and it was recently named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s longest playable stringed musical instrument.
Persona was the Roman name for the mask worn by an actor to magnify their voice. Once you start to tear away the mask you begin to see reality...
Creative team
Director Paul Schoolman
Production Designer BAFTA award winner Fotini Dimou
Videographer Filip Haglund
Persona OnStage
Co producers George Arton and Henry Morriss
Executive Producers Joanne Benjamin and Clive Chenery
General Managers The Entertainment Business
Alice Krige - Actor/Producer
Alice made her acting debut in the film CHARIOTS OF FIRE and has since starred in GHOST STORY with Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas and Douglas Fairbanks Jnr., KING DAVID opposite Richard Gere; HAUNTED SUMMER with Laura Dern, BARFLY with Mickey Rourke, SEE YOU IN THE MORNING, opposite Jeff Bridges and with Patrick Stewart in STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT. Amongst her numerous other features are SILENT HILL, CAPTIVE, THE LITTLE VAMPIRE and THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE with Nicholas Cage, Alfred Molina and Monica Bellucci. She has also been involved in remarkable art house films: the Quay Brothers’ INSTITUTE BENJAMENTA, TWILIGHT OF THE ICE NYMPHS by Guy Maddin, LONELY HEARTS with John Travolta and Selma Hayeck in 2006 and SKIN starring with Sam Neill and Sophie Okenado which opened to acclaim at Toronto 2008 and won multiple awards.
Alice has acted in many TV films and mini-series in the USA and UK.
She was a leading lady at The Royal Shakespeare Company, playing Cordelia in Gambon’s KING LEAR, Miranda and Roxanne opposite Sir Derek Jacobi in THE TEMPEST and CYRANO DE BERGERAC. Also at the RSC she played Cordelia in BOND’S LEAR and Bianca in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. At the Almeida Theatre she played the female lead in VENICE PRESERVED and at the Arts Theatre West End, she starred in TOYER.
She won the Olivier Award and the Plays and Players Award in London’s West End for Raina in ARMS AND THE MAN, the Saturn Best Actress Award for Stephen King’s SLEEPWALKERS and the Saturn Best Supporting Actress for her performance of the Borg Queen in STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT, and an Ace Nomination for THE HIDDEN ROOM.
Alice’s first film as a producer is JAIL CAESAR, filmed in three prisons in three countries - South Africa, Wales and Drumheller.
SHINGETSU, directed by Paul Schoolman and and co-written by Paul Schoolman, Gunter Singer and Alice Krige is her second feature as a producer.
Nobuhle Ketelo - Actor
Nobuhle, born in the ghettos of the Eastern Cape, started singing at the age of 12 to support her impoverished family. She is now an accomplished actress, musician, praise poetess and storyteller. Nobunhle released her first album - BACK TO YOUR ROOTS - in 2005, selling over 5,000 copies locally and internationally. She has collaborated with other artists in South Africa and internationally - Fresh Ground Remix,Thanduxolo, Ben Amato, Shamle, Lynn Holmes - and has done a beautiful collaboration with Desert Rose - SPIRIT OF AFRICA. She has performed in several Arts Cape musical productions and co-starred with Alice Krige in Paul Shoolman’s film, JAIL CAESAR.
Persona Onstage
by arrangement with
Joseph Weinberger Play Ltd., London
on behalf of
The Ingmar Bergman Foundation
presents
Ingmar Bergman’s Persona
a new stage adaptation
RIVERSIDE STUDIOS
Studio 3
101 Queen Caroline Street,
Hammersmith,
London, W6 9BN
21 January - 23 February, 2020
Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm
Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 3.00pm
Press performances:
Tuesday 28 January at 7.30pm
Wednesday 29 January at 7.30pm
Thursday 30 January at 7.30pm
All reviews are strictly embargoed
to 11pm on Thursday 30 January
Tuesday 28 January
Riverside Supporters Night
with cast Q & A after the performance
Thursday 30 January - Gala night
Box Office live from Tuesday 12
November to Riverside Founder
Members for 24 hours
General on sale to the public
Friday 15 November
Tickets:
£40, £30, £12.50 - no booking fee
concessions Seniors/Unwaged/ Disabled
Box office: 020 8237 1010
www.riversidestudios.co.uk
