An Almeida Benefit
29 February 2008
 
Following on from the huge success which was A Chain Play in March 2007, the Almeida invited another five distinguished writers to contribute to Chain Play II. The five writers all had an association with the Almeida and included: Stephen Adly Guirgis, Richard Bean, Neil LaBute, Abi Morgan and Tanya Ronder.

Written over a three month period, each writer was given 2 weeks to add a scene of between 10 and 15 minutes before passing the script onto the next writer. The resulting play, directed by the notable Indhu Rubasingham, was performed for one night only on 29 February 2008.

Our Principal Sponsor, Coutts & Co, generously extended their sponsorship by supporting Chain Play II for a second year.
 
Preceded by a pre show drinks reception, the performance was followed by a short auction in the auditorium and an exclusive post show party with food, cocktails and live music into the night.

Listen to interviews with the creative team of Chain Play II:

Tanya Ronder (writer)

Indhu Rubasingham (director) and Julia Horan (casting director)

Extended interviews can be found on the Coutts & Co website

Click here to hear extended interviews

Photos of Chain Play II:

Indhu Rubasingham - has directed with many of the major theatre companies including the National Theatre, The Royal Court, Chichester Festival Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, Birmingham Rep Theatre, Tricycle Theatre and Theatre Royal, Stratford East.

Stephen Adly Guirgis – is the writer of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, the European Premiere of which opens at the Almeida in March 2008. A long time member of Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s New York LAByrinth Theatre Company, he is best known for his critically acclaimed Jesus Hopped the A-Train and In Arabia we’d all be Kings.

Richard Bean – wrote the hugely successful new version of Moliere’s The Hypochondriac for the Almeida stage in 2005. His other award-winning plays include Harvest and Under the Whaleback, both presented at the Royal Court.

Neil LaBute - acclaimed film director, screenwriter and playwright whose plays include Bash, In the Company of Men, The Shape of Things, Some Girl(s) and The Mercy Seat performed at the Almeida in 2003, directed by Michael Attenborough

Abi Morgan - renowned for her stage hits Tiny Dynamite, Tender and the critically-acclaimed Splendour (Edinburgh Fringe). Currently under commission for the Almeida, Abi’s most recent TV successes include docudrama Tsunami: The Aftermath for HBO and Monica Ali’s hit novel, Brick Lane.

Tanya Ronder - adapted Lorca's Blood Wedding for the Almeida Theatre stage and recently wrote the Young Vic's stage version of DBC Pierre's acclaimed novel Vernon God Little - the piece received fantastic reviews and is soon to be going on a national tour and will be produced off-Broadway.