“art models reveal all in Katherine Parkinson’s smart debut…[she] delicately reveals connections that, by the end, give the play a wistful emotional weight” Mark Fisher, The Guardian
“Parkinson paints intense, quietly devastating portraits of her characters with accomplished brush strokes” ★★★★ Heather Swain, Metro
“Sitting is a sharp, perceptive piece of work, delivered brilliantly” ★★★★ David Kettle, The List
“a finely crafted story infused with sadness but balanced by some lovely comic writing… Sitting is an impressive debut” ★★★★ Mark Ludmon, BritishTheatre.com
It was announced today, 28th March, that the cast for Katherine Parkinson’s debut play, Sitting at Arcola Theatre will include Hayley Jayne Standing (ITV’s Downton Abbey, BBC 2’s Hometime), Mark Weinman (Netflix’s After Life), and Poppy Fardell (Tristan Bates Theatre’s Peanut Butter).
Sarah Bedi (co-artistic director of BAZ Productions) directs Sitting which opens on 15th April 2019, with previews from 10th April and runs until 11th May.
‘Do you even need me here? I think you do. Actually.’
Luke, Cassandra and Mary are sitting. They sit weekly for their portraits and, in a series of revealing sessions, end up sharing their funny and moving tales of love, longing and loss.
Katherine Parkinson is an Olivier Award nominee for her role in Home, I’m Darling (National Theatre) and a BAFTA Award-winning actor, whose credits include The IT Crowd (Channel 4), Doc Martin (ITV), The Honourable Woman (BBC Two) and Humans (Channel 4). Sometimes emotional, sometimes poignant, sometimes funny, Parkinson has turned her talents to playwriting for the first time in her extensive career.
Sitting was originally directed by Sarah Bedi and produced by BBC Arts and Avalon at the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe as part of an initiative to encourage writers from genres outside of theatre to write for the stage. Arcola Theatre presents Sitting in association with BBC Arts and Avalon.
Listings
Arcola Theatre
24 Ashwin Street, Dalston, London E8 3DL
Box Office: 020 7503 1646
Performances: 10 April – 11 May 2019
Monday to Saturday at 8pm, Saturday matinees at 3:30pm
Press night: Monday 15 April 2019, 7pm
Tickets: £10 to £22 (concessions available)
Listings: www.arcolatheatre.com/event/sitting
#Sitting
For more information please contact:
Lily Marriott / LMarriott@avalonuk.com / 020 7598 7222
NOTES TO EDITORS
ABOUT ARCOLA THEATRE
Arcola Theatre is one of London’s leading off-West End theatres. Locally engaged and internationally minded, Arcola stages a diverse programme of plays, operas and musicals. World-class productions from major artists appear alongside cutting-edge work from the most exciting emerging companies. Arcola delivers one of London’s most extensive community engagement programmes, creating over 11,000 opportunities every year. By providing research and development space to diverse artists, Arcola champions theatre that’s more engaging and representative. Its pioneering environmental initiatives are internationally renowned and aim to make Arcola the world’s first carbon-neutral theatre.
Twitter: @arcolatheatre
Facebook: arcolatheatre
ABOUT AVALON
Avalon is a producer of live shows around the world, with productions including Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee’s Jerry Springer: The Opera, the first West End show to win all four UK ‘Best New Musical’ awards and Newman and Baddiel: Live at Wembley, the UK’s first arena comedy show. Avalon has promoted more winners and nominees of the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award than any other company.
