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Angela Griffin completes the cast of Ben Ockrent’s Breeders, a new play premiering on Wednesday 3 September 2014 at St. James Theatre. Griffin will play Caroline, who wants to start a family with her wife Andrea. In their quest to have a child that shares both of their DNA, Andrea seeks her brother Jimmy’s help. Griffin will be joined by Tamzin Outhwaite as spouse Andrea, Nicholas Burns as Jimmy and Jemima Rooper as Jimmy’s girlfriend, Sharon. Directed by Tamara Harvey, the play is inspired by Ockrent’s real-life experience and offers a new perspective on how and why we make babies.
Angela Griffin was most recently seen onstage in One Man, Two Guvnors and her numerous television credits include Coronation Street, Lewis, Mount Pleasant, Hustle and Waterloo Road. Tamzin Outhwaite returns to the stage after recent roles in Hampstead Theatre’s Raving and Di, Viv and Rose. Nicholas Burns, best known as Channel 4’s Nathan Barley, takes the role of Jimmy. Jemima Rooper will play Jimmy’s girlfriend, Sharon. Jemima was last seen onstage in Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre opposite Angela Lansbury.
Andrea and her wife Caroline have it all: great jobs, a loving relationship and a new home. There’s just one thing missing: a baby. Amidst the drink-sodden traditions of a family Christmas, they have an idea: if nature can’t give them a child that shares both their genes, perhaps Andrea’s under-achieving brother Jimmy can? When he and his girlfriend Sharon agree, the four are forced closer than any family expects to be. Will this be the perfect solution? Or a recipe for disaster?
Vicky Graham Productions will bring Breeders to stage as part of the ONE STAGE season running September – December at the St. James Theatre. It is supported by Stage One, the charity which supports emerging commercial theatre producers. Breederswas commissioned by Vicky Graham Productions. James Perkins will design, with lighting by Joshua Carr, sound by Tom Gibbons, composition and musical direction by Jared Zeus, and casting by Annie Rowe.
A free panel discussion around the provocation ‘children should be raised by a mother and a father’ will take place at 6pm on Monday 15 September prior to the performance of Breeders in the St. James Theatre auditorium. Commentators on issues around family and fertility will debate what constitutes a 21st century family, before opening out the discussion to the audience. Panel members will be announced soon.
