Eight
Young Actors cast in Takeover Play
Cherryade Supernova by Andrew Finnigan
South Shields Customs House
Friday 4th June 2021
The cast to the Takeover Young Writer in Residence’s play has
been announced. Cherryade Supernova by Andrew Finnigan will be performed at The
Customs House in South Tyneside on the last night of Takeover 2021 on June 4. The
play – a story about friends discovering what it really means to be cool – will
be directed by local actor and Takeover acting alumni Abigail Lawson.
The Takeover Young Writer in Residence’s play gives
emerging actors the opportunity to gain experience and Cherryade Supernova will
be following on from the success of Reece Connolly’s WORMTOWN and Elijah
Young’s Isolation.
Andrew said: “We saw such a great range of talent over two
days, and we are thrilled to have found such a talented cast. I am excited to
see what Abigail and the company will do with my script!’
Abigail added: “I am eternally grateful to The Customs
House for always providing me with the best opportunities and experiences and
for always believing in me.”
Josie’s throwing a house party. Not by choice obviously,
but because her Mam has told her to. Josie is mortified but best mate Josh,
seizing the opportunity to prove to people that they aren’t total losers,
instantly drafts up a flawless Facebook event and invites everyone from
College. All squashed together in Josie’s front room, we see how she battles
through the night and navigates the stress of trying to keep everyone happy.
So, there’s Cherryade in the fridge, fish fingers in the
oven and a stray cat in the bathroom. Here’s to being cool!
Taking on the role of Josie is Gateshead actress Chloe Jane
Millar, who recently completed her training at Arts Educational achieving a
master’s degree in Acting. She has played Rosie in Bridges Apart at the Union
Theatre, London and Natalie in Xposed at Southwark Playhouse, London. She is
due back at The Customs House later this year to play the Fairy in the pantomime,
Rapunzel.
Playing her best friend Josh will be Benjamin Michael
Smith, from South Tyneside. His recent stage credits include Jack Orben in
Overdue and Chuck in Burlesque’D.
Lucy Marie Curry, from Tyneside will play Sophie. Her
credits include Suffragette at Alphabetti Theatre, Teechers at Durham Gala,
Stand By Me - The Drifters UK tour, ‘84 The Miners Wives - NE tour,
Preservation at Live Theatre, Mary Shelley in Frankenstein – North East tour,
Arbuthnot & Pals at The Customs House, BBC and ITV documentaries and
commercials for DFDS seaways and The Metro.
Jackson Watson from Washington may be making his acting
debut as Jae, but he’s no stranger to the stage. Jackson has competed in
breaking competitions all over Europe, America and China, as well as being the
‘Red Bull BC One’ UK Champion in 2019, going on to make the Top 16 at the ‘Red
Bull Last Chance Cypher’ in India.
Jack Breedon from Cullercoats will play the part of Reece.
Jack has performed in a variety of fields, voice acting in Danny Boyle’s ‘Pages
by the Sea’, Sunderland Spark Radio and other character work over the last few
years as well as starring in award winning short film First Date of the Dead.
The part of Callum will be played by Kieron Michael from Birtley
recently graduated from Manchester School of Theatre. He has performed on the
National Theatre stage in Tokyo in 'The Monster', and has recently been in a
virtual theatre play called 'Broken Link' which is going to the Brighton Fringe
Festival.
Emily Corless from County Durham will play Stevie. Emily
graduated from Newcastle Theatre Royal’s actor training company, Project A last
year. Her recent acting credits include: Project A’s Love and Information at Newcastle
Theatre Royal, Where Do We Belong? At Northern Stage, Brunskill and Grimes’ Summer
Space to Create at the National Theatre, As You Like It, Shakespeare Speakeasy
at Alphabetti Theatre, and My Life Productions’ Strike at Northern Stage.
Rounding up the roles will be Becky Lindsay from Sunderland,
who is taking on the part of Lily. Becky was shortlisted for the prestigious
Spotlight Prize Award 2020 and was also the BBC Carlton Hobbs Bursary Award
Reserve 2020 representing ALRA North. Her recent credits include Advent Plays
at Oldham Coliseum, Theatre Space North East’s tour of Hansel and Gretel, Black
Dog Films campaign to ‘End Youth Homelessness’ and in Floppy Toast with Drippy
Butter for Lone Pine Pictures.
Award-winning writer Tom Wells has been mentoring Andrew
through his first writing experience. Andrew,
from Simonside, South Shield is an actor who has worked closely with the
Customs House and was a proud member of the Customs House Youth Theatre from
2012-2017. His recent acting credits include You Stupid
Darkness! for Paines Plough at Theatre Royal Plymouth; Drip for Script Club and
Boundless Theatre; Wormtown at The Customs House.
Jake Smith, who has directed the last two Takeover plays is
mentoring Abigail through her directorial debut. This is Abigail’s third year
being involved in the Takeover Festival, after being cast in WORMTOWN and
Isolation.
Tickets
Cherryade Supernova will be staged on Friday 4 June at
7.30pm at The Customs House, tickets are Pay What You Decide.
This work is possible due to the generous support of their
funders Scottish Power Foundation.
For tickets, contact the box office on (0191) 454 1234 or
visit: www.customshouse.co.uk.
