Who will own the House of Agnes?

Paines Plough in association with Oval House Theatre presents

HOUSE OF AGNES

4-29 March at Oval House Theatre
Some of the most exciting theatre in the UK - Guardian

Paines Plough begin their exuberant 2008 season with House of Agnes by Levi David Addai, a new play by a young writer whose recent Royal Court debut, 93.2FM, was a critical sensation. Paines Plough are not just doing a show at
Oval House Theatre, they will be taking over the building with a series of new writing events, including playreadings in unusual spaces inside Oval House.

House of Agnes was written as part of an attachment at Paines Plough in
February 2007 and was subsequently commissioned and developed with the
company. It is Levi's first commission.

House of Agnes is a tender, astute and humorous portrait of clashing traditional and cultural values in modern family life. After 40 years of building a home in London, Agnes is retiring and moving back to Ghana. Her final wish is for her sons to live together under the same roof when she is gone. But her eldest, Sol, is living with a girlfriend Agnes loathes, and he won't move home until Agnes accepts her. Meanwhile, younger brother Caleb will do whatever it takes to inherit the house, except share it with Sol.

As her departure draws closer, the tensions in Agnes' house rise to breaking point. Will she trust her 21st century boys and finally allow them to be men? Who will own the House of Agnes?

Levi David Addai wrote his first play 93.2FM as part of the Royal Court Theatre's Young Writers Programme. It was performed at the Royal Court's Downstairs Theatre in 2005 and then revived in 2006 before touring to Cardiff, Birmingham, Liverpool and Brighton. A pilot script based on 93.2FM has been commissioned by BBC TV.

Levi David Addai's play 93.2FM gives notice of an attractive new talent -
Independent

George Perrin, director, began as assistant director to Paines Plough in 2005, becoming Trainee Associate Director in 2006. This is his final production with the company. At Paines Plough, he produced the cult late-night playreadings series, LATER and recently directed Che Walker's Crazy Love and Rona Munro¹s The Dirt Under the Carpet as part of the A PLAY, A PIE, A PINT season at Oran Mor in Glasgow and Shunt Vaults in London.

Agnes will be played by Cecilia Noble, whose theatre credits include: The Exonnerated (Riverside/Dublin), Yellowman (Hampstead Theatre) and His Dark Materials (National Theatre).

Paines Plough is a theatre company committed to producing new plays. Our work has recently been seen in railway arches under London Bridge, at the
Edinburgh Festival Fringe, late night in the depths of London's West End, over lunch on the South Bank; in St Petersburg and Bradford, New York and Plymouth; on the Globe Stage and in a cupboard in Brighton. In 2007 alone, Paines Plough won four awards. In 2008, Paines Plough will perform in yet more new spaces, including Village Underground (a warehouse in Shoreditch) and Canterbury Cathedral.

LISTINGS INFORMATION:

Dates: 4 -29 March (Tuesday to Saturday)
PRESS NIGHT - Thursday, 6 March at 7.45pm
Previews: 4 & 5 March at 7.45pm
Tickets: £12 / £6 concessions, (including Refugee Community Organisations);
previews £6
Audio described: Weds 19th March 7:45pm, with Ian Breslin
BSL: Thurs 20th March 7:45pm & Sat 29th March 4:00pm, with Jacqui Beckford
Easter meal deal special (21 March & 22 March): £12 includes play, drink and
meal from Oval's Caribbean Kitchen
Venue: Oval House Theatre, 52-54 Kennington Oval, London, SE11 5SW
Box Office: 020 7582 7680 Online sales: www.ovalhouse.com
Transport: Oval Tube (1 min, Northern Line), Vauxhall (15 min, Victoria Line
& BR)
Access: Induction Loop. Flat wheelchair access
Car park for disabled visitors only, on-street parking nearby
Café: Open theatre nights from 6.30pm for wines, beers and meals

PAINES PLOUGH in Residence at Oval House - Listings Information

During HOUSE OF AGNES, Paines Plough will be in residence at Oval House
Theatre. These special events will be taking place:

THEATRE UPSTAIRS
Tues 11th March 10:00pm
Tuesday late night with Levi David Addai
Hosted by playwright Levi David Addai, Paines Plough kick off their
residency with an evening of brand new work. An eclectic mid-week mix-up of
evening entertainment.
£5 (£3 when booked at the same time as House of Agnes)

THEATRE DOWNSTAIRS
Weds 12th March 9:45 pm
Why do the British love West African playwrights?
Stay after the House of Agnes performance for a crackling debate about West
African playwriting with a panel including Dipo Agboluaje and Levi David
Addai.
(FREE with tonight¹s performance of House of Agnes)