I feel really lucky to be working on a really marvellous script at the moment with a really fabulous trio of actors. The Script is a dark drama of truth, lies, and intrigue but in a very unexpected context. Rehana (played by Zoe Iqbal) was on holiday with her family in Turkey when they got arrested, thrown in a jail cell; accused of trying to cross the border to go and fight in Syria. After a couple of weeks of confusing custody, she’s deported - separated from her husband who remains, as far as we know, in a Turkish cell. On return to British soil, her son is taken from her by the authorities and she’s immediately arrested on terrorism charges. We open the play with Lucas Galvin (played by Ian Curley) arriving to get the truth, in preparation to defend her during the police interviews, conducted by the clever and manipulative Sgt Kennedy (played by Leni Murphy). What we have is a cat-and-mouse game of truth, lies, and revelation. The rehearsal process has been a great opportunity to really delve into the dramatic action, and we’ve managed to find the truth in the text - even where it’s implicitly relayed through the action of the play. The cast have been amazing to work with. I’ve wanted to work with Zoe for years, and this was a great opportunity to collaborate. She’s amazingly driven, focused, and hard-working, and has the balance of Rehana’s strength and vulnerability to a tee. I’ve worked with Ian Curley many times in the past, and it’s brilliant to work with him again. He’s starred in many of my plays: The Game of Two Halves, HotShot, Cake, Eighteen. I’ve also directed one of his plays at the 24:7 Theatre Festival, and he’s been the tech operator for loads of my other plays. He’s the consumate professional, and he’s brought his years of experience to the process. It’s been brilliant to work with him again, and he’s really got under the skin of Galvin. I’ve worked with Leni Murphy many times during the Studio Salford Development Week readings. She’s a great actor and has embraced Kennedy’s complexity with both hands and brought intelligence and trickiest to the role. I’m confident that we have a great cast who have worked amazingly hard to bring a great script to life. We’re grateful to Arts Council England for funding the process - to be in a rehearsal room full-time is a real privilege, and we feel lucky to have had the opportunity to bring this script to life. The Script, by Robert Pegg, produced by Richard Douglas of Agrippa Productions, opens on Wednesday night and runs till Sunday at The Kings Arms Theatre (including a matinee on Sunday). The Script, by Robert Pegg Wed 14th - Sun 18th Nov, 7.30pm Sun 18th - 2pm and 7.30pm Tickets available from Kings Arms Theatre website (www.kingsarmssalford.com)
Photos courtesy of Mark Russell
