Arcola Theatre | Wednesday 15 April to Saturday 16 May
STOP PRESS – NEWS FLASH!
CLARE HIGGINS & GREG HICKS
star in the World Premiere of the Fleet Street drama
CLARION
Two of the most highly acclaimed British actors of their generation, Clare Higgins and Greg Hicks, are to star in the World Premiere of Clarion, set in the office of Britain’s worst newspaper, the Daily Clarion.
Written by Mark Jagasia, who worked as a journalist for several Fleet Street newspapers, Clarion is an urgent black comedy about free speech, nationalism and the state of the British media in 2015.
It will get a 5-week season at Arcola Theatre from Wednesday 15 April to Saturday 16 May in an explosive production from Artistic Director Mehmet Ergen.
Morris Honeyspoon (Greg Hicks), the Clarion’s egomaniacal editor, spends his weekends dressed as Julius Caesar, and at work he rules like a tyrant. But life at his beloved paper is a masterclass in incompetence and deceit. As political storm clouds gather over an uneasy country, it seems the paper’s worst crimes are about to be exposed. With Honeyspoon frantically searching for an office traitor, washed-up foreign correspondent Verity Stokes (Clare Higgins) masterminds a murderous day of reckoning…
Mark Jagasia’s debut play shines a dazzling light on the dark heart of our democracy. Its themes of rising nationalism and political turbulence are powerfully relevant in this general election year.
“Mark’s play is blisteringly funny, brilliantly written but also a huge wake-up call, examining the underbelly of life in the newsrooms of our national press. Verity is a terrific role and as soon as I read it I didn’t want anyone else but me playing her!” Clare Higgins
“The language is electric, savage and provocative. The combination of returning to the Arcola, and finding a script of this calibre, is all I can ask for as an actor.” Greg Hicks
“I’m remarkably privileged to have stars of the calibre of Greg Hicks and Clare Higgins bringing these characters to life. For a debut play, it’s dream come true stuff”. Mark Jagasia
“As we’re rehearsing Clarion, my production of Shrapnel: 34 Fragments of a Massacre is playing downstairs. One confronts the state of the British media; the other the state of modern warfare. Both are vital world premieres. As the election looms, I’m proud that Arcola Theatre is tackling big political questions with daring political plays.” Mehmet Ergen
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Cast
Clare Higgins
Greg Hicks
Peter Bourke,
Jim Bywater,
Jim Dunkley,
Laura Smithers,
Ryan Wichert.
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Creatives
Director Mehmet Ergen
Designer Anthony Lamble
Lighting Designer David Howe
Music and Sound Designer Neil McKeown
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Booking Information
Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, London, E8 3DL
Performances
Wednesday 15 April – Saturday 16 May
Monday – Saturday evenings at 7:30pm, Saturday matinees at 3:00pm
Tickets
£19 / £15 concessions
21 March – £17 / £14 concessions
28 March – £19 / £15 concessions
Opening performances (15 – 19 April) – All tickets £12
Pay What You Can Tuesdays (tickets in person from 6pm – limited and subject to availability)
Tickets are £10 or less with Arcola Passport
Running time to be confirmed with first preview.