Love bridges the class divide in Simon de Cintra’s new 1950s-set play Bed Seven, which brings its spirit-lifting tale to the Tristan Bates Theatre next month. Time to book your tickets.
Staged by Act Naturally Ltd, the story of wooing on a ward runs from 19 to 23 November 2019.
Patricia, a ‘country girl’ from Bristol, has surpassed her family’s expectations to become a State Registered Nurse at King’s College Hospital. Gerald, her patient, is a graduate from Trinity College, Dublin, living in leafy South London, and is expected to take over the successful family business, importing watches. Patricia and Gerald would probably never have met, if it hadn’t been for bed seven. Opposite sides of a sharp class divide, united by a friendship born out of a life-threatening dilemma. Will they treat each other’s self-doubts and find a love that crosses convention?
Chloe Wigmore stars as nurse Patricia Voisey. Her previous London stage credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Courtyard Theatre, Macbeth at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre and Don Juan: The Libertine at the Cockpit Theatre. She has also appeared in the Secret Cinema productions Dr Strangelove and Bladerunner.
Jesse Rutherford stars as Gerald. His past credits include Smoke & Oakum’s tour of Cornermen, Chicken Shop at Park Theatre and Killer Joe in the West End.
Bed Seven stars Chloe Wigmore and Jesse Rutherford
In addition to writing Bed Seven, de Cintra also directs the production. Speaking about the show, he said:
“Although the story is set in 1953, the themes are still very topical today; in terms of female empowerment and how people from different backgrounds can complement each other. Most of all, with everything else going on, this is an injection of ‘feel good’ with a fantastic cast and creatives; including movement and music. You’ll leave with a smile on your face and feeling just a little uplifted.”
His Bed Seven creative team includes choreographer Lily Howkins, who has previously worked on shows including Caste, Our American Cousin (both Finborough Theatre), The Tinderbox (Charing Cross Theatre) and Honk! (Union Theatre), and composer Adam Gerber, who this year alone has composed music for the international tour of Soldier On, The Fear and Gravel Heart at The Bunker, and been Musical Director for Billy Bishop Goes to War at Southwark Playhouse. Nicola Wright (Assistant Director) and Lizzie Mounter (Dramaturg) complete the creative team.
Tristan Bates Theatre’s autumn/winter season is packed with exciting and eclectic shows including current hit Sherlock Holmes in A Scandal in Bohemia (and other tales), dark comedy about mental health A Bench at the Edge and tale of an actress facing a life-changing dilemma, Nor Woman Neither.
