After their 2018 production of Philip Ridley’s Moonfleece, Lidless Theatre present the tenth-anniversary revival of Ridley’s seminal play Tender Napalm.
The production, helmed by Lidless artistic director Max Harrison, will have a limited season at London’s King’s Head Theatre from 26 October to 20 November 2021, with a press night on 28 October.
Two lovers. A desert Island. Sea serpents. UFOs. Tsunamis. Unicorns. Atomic bombs. What is this thing…called love? This brutal yet tender two-hander explores the highs and lows of a romantic relationship through a series of vignettes ranging from the fantastical to the very basest of human emotions – raw and visceral, dangerously honest.
Hailed an instant classic when it first premiered in 2011, Tender Napalm was nominated for a variety of awards and featured on ‘best theatre of the year’ lists in Time Out, The Observer and The Guardian. It has since been performed all over the world.
This tenth-anniversary production is the first London revival and is presented at the recommendation of Philip Ridley himself, after seeing Lidless Theatre’s 2018 production of Moonfleece. It stars Moonfleece cast members Jaz Hutchins and Adeline Waby and is also directed by Max Harrison.
Moonfleece ran at the Pleasance Theatre in 2018
Director Max Harrison said:
“I’m delighted to be directing Tender Napalm. This modern myth boils humanity down to its essential components before throwing them out into the realm of imagination for a ride around space. Philip’s razor-sharp play explores the relationship between Man and Women battling through love and grief as they radically attempt to redefine the language of love.
“Although Phil and I have been talking about it for nearly three years, it seems particularly relevant to present the play now, after all we’ve just been through – the play sees a couple locked down inside a shared mind, trying to make sense of a senseless tragedy. It also explores intimacy – physical, sexual and emotional – things we have had greatly restricted. Tender Napalm allows all those energies to boil over and asks us… what is this thing called love?”
The production has movement by Sam Angell, set and costume design by Kitty Hinchcliffe, lighting by Holly Ellis and sound by Camille Marchadour. It’s produced by Zoe Weldon.
About Lidless Theatre
Lidless Theatre
Lidless Theatre company are committed to producing exciting new writing and timely revivals. They are passionate about working with new writers on bold, fierce stories and their original plays have covered themes such as Human Rights abuses in Chechnya, mental health and NHS staff. In 2018 they worked with Philip Ridley on a revival of Moonfleece, which looks at the rise of the far right in Britain.
Bios
Adeline Waby
Adeline Waby (Woman) – Adeline trained at LAMDA on the BA course. Her recent credits include playing Annie in Mischief Theatre Company’s Peter Pan Goes Wrong in the West End, Bin Juice (Vaults festival); Moonfleece (Pleasance Theatre); feature film The Midwife, short film Kindness of Strangers.
Jaz Hutchins
Jaz Hutchins (Man) – Jaz’s stage credits include: Paper Cut (Theatre503); The Last Nine Months (of the rest of our lives) (Vault Festival); Moonfleece (Pleasance Theatre); Judgement Day (The Comedy Project, Soho Theatre); Warheads (Theatre Peckham); Now You Don’t (LPOG / Southwark Playhouse); What Once Was Ours (Half Moon / Zest Theatre, National Tour); Burnt Toast (Theatre503 / Assembly – Edinburgh Fringe Festival) ; Stay Happy Keep Smiling (Jermyn Street Theatre); The Red Balloon (Southwark Playhouse). Television Credits include: The Ipcress File (ITV); Temple (Sky); Doctors (BBC); Cursed (Netflix); Not Going Out (BBC).
Max Harrison (Director) – Max has directed seven shows over the past five years. After training at LAMDA as an actor, he set up his own theatre company, Lidless Theatre, and has directed work across leading London Fringe venues, such as They Have Long Arms and They Can Find Me (Katzpace), Moonfleece (Pleasance), Little Pieces of Gold (The Southwark Playhouse), and now Tender Napalm (The King’s Head). He is currently under the tutelage of Mike Alfreds (Shared Experience, National Theatre).
