New theatre company UnTied Productions will launch itself into the world with the premiere production of Eddie Palmer’s comedy about a stepfamily, Out of Step. The debut show, directed by Hamish Clayton, runs at the Drayton Arms Theatre from 29 January to 2 February 2019. Time to get booking!
Out of Step tells the story of a dysfunctional stepfamily saying goodbye to their family home. As the stepsiblings gather together for the final farewell, hidden secrets are revealed. An extension to the family may ruin their mother’s dream of a perfect gathering…
The touching comedy explores ideas of nostalgia and rivalry, with an added, shocking plot twist. It asks the audience questions about stigma, young relationships and generational differences.
Out of Step is the debut play by Eddie Palmer. After studying at the University of Edinburgh, Palmer has worked on a number of screenplays and assisted the writing team on monumental Netflix success, The Crown.
This is also the first production to be staged by UnTied Productions, the company founded by Palmer and actor Esme Lonsdale, who decided that rather than waiting for work to come to her, she would take control and find a project she believed in to produce.
Lonsdale also stars in the production, playing Georgia. She’s joined by Brian Marks (Johnathon), Louise Tozer (Julia), Kit Lloyd (Luke), Eoin Mckenna (Edward), Xenia Klein (Louise) and Georgina Armfield (Jenny).
Hamish Clayton, who directs, has previously worked on productions including Tears Are a Luxury (Theatre 503), The Sweet Tin (Old Red Lion Theatre) and The Problem with Fletcher Mott (Tristan Bates Theatre), which he also directs at the Drayton Arms Theatre later in February.
How you can help UnTied Productions?
UnTied Productions is an independent theatre company founded by actor Esme Lonsdale and writer Eddie Palmer to produce plays which focus on extraordinary dilemmas in ordinary lives. As a new company, they have raised much of the funding to stage Out of Step themselves through a number of schemes, including a fundraising dinner party. They are also running a crowdfunder campaign which, at the time of publishing, has reached 83% of its target. If you would like to support these new theatremakers, and earn rewards including personalised thank you videos, tickets and a chance to go backstage, visit their crowdfunder page.