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Now playing...
Hampstead Downstairs / The Peter Wolff Trust presents
Lay Down Your Cross
By Nick Payne, Directed by Clare Lizzimore
23 February - 24 March 2012
Overview
In a house in Luton, boxes are stacked high, the paint is out and Tony is ready for a spring clean. Amidst the dust and clutter lie photos and memories of family fun; reminders of what used to be.
As the funeral of his son looms, and his aloof daughter and ex-wife return, will the regrets of the past and the sorrows of the present prove too much for Tony and his kin?
'The prolific and very talented' (Lyn Gardner, Guardian) Nick Payne delivers a stunning and poignant new play about heartache, forgiveness and the importance of family. He has recently enjoyed sell-out success with his critically acclaimed play, Constellations, at the Royal Court. His other plays include Wanderlust (Royal Court), One Day When We Were Young (Sheffield Theatre) and If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet (Bush Theatre).
Clare Lizzimore reunites with Payne after directing One Day When We Were Young. Her other credits include Tom Fool by Franz Xaver Kroetz (Bush Theatre), Faces in the Crowd by Leo Butler (Royal Court) and Johna and Otto by Rob Holman (Manchester Royal Exchange). Clare is Hampstead Theatre's Associate Director and was awarded the Arts Foundation Theatre Directing Fellowship in 2009.
'This 98-seat powerhouse, cannily relaunched by Artistic Director Edward Hall, is a haven for experimental new writing presented well away from critical scrutiny' Evening Standard
Running time: Approx 1 hour and 25 minutes, no interval.
Features
5 minutes with Nick Payne by Will Mortimer, Hampstead Theatre's Literary Manager
Spotlight On: Nick Payne; an interview with A Young Theatre
Prices & Times
Tickets:
£12
Concessions £10
Times:
FEBRUARY
Thur 23 7.45pm
Fri 24 7.45pm
Sat 25 7.45pm
Mon 27 7.45pm
Tues 28 7.45pm
Wed 29 7.45pm
MARCH
Thur 1 7.45pm
Fri 2 7.45pm
Sat 3 3.15pm and 7.45pm
Mon 5 7.45pm
Tue 6 7.45pm
Thur 8 7.45pm
Fri 9 7.45pm
Sat 10 3.15pm and 7.45pm
Mon 12 7.45pm
Tue 13 7.45pm
Wed 14 7.45pm
Thur 15 7.45pm
Fri 16 7.45pm
Sat 17 3.15pm and 7.45pm
Mon 19 7.45pm
Tue 20 7.45pm
Wed 21 7.45pm
Thur 22 7.45pm
Fri 23 7.45pm
Sat 24 3.15pm and 7.45pm
Cast & Creative Team
Writer: Nick Payne
Director: Clare Lizzimore
Designer: Will Fricker
Lighting Designer: Johanna Town
Sound Designer: Emma Laxton
Cast
Lucy Phelps
Angela Terence
Andy de la Tour
Susan Wooldridge
Gallery
Andy de la Tour and Susan Wooldridge
Angela Terence
Lucy Phelps and Susan Wooldridge
Andy de la Tour
Lucy Phelps
Susan Wooldridge, Lucy Phelps and Andy de la Tour
Reviews
What they say on Twitter...
'Left with a lump in my throat after watching Lay Down Your Cross. Nick Payne has another little gem on his hands'
'Lay Down Your Cross is simply wonderful - a daringly uncluttered direction, a simple moving story'
'Spot on dialogue and great family dynamics in Nick Payne's Lay Down Your Cross. Great cast too'
'Love, love, love Lay Down Your Cross. Beautifully acted and directed. What a treat'
'Mind still whirling with images from Nick Payne's deeply detailed Lay Down Your Cross'
'Really glad we came over from France to see this play - very poignant, good performances from all four'
'Very good - and thought provoking. An extremely well written (and acted) demonstration of complete breakdown in communication. Makes you think...'
'What an incredible play. I was rivetted from the first moment, to the last. The writing, directing and acting were all phenominal. I would gladly see it again. I laughed and cried and loved it. Thank you'
'A marvellous evening. Superb acting - I really enjoyed it. What a play!'
