+ Workshop for schools 1.30pm – 3pm. Ring for details.
Through powerful storytelling, spoken word, movement and music ‘WANTED’ explores the stories of 5 extraordinary ordinary women who share a passion for standing up for what is right! They include Irena Sendler, who rescued more than 2,500 children from the Warsaw ghetto during the Nazi occupation; Olive Morris, British Black Panther and avid activist for women and squatters’ rights; Phoolan Devi, the fearsome Bandit Queen, and a woman way ahead of her time, Dr James Barry. All played out in Gazebo’s inimitable style; powerful drama littered with humour, honesty and heart.
For 43 years Gazebo Theatre has been delivering a comprehensive range of high quality and innovative theatre productions. It has a reputation for telling the stories of historical figures in an innovative, unique and thoroughly engaging way.
This powerful play is presented as part of Black History Month
Transport Grants of up to 50% of the cost/£200, are available for schools booking a minimum of 50 tickets. Please call the Box Office for more information.
CAST BIOGRAPHIES:
Oliver Award nominee Alexia McIntosh joins us to play Olive Morris. Alexia originated and played Anne of Cleves in the worldwide smash hit 'Six, The Musical' in the West End for 4 years. This role gained her What's on Stage awards, many TV & radio appearances including This Morning, The One Show & Britain's got Talent. Alexia also performed at West End Live in Trafalgar Square for 4 years running, at Hampton Court Palace & in 2020 presented the Olivier Nominations alongside Broadway star, Gavin Creel. Alexia has just finished filming the movie of 'Six' with the original cast. Alexia is also a member of girl group SVN which sold out the O2 Islington last Summer. They have co-written & released singles, videos and made TV appearances. Alexia has also recently appeared in 'Big Aunty' at the Belgrade Theatre & 'Goldilocks & the Three Bears' at Birmingham Hippodrome as well as switching on the Birmingham Christmas lights.
Playing Dr James Barry is BBC Doctors' Dawn Butler. Dawn trained at M.A.D.D in Nottingham and went on to work with such companies as Hull Truck, Birmingham Rep, Yorkshire Women Theatre, Sixth Sense and Nottingham Playhouse’s Roundabout. Theatre credits include Two; Beautiful Thing; and Di and Viv and Rose at Birmingham’s Old Joint Stock, and There is None Who Does Good, Burning Books and The Librarian with Wolverhampton’s Arena Theatre. Recently she reprised her role as Barbara in Holding Baby for Roaring Theatre; played Maisie in The System for Sweet Sorrow Theatre Company, took the title role in The Mother at Hereford’s Courtyard, and produced and performed in her own play Deep Breaths for Smiling Eyes Theatre. TV includes Dangerfield, The Locksmith, Crossroads, Family Affairs, Emmerdale and The Bay. She currently plays the semi-regular role of P.C. Pat Dyson in BBC’s Doctors and will feature in D.I.Ray series 2 and the soon to be released film Typist, Artist, Pirate, King.
Rukmini Sircar joins us as Phoolan Devi. Rukmini is an Actor and Performance Maker based in London. Her recent credits include The Dancing Elephant, an interactive, children’s theatre piece that toured the North of UK. She completed a Masters in Performance Making from Goldsmiths in 2022, and is also an alumna of National School of Drama, India. She is the recipient of the coveted Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarship and the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Award (India). A site-specific, walking tour that she co-wrote and also performs in, London: A Bloom of Consciousness, is due to play at the Bloomsbury Festival 2023. Rukmini is interested in pushing the classical boundaries of form and structure to explore fresh possibilities in hybridity and interdisciplinarity.
Reprising the role of Irena Sendler is Gazebo Artistic Director, Pamela Cole-Hudson. Pamela has worked for Gazebo for the past 22 years, writing, directing and producing a wide range of professional touring plays, community arts projects and Theatre in Education programmes, as well as short films. Pamela's acting credits include Wanted 2020 national tour, 2021- streamed; Wander (British Art Show Offsite Wolverhampton); The Sistren national tour and Echoes (Bilston Town Hall).
April Hudson reprises her role as Leoni Lawrence. April's Theatre credits include WANTED! original Cast & A Sense of Belonging (Gazebo Theatre); Robin Hood and The Major Oak, The Wind in The Willows, Home Girl, Treasure Island and The Little Mermaid (Derby Theatre); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Front Room Productions) and Freeman (Strictly Arts Theatre Company). Film credits include: Cake (BBC New Creatives); Remember That? (Aella Jordan-Edge/BAFTA qualifying Carmarthen Bay Film Festival & BIFA qualifying Littlewing Film Festival). Television credits include: Doctors (BBC) and Man Like Mobeen (BBC & Netflix).
