by Marlane Gomard Meyer
Directed by Ché Walker
Designed by Ana Jebens
Lighting by Alex Wardle
Costume Design by Annie Curtis-Jones
Assistant Direction by Vanessa Mobiglia
Presented by Timothy Hughes Productions in association with Weaver Hughes Ensemble
Cast includes: Glenn Conroy. Laura Freeman. Cristina Gavin. Mido Hamada. Siobhan Hewlett. Daniela Nardini. Chris O’Dowd. Indra Ove. Clarke Peters. Tom Sangster.
2 - 26 February 2005
The first London revival
“I can have sex with anyone and make it look like I enjoy it. I’m a pro”
A young woman chases her dreams to sun-soaked LA to become a movie star, but soon the shadows of this city rear up to claim her. Etta aspires to succeed but is sucked down into the porn industry, a world which seduces and abuses, and can illuminate your name in dirty neon. A dark comic thriller about sex and survival.
Following his directorial debut earlier this year with Amy Evans’ Achidi J’s Final Hours at the Finborough Theatre, internationally acclaimed playwright Ché Walker (Flesh Wound and Been So Long (Royal Court), and George Devine Award winner) directs the modern American classic ETTA JENKS, with This Life star Daniela Nardini in the title role.
Daniela Nardini won a BAFTA for her role in This Life and plays Etta, and she is joined by Olivier Award Winner Clarke Peters, most recently seen in Simply Heavenly (West End), Mido Hamada (Guantanamo West End), Siobhan Hewlett (BAFTA nomination for Best Single Drama 2004 Fortysomething Carlton TV), Chris O’Dowd (Vera Drake, directed by Mike Leigh), Indra Ove (Hermia in Robert Lepage’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Royal National Theatre) and Tom Sangster (The Vegemite Tales Edinburgh 2004).
THE PRESS ON ETTA JENKS
"A WELL DESERVED HIT FOR THE FINBOROUGH"
Philip Fisher, British Theatre Guide
"DON'T MISS THIS TREMENDOUS PRODUCTION"
Bob Kaplan, Pubtheatre.Com
"MARLANE GOMARD MEYERS’ 90 MINUTE PLAY IS REFRESHINGLY FREE FROM MORALISING. AT ITS BEST, HER WRITING HAS TEETH, GROWLING WITH DANGER AND GLITTERING WITH WITTY DIALOGUE"
Aleks Sierz, What’s On in London
"WITH ITS LARGE CAST OF CHARACTERS INCLUDING A GUN TOTING BLIND MAN; THE ROLEX RATTLING GANGSTER, SPENCER; THE BLING DRAPED PORN BOSS, BEN; AND A BUNCH OF SAD EYED GIRLS, THE PLAY IS A MODERN EPIC"
Aleks Sierz, What’s On in London
"SUPERBLY DIRECTED BY CHE WALKER"
Aleks Sierz, What’s On in London
"THE SHOW STARS DANIELA NARDINI AS ETTA. SHE HAS A LARGE, RED MOUTH AS BRIGHT AS A FIRE ENGINE. THIS SHE USES TO GOOD EFFECT, MAINLY TO SPRAY THE WALLS WITH VITRIOL. "
Aleks Sierz, What’s On in London
"THIS IS AN EXCITING, DARKLY COMIC EVENING."
Aleks Sierz, What’s On in London
"CHE WALKER, HAS REVIVED IT AT THE FINBOROUGH WITH GREAT PANACHE AND A VERY STRONG CAST."
Philip Fisher, British Theatre Guide
"CHE WALKER’S SPIRITED AND THOROUGHLY ENTERTAINING PRODUCTION"
Robert Shore, Time Out
"DARKLY COMIC"
Emma Whitelaw, indielondon.co.uk
"PLAYED WITH FORCE BY DANIELA NARDINI"
Ian Johns, The Times
MIDO HAMADA
". . .SHOWS REAL TALENT . . ."
Philip Fisher, British Theatre Guide
". . .IMMENSELY TALENTED . . ."
Emma Whitelaw, indielondon.co.uk
"GLENN CONROY IS SUPERB"
Emma Whitelaw, indielondon.co.uk
"DANIELA NARDINI’S ETTA CONVINCINGLY MAKES THE TRANSITION FROM WIDE-EYED DREAMER TO SHARP-SUITED PREDATOR"
Michael Billington, The Guardian
"ETTA JENKS IS AN IRRESISTIBLY COMPELLING MODERN TYPE OF FLAWED HEROINE, AND IT’S GOOD TO SEE HER LIVE ON STAGE AGAIN IN LONDON"
C J Sheridan, Rogues and Vagabonds
"INDRA OVE AND SIOBHAN HEWLETT ARE VERY REAL AND FUNNY"
C J Sheridan, Rogues and Vagabonds
"FEATURED PRODUCTION
THE PLAY WITH A HUGE CAST OF INCREDIBLY TALENTED ACTORS (INCLUDING DANIELA NARDINI) IS NEARLY BURSTING AT THE SEAMS IN THE FINBOROUGH’S SMALL SPACE."
Bob Kaplan, Pubtheatre.Com
INDRA OVE
"WONDERFULLY FIERCE . . .WITH THE REPRESSED SPIRIT OF A CHAINED TIGRESS"
C J Sheridan, Rogues and Vagabonds
"CHRISTINA GAVIN GIVES THE PRODUCTION AN ELEMENT OF SMOULDERING DARK SELMA HAYEK STYLE GLAMOUR AND PASSION"
C J Sheridan, Rogues and Vagabonds
TOM SANGSTER …
"...PERFECTLY DESPICABLE..."
C J Sheridan, Rogues and Vagabonds
"...PARTICULARLY IMPRESSIVE…"
Michael Billington, The Guardian
