Blue/Orange is a play written by English dramatist Joe Penhall. The play is a sardonically comic piece which touches on race, mental illness and 21st-century British life.
| Blue/Orange | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Written by | Joe Penhall |
| Date premiered | April 2000 |
| Place premiered | Cottesloe Theatre London |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Setting | London psychiatric hospital |
Productions
editThe play premiered in the Cottesloe Theatre at the Royal National Theatre, London, beginning previews from 7 April 2000 with an opening night on 13 April, where it ran in repertory until 23 August, starring Bill Nighy as Robert, Andrew Lincoln as Bruce and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Christoper. The production was directed by Roger Michell, designed by William Dudley, with lighting by Rick Fisher and sound by Neil Alexander.
The production transferred to the Duchess Theatre (re-configuring the stalls for an in-the-round setting) in London's West End beginning previews on 24 April 2001, with an opening night on 30 April with Nighy, Lincoln and Ejiofor reprising their roles until 18 August. From 20 August, the second cast featured Shaun Parkes as Christopher, Neil Stuke as Bruce and David Threlfall as Robert until the production closed on 15 December 2001.[1]
In 2007, an audio production of the play was released starring Daniel Davis, Teagle F. Bougere and Matt Letscher.[citation needed]
In 2008, Plain Clothes Theatre Productions toured the show around the South-West. Venues included the Tobacco Factory, Bristol; and Cheltenham Everyman and the Rondo Theatre, Bath.[citation needed]
In 2012 it ran at the Theatre Royal, Brighton, starring Robert Bathurst, Gerard McCarthy and Oliver Wilson.[2]
A 2016 revival ran at the Young Vic directed by Matthew Xia starred David Haig as Robert, Daniel Kaluuya as Christopher and Luke Norris as Bruce.[3]
A 2019 production ran at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre directed by Daniel Bailey starred Thomas Coombes as Bruce, Richard Lintern as Robert and Ivan Oyik as Christopher. [4]
A 2021 production will tour Theatre Royal, Bath, Oxford Playhouse and Royal & Derngate, Northampton directed by James Dacre and starring Giles Terera as Robert, Michael Balogun as Christopher and Ralph Davis as Bruce.[5]
Synopsis
editBlurb of the published edition:
In a London psychiatric hospital, an enigmatic patient claims to be the son of an African dictator - a story that becomes unnervingly plausible. BLUE/ORANGE is an incendiary tale of race, madness and a Darwinian power struggle at the heart of a dying National Health Service.
Film adaption
editIn 2005, the play was adapted into a BBC television film directed by Howard Davies starring Brian Cox, John Simm and Shaun Parkes.
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Evening Standard Theatre Award[6] | Best Play | Joe Penhall | Won |
| Outstanding Newcomer | Chiwetel Ejiofor | Won | ||
| Critics' Circle Theatre Award[7] | Best New Play | Joe Penhall | Won | |
| Most Promising Newcomer | Chiwetel Ejiofor | Won | ||
| 2001 | Laurence Olivier Award[8] | Best New Play | Won | |
| Best Actor | Bill Nighy | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Chiwetel Ejiofor | Nominated | ||
Notes
edit- ^ "Blue / Orange by Joe Penhall on stage in London - theatre information and tickets". www.thisistheatre.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ Norman, Neil (21 September 2012). "Theatre review: Blue/Orange, Theatre Royal, Brighton". Daily Express.
- ^ "Blue/Orange". Time Out London. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ "Full Cast Announced For Joe Penhall's Blue/Orange". www.birmingham-rep.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ "Giles Terera and Michael Balogun to star in Blue/Orange revival | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ "Evening Standard Theatre Awards 1955-2000". www.standard.co.uk. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ^ "2000 Results | Critics' Circle Theatre Awards". 28 November 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ^ "WINNERS OF THE 2001 LAURENCE OLIVIER AWARDS". London Theatre Guide. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
References
edit- Joe Penhall (2001). blue/orange. methuen drama.
- Albert Foss (8 August 2006). "BBC Four Drama - Blue/Orange". BBC Four. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
Further reading
edit- Penhall, Joe (2000). Blue/Orange (First ed.). London: Methuen Drama. ISBN 0-413-75270-4.