Leeds Playhouse has announced a terrific trio for The House Party, a bold adaptation of August Strindberg’s Miss Julie. This co-production with Chichester Festival Theatre and Headlong, in association with Frantic Assembly, will kick off its UK tour in Leeds from 21 Feb – 1 Mar.
Sesley Hope (Bridgerton) will play Christine, Synnøve Karlsen (Miss Austen, Last Night in Soho, Clique) will play Julie and Tom Lewis (Patience, Gentleman Jack, Breach), from Leeds, will play Jon.
Written by Laura Lomas (Metamorphoses, The Blue Woman, Chaos), The House Party is a reimagining of August Strindberg’s Miss Julie for today’s generation directed by Headlong’s Artistic Director Holly Race Roughan (The New Real, A View from the Bridge, Henry V). The production continues the Playhouse’s long-term partnership with Headlong (Jitney, A Raisin in the Sun), and will feature members of Frantic Assembly’s Ignition programme, a free, nationwide talent development programme for people aged 16-24, including local young people from the Leeds City Region.
Director Holly Race Roughan said: “Bringing new plays back to life right now on stages across the UK is vital. I couldn’t have hoped for a sharper, more thrilling group of young actors to ignite the 1800s fire in Lomas’ scorching modern take on Miss Julie.
“Following the run at Chichester Festival Theatre’s Minerva, once again, for many this show marks their professional stage debut. The teenage party is back– electric, unrelenting, and ready to pull you in – no matter what your age.”
A wild party. A friendship. A cherished pet. And a night that changes everything. It’s Julie’s 18th birthday, and she’s throwing a party in her father’s extravagant townhouse. Her boyfriend has just dumped her and her long-suffering best friend Christine is trying to pick up the pieces. As the revellers pile into the booze, down in the kitchen Christine and her boyfriend Jon – son of Julie’s cleaner – clear up and dare to dream of the future. But as the volume goes up and the shots go down, Julie concocts a twisted cocktail of privilege, desire and destruction.
