Frank and Ferdinand
By Samuel Adamson
March/April 2011
Soho Theatre & site-specific at The Studios Islington
Frank & Ferdinand was commissioned by the National Theatre as part of the Connections Programme. Following our performance of Success at the National in 2009, members of our Work in Progress young company were invited to work with Samuel Adamson on his early drafts of the play. Their feedback helped Sam to develop the play and also convinced us to produce it ourselves as part of Connections 2011.
The play takes place in an unnamed country in the midst of a civil war: Plains people against those from the Hills. One night, in a small village, Sebastian Schmidts leads one hundred and twenty eight children away from home forever.
Only four children are left behind: a boy who uses crutches, a blind girl, a girl who doesn’t speak and Sebastian’s brother, who struggles with a stammer. It is up to the Gendarme in charge of keeping records, a man of many moods and personalities, to decide which parts of each of their stories are true and which are not.
Following a preview performance at Soho Theatre in February 2011, this extraordinary site-specific production was performed by a cast of 60 young people aged 12 - 22 in an atmospheric disused space minutes at the Studios Islington. For two weeks we took over an 8000 square foot warehouse without electricity, running water or toilets and turned it into one of our most ambitous and memorable shows ever.
“I’m particularly excited that Islington Community Theatre is doing this site-specific production of Frank & Ferdinand, because under the auspices of National Theatre Connections, young people from the company participated in two readings of early drafts of the play. Their frank, honest and uncensored voices influenced the writing of it, so thanks and respect to them. Keep speaking up.”
Samuel Adamson
CAST
The Gendarme
Tosin Badmus
Daniel O’Keefe
Hauk Pattison
Otto
Sammy Amokrane
Sebastian
Cory Hippolyte
Um-Aloysius
Aaron Miller
Flora
Jemima Ajona
Sarah
Alex Kampfner
Phoebe Burrows
The Gendarmerie
Ehireme Omoaka
Esther Uwejeyah
The Teacher Rochelle Rose
The Rest
Abby Larissa Fonseca
Abel Daniel Adekitan
Amy Phoebe Burrows
Bart Bovis Roman Dawson
Blaze Daniel Rickler
Bob Kwami Odoom
Caroline Vondy Samia Amao
Chickpea Denzel Assiamah
Dorito Oluwaseyi Ibowu
Dylan Corey Peterson
Edeltrout Angie Pena Arenas
Elvis Jake Head
Ernst Tom Proctor
Ferdinand Benjamin Daniels
Fishface Calvin Dickson
Frank Louis Clarke
Gertrude Sophie Smith
Hanna Ella-Louise Frosdick-Brown
Hilda Silan Bozdag
Honey Bunny Kaysha Campbell
Josephine Basak Dursun
Julius Adi Abdiu
Karl Jahmai Allen
Kyle Yaamin Chowdhury
Liline Heaven Yemane
Leopold Antione Bertin-Azille
Little Jim John Lutula
Lotte Segen Yosife
Max Kofi Odoom
Mollie Roxlynne Quaye
Ned Kered Figaro
Nina Jasmin Alvarez
Oda Juliana Magwambasa
Petra Mirela Gega
Pia Molly Folan
Poz Sophie Thomas
Riddler Seun Ajibade
Sarah T Charon Cummins
Sascha Vanessa Lopez
Stephan Aidan Robertson
Thora Jodie Dickens
Valerie Millie Law
Veronica Avigela Abdiu
Willie Kai Blyth-Foster
Wolf Rossano Dias
CREATIVE & PRODUCTION TEAM
Director
Ned Glasier
Set, Installation
& Costume Design
Charlie Damigos
Lighting Design
& Technical Manager
Chloe Kenward
Producer
Kirsten Burrows
Assistant Director
Kwaku Ankomah
Production & Stage Manager
Gill Dixon
Deputy Stage Manager
Sarah Stott
Assistant Stage Managers
Ehireme Omoaka
Esther Uwejeyah
Production Electrician
& Operator
Richard Godin
Crew & Site Carpenter
Jonathan Goldstone
Crew
Simon Brockwell
Anthony Doran
Costume Assistant
Juliana Magwambasa
Production Assistant
Ben Williams
Frank & Ferdinand Animation
Roman Dawson
Box Office
Pleasance Theatre
