Stellar cast announced for Three Acts of Love
Live Theatre, Newcastle Upon Tyne is delighted to announce the stellar cast for Three Acts of Love, a new production that brings together three stories, each exploring what love means in the world today. Starring in the final main stage show of Live Theatre’s 50th birthday year are legendary stage and screen actress Imogen Stubbs, Laila Zaidi (Ackley Bridge) and Rebecca Glendenning-Laycock (Bonnie & Fanny’s Christmas Spectacular).
Penned by three extraordinary female playwrights, Vici Wreford-Sinnott, Laura Lindow and Naomi Obeng, Three Acts of Love, runs from Thursday 30 November to Saturday 16 December 2023. From a closing social club to internet fandom via an animated lecture by a heart broken heart surgeon, the play takes the audiences on an incredible journey through this most complex and crucial emotion.
Born in Rothbury, Northumberland, Imogen Stubbs is a household name. Her extensive film and TV credits include Jack & Sarah, Sense and Sensibility, The Rainbow, The Browning Version and The Crown. Her many and varied theatre credits include A Street Car Named Desire, St Joan, Closer, The Glass Menagerie, Orpheus Descending, Private Lives and Uncle Vanya. Recent stage credits include Clybourne Park, The Be All and End All, Things I know To Be True and Elephants.
Rebecca Glendenning-Laycock is an actor, writer and theatre maker and founding member of queer theatre company Bonnie and The Bonnettes. She has performed in theatres across the North East and her Live Theatre credits include Drag Me To Love and Bonnie and Fanny’s Christmas Spectacular.
Laila Zaidi’s tv credits include Ackley Bridge, Holby City, Mood, Doctors, Dog Days, Hope and Benidorm. Theatre credits include Little Bits of Light, West Side Story, The Selfish Giant, Starlight Express, Bend It Like Beckham, The Boyfriend, Invisible, The Season Ticket and Frankie Goes To Bollywood.
Joining the cast of three will be acclaimed North East musician Me Lost Me, aka Jayne Dent who has composed the score and will play live on stage, weaving musical threads throughout the pieces. Her recently released album RPG was described by The Guardian as an ‘exciting and imaginative album exploring the links between traditional influences and electronics in fertile ways.’
Jack McNamara said: “We wanted to end our 50th year with a bang and how better to do that than with these three exceptional actors. We are honoured that Imogen and Laila have put their busy screen lives on hold to come back to their roots in the North East and play at Live Theatre for the first time. And Becky Glendenning-Laycock has becomes something of a young legend in these parts with their much loved body of work as an actor and maker. We are only two days into rehearsals but it’s pretty clear to me and my co-director Bex Bowsher that these are people at the top of their game. We can’t wait for you to experience them yourselves.”
As part of Three Acts of Love, Live Theatre is proud to be collaborating with UK charity Smart Works by holding a clothing drive for the entirety of the production, encouraging individuals to bring along their quality clothing donations, and helping Smart Works to change the trajectory of another woman’s life.
These new plays are electrifying, pointing the way to the future of dramatic writing. Love is needed more than ever and this show will offer it in abundance. To find out more and book go to live.org.uk or call Box Office on (0191) 232 1232.
