Stunning ensemble cast announced for astonishing true prison story, One Off

Live Theatre is excited to announce the ensemble cast of One Off, the incredible autobiographical tale of Ric Renton’s years in Durham prison and the life changing friendships he developed that saved him. Ric stars in his own story alongside a cast including Ryan Nolan (1917), Ricky Shah (Anansi Boys) and Scottish actor Malcolm Shields (Outlander).

Running from Thursday 10 to Saturday 26 November, this is a show crackling with humour, energy and dramatic power, written in a voice deeply rooted in the North East.

Playing the role of Shepherd is actor and writer Ric Renton who is delighted to be bringing One Off to the place it all began, Newcastle upon Tyne. This is Ric’s second play of 2022, having opened his debut piece Nothing In A Butterfly at Omnibus Theatre, London. 

Geordie native Ryan Nolan takes on the part of Brown. Ryan trained with Project A in Newcastle. He can currently be seen playing the role of Richard in Becoming Elizabeth (Starz). On stage, Ryan was most recently in the 35th anniversary production of Road at Northern Stage.  Ryan made his feature film debut as Private Malky in Sam Mendes’ 1917 (Dreamworks). His further film, TV and stage credits include How To Build a Girl (Film 4), Masters of The Air (Apple TV), BAFTA winning The Left Behind, Casualty (BBC) and Hyem (Theatre503).

Ricky Shah plays Knox. Originally from South Shields and born to a Pakastani father and Norwegian/English mother, Ricky started acting much later in life. Ricky initially trained in physical theatre at a LeCoq based school in Berlin then went on to train for an MA in acting at East 15 Drama School. Ricky has mainly worked on immersive shows with the likes of Secret Cinema, has appeared in a host of adverts and earlier this year he filmed his first TV role for the Neil Gaiman series Anansi Boys (Amazon). 

The character of prison guard Jock is played by Malcolm Shields. Credits include for TV recently Outlander (Sony/Stars) and for film Undecliffe (Parade Limited), I, Daniel Blake (Sixteen Tyne Ltd) and Crying With Laughter (Frisky Films). On stage Malcolm has worked extensively as both actor and movement director for Communicado, Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and Citizens Theatre Glasgow to name but a few. His work at the National Theatre includes Peer Gynt and he was in the original cast of Trainspotting at Citizens Theatre, Traverse Theatre and Bush Theatre. Recently he performed the one man show Present (Alphabetti Theatre) and was Movement Director for When The Boat Comes In (The Customs House).

Jack McNamara, Artistic Director said:

“Following suit from our last production of We Are The Best!, we are thrilled to once again welcome an ensemble of brilliant North East Actors who have never yet set foot on Live Theatre’s stage. The casting for One Off has been a delicate thing, with the story being so close to Ric’s heart and experience. The actors we found for this production captured Ric’s unique world perfectly. As a show that is all about relationships in the toughest circumstances, it’s genuinely exciting to see the kind of energy these four actors will generate together.”

Writer and actor Ric Renton said:

“One Off is a story about unexpected friendships in unusual circumstances and it sizzles my bacon no end having it on home soil right under the ominous, snooty glare of her majesty’s crown courts. Twenty years on, the story continues….”

A major event in the theatre calendar, One Off from Thursday 10 to Saturday 26 November, is a such a special production that the Newcastle Quayside venue’s traditional seating will be reconfigured to give audiences an even more immersive experience of the drama. One Off is a Live Theatre, Paines Plough and Synergy Theatre co-production, generously supported by The Hadrian Trust and The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust.

Tickets are priced from £10 to £24 and concessions from £6 available now or from Box Office on (0191) 232 1232.