Network Theatre, London’s secret community theatre, presents the global premiere of Someone of Significance during the 2023 Vault Festival, following its development as part of The Young Vic’s Neighbourhood Voices programme to support emerging writers from Southwark and Lambeth.
Against the backdrop of the rising political tensions in the U.S. and across the world during the past decade, Someone of Significance follows the relationship of Rosie, a prominent leftwing politician, and Brad, the CEO of a multinational corporation. The play explores the beliefs and structural barriers that keep us apart and the irresistible need for connection that brings us together.
The play features Simon Bass (recent credits include feature film The Testing Point, Octopus – an LGBTQ+ short film that premiered at BFI Flare 2022 – and The Machines That Built America on Sky) and Funlola Olufunwa (recent credits include All’s Well That Ends Well, RSC and Sleeping Beauty at Greenwich Theatre).
It is directed by Sam Tannenbaum (recent directing credits include The Soprano at Barons Court Theatre and Escaper at Network Theatre) and written by Amalia Kontesi (recent writing credits include The Soprano at Chelsea Rep in New York and Barons Court Theatre in London, There’s Something That We Need To Talk About at Chelsea Rep) with set design and costumes by Vasiliki Verousi (recent credits include A Society at the Vault Festival and Dead Man’s Cell Phone at Network Theatre).
“Someone of Significance presents a familiar story about a clash of perspectives, showing us an unexpected affair between two people with starkly different experiences of the world. Set in hotel rooms and spanning a decade, we follow their relationship as they navigate through the political crises of the 21st Century and the personal repercussions of their affair. The play is deeply human: at its heart is a story about the power that love and desire can hold over us and how it can make us behave in irrational ways. Ultimately, the play places hope in love (with all its irrationality) and argues for it as a uniting force in divided times,” said Director Sam Tannenbaum.
Network Theatre, 246A Lower Road, Waterloo, London, SE1 8SJ from 28 February – 5 March. Times: Vary. See website for details and booking: https://vaultfestival.com/performances/someone-of-significance/
Admission: £11.50 – £18.50
Directions: https://www.networktheatre.org/map/