random/generations

A double bill of plays by debbie tucker green

4 May – 2 June 2018Minerva Theatre

Overview

random / generations

★★★★★
Mesmerising writing and engrossing performances.
The Stage

★★★★
An outstanding revival. A perfectly paired evening. Go see.
The Times

★★★★★
Petra Letang is utterly astonishing. A pitch-perfect evening of work.
Whatsonstage

★★★★
Acute, finely judged revivals.
The Guardian

random

never trouble trouble til trouble trouble you

But trouble does arrive. And changes everything.

This blistering play, told through the eyes of a young woman, explores the unbearable sense of loss felt by a family faced with a catastrophic and random act.

generations

forgotten nothing - forgotten everything

In the cradle of their South African family, Boyfriend and Girlfriend are beginning their lives together, just as Mama and Dad, and Grandad and Nana, did before them.

Until, one by one, family members start to disappear.

Fierce, warm and funny, these two short and haunting dramas examine love, life and loss through the lives of two families on two continents. random is an extraordinary play for one actress, whilst the generations company includes a South African choir.

A playwright, screenwriter and director, debbie tucker green is one of theatre’s most original and internationally acclaimed voices. She won the Olivier Award for Most Promising Newcomer in 2004 for born bad, and the 2012 BAFTA Award for Best Single Drama for the television version of random.

Both plays are directed by Tinuke Craig. Winner of the 2014 Genesis Future Director Award and Associate Director at the Gate Theatre 2015-2016, her credits include debbie tucker green’s dirty butterfly at the Young Vic.

Purchase a digital copy of the programme

Our programmes are designed to be the perfect insightful companion to the production. This programme for random / generations includes an exclusive article about solo performances, written by Dr Misri Dey, and a piece about the themes of tragedy, loss and grief in theatre written by Lynette Goddard and Louie Jenkins. In addition, the programme includes rehearsal photography, biographies, events and news from the Theatre.

By clicking on BUY you will be re-directed to Issuu's website. The purchased programme will be available to read on their website and app.

Purchasing a digital programme does not include the purchase of a printed programme.

Prologue tickets available now!

Reviews

★★★★★
debbie tucker green’s writing lands its savagely pertinent and heart-breaking points with the delicacy of a poem and the sharpness of a cry to arms. Petra Letang is utterly astonishing. The quality and detail of this wonderful performance is matched by writing of subtlety and intensely moving restraint. It is simply magnificent and held together by tight and compassionate direction from Tinuke Craig. The same gentle control is also manifest in generations, a minimal piece which also has maximal effect about the baffling emptiness of loss. Beautifully played and set amidst stylised bright colours and stark lighting by Alex Lowde and Joshua Drualus Pharo, this is a pitch-perfect evening of work. Congratulations to Chichester for such prescient programming; now it needs to be seen widely, opening hearts and minds.
Whatsonstage.com

★★★★★
The mesmerising writing and engrossing performances feel like a powerful wake-up call.
The Stage

★★★★
Director Tinuke Craig’s productions of these two short plays by debbie tucker green, both about families coping with premature deaths, shine in an outstanding revival. In generations, an elliptical 30-minute play leaves you with a sense of sorrow that cuts deeper than logic. Superb. In random, tucker writes with pithy poeticism, and Petra Letang rises to the challenge with tender virtuosity. It’s a sensational performance in a perfectly paired evening. Go see.
The Times

★★★★
Acute, finely judged revivals.
The Guardian

★★★★
Pairing these two plays is a masterstroke. They capture South Africa and south London’s sizzle and sting with devastating force.
Sunday TImes

random is beautifully written and mesmerisingly delivered by Petra Letang in an extraordinary solo performance. It’s difficult to believe we will see anything more compelling than this all season – or more poignant. This is theatre at its most riveting.
Chichester Observer

Cast & Creatives

Cast - random

Petra Letang

Sister

Cast - generations

Laurietta Essien	Mama
Derek Ezenagu	Dad
Okon Jones	Grandad
Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo	Girlfriend (Older Sister)
Wela Mbusi	Boyfriend
Kudzai Sitima	Junior Sister
Cleo Sylvestre	Nana
South African Cultural Choir

Creative Team

Tinuke Craig	Director
Alex Lowde	Designer
Joshua Drualus Pharo	Lighting Designer
Emma Laxton	Sound Designer
Morgann Runacre Temple	Movement Director
Luyanda Lennox Jezile	Choir Leader
Charlotte Sutton	Casting Director