Northern School of Contemporary Dance alumni can currently be seen at some of London's most renowned theatre stages. 2007 graduate Ira Mandela Siobhan plays a lead role in Ned Bennett's reimagining of Equus at Trafalgar Studios, while 2013 graduate Daniella May joins the cast of Tree, an immersive work created and directed by Idris Elba.
Ira Mandela Siobhan, graduated from the BPA course at NSCD in 2007. He is currently starring in a bold new production of Peter Shaffer’s Equus. The gripping psychological thriller, which follows a teenager who brutally blinds six horses, is brought to life by award-winning director Ned Bennett.
For the first time in the production’s history, Bennett has done away with masks and puppetry. Reviewing the piece for Attitude Magazine, Simon Button writes “They use sinew and muscle to convey power, with Ira Mandela Siobhan simply stunning as a stallion named Nugget. You forget you’re watching a man and believe he really is a horse as he contorts his sculpted physique.”
Following a critically-acclaimed national tour and a record-breaking run at Theatre Royal Stratford East in February/March, the production is now transferring to the West End for a limited 9-week run at Trafalgar Studios from Saturday 6 July to Saturday 7 September.
“You will not see a better production of this masterpiece” – The Observer
Images by The Other Richard
Find ticketsDaniella May, who graduated from the BPA in 2013, has joined the cast of Idris Elba’s Tree, an immersive performance which unfolds around a standing audience. Tree blends drama, music and dance to follow one man’s journey into the heart of contemporary South Africa.
The work premiered at Manchester International Festival before moving to London’s Young Vic theatre, where it will run from Mon 29 July to Saturday 24 August.
Daniella stars alongside renowned actors Alfred Enoch, Christian Bradley, Lucy Briggs-Owen and Sinéad Cusack amongst others. Created by Idris Elba, the work is co-directed by Elba and Kwame Kwei-Armah, and choreographed by Gregory Maqoma.
★★★★ “Stunning set design, youthful energy and a thundering playlist.” – Manchester Evening News
Images by Marc Brenner
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