Rialto Productions
Continuing where Pretty Villian left off at Rialto
Ironworks, 30 Cheapside Brighton BN1 4GD. 4th, 5th & 11th May 2024.
ART
Art features :
Duncan Henderson : Trained at Webber Douglas, performed in Mitchell and Nixon's Spy, Moonlight Over India and Metronome and as Touchstone and Benedict in Festival Shakespeare Productions of As You Like It and Much Ado About Nothing. He performed in Hangman, various Pretty Villain productions such as Underneath the Lintel, the award-winning Glengarry Glen Ross, Betrayal, New York Stories and won the FringeReview Award for Outstanding Theatre for his production of The Polished Scar. Duncan was co-creator of The Shark is Broken, which was performed in the West End, at Edinburgh Fringe and in North America.
Neil James : theatre credits include The Tempest, The Comedy Of Errors, God Of Carnage, Betrayal, Rope, Eight, Dial M For Murder, The Good Doctor, Yes Prime Minister, The Ladykillers, Animal Farm, James And The Giant Peach, and a national tour of Charles Dickens’ The Haunting. He has also worked extensively in rep theatre with credits such as House Guest, Murder Mistaken, The Murder Game, Suddenly At Home, Taking Steps, The Small Hours, Fallen Angels and I Have Been Here Before. Neil was in the debut production of Moment Of Grace at the Bloomsbury Festival, and played multiple characters in the stage adaptation of It's A Wonderful Life.New writing stage credits include The Missing Special, Further Education, Bully Beef, Lost In The Willows and 4 runs of the award-winning dating comedy Would Like To Meet.
Neil’s family feature film Christmas Time was released in December 2023 worldwide, and he will next be seen in upcoming indie drama The Last Time You Saw Me, and family sci-fi adventure Stargazers.Other screen work includes a range of feature films, television, commercials and music videos, as well as appearing in over 100 short films. Neil also works as a voice artist for animation and radio.
Sophie Dearlove : Sophie has many years of experience in stage, screen and corporate acting. Credits include Vindication Swim (Relsah Productions), The Casebook of Inspector Steine (BBC Radio 4),Beachcomber Film London (Badgerboy Productions), the award-winning Would Like To Meet, Amongst Barbarians, The Big Bitesize Breakfast (Edinburgh Fringe), Happy Now? and You (New Venture Theatre), The God Of Carnage, Betrayal and The Missing Special (Pretty Villain Productions all at Brighton Fringe) Di and Viv and Rose and the feature film Six Years Gone (Sixty6Media).
...and the Director / Producer, Roger Kay : Roger was co-founder of Pretty Villain Productions and Rialto Theatre. He directed the award-winning Glengarry Glen Ross, The Missing Special, Rope, Betrayal, The Vertical Hour and The God Of Carnage (all Brighton Fringe at Rialto) and co-produced all of Pretty Villain’s work. Roger was co-Artistic Director at Rialto Theatre. He has written for Fringe Review and Broadway Baby.
Past Projects
God Of Carnage
Brighton Fringe 2022, with Jenny Delisle, Neil James, Sophie Dearlove & Tom Dussek. "Outstanding...the best of the Fringe" - Fringe Review
The Vertical Hour
Brighton Fringe 2021, with Caitlin Cameron, Hamilton Wilson, James Macauley, Jack Kristiansen & Margo Henson. ***** Broadway Baby "tremendous work...theatrical excellence"
Myra
Edinburgh Fringe 2019 : “Lauren Varnfield … is full of unsettling influences, scorn, impatience, cruelty and deceit” – The Spectator
Myra
The re-worked production at Brighton Fringe 2019, in preparation for Edinburgh
Icons
Jack Klaff's one-man show about 20th century icons, Brighton Fringe 2019.
Ross & Rachel
Joanna Rosenfeld's one-woman show, directed by Sam Chittenden. "A profound delight" - Fringe Review (Brighton Fringe 2019)
Closer
Patrick Marber's modern classic, with Caitlin Cameron, Lucy Laing, Jon Howlett and Steve Chusak. Directed by Lauren Varnfield (2019). "A confident and assured production" - Fringe Review
Betrayal
Pinter's tale, told by Duncan Henderson, Neil James, Scott Roberts & Sophie Dearlove, at Brighton Fringe 2019. "Sensational and raises the bar for Fringe theatre" - Broadway Baby
Rope
Patrick Hamilton's nihilistic murder, with Graeme Dalling, John Black, Karina Mills, Kitty Newbury, Neil James, Rick Yale & Robert Cohen. **** Broadway Baby, Evening Argus - Brighton Fringe 2018.
The Polished Scar
New writing at its best. Duncan Henderson's award-winning show at Brighton Fringe 2018, directed by Joanna Rosenfeld. ***** "brilliant performance" Broadway Baby ; "Outstanding" Fringe Review
Myra
Lauren Varnfield's first new writing show played to sell-out audiences. "Multi-layered, insightful piece of writing" Plays International
Dumb Waiter
Pinter's brilliant play, performed by Hamilton Wilson & Jon Howlett, was directed by James Macauley in 2017. "Crisp production ... authentic" Plays International
Blue/Orange
A psychiatric patient claims to be the son of an African dictator, with Abi McLoughlin, John Black, Winston Davis, directed by Lucy Laing at Brighton Fringe 2017. **** "impressive...dynamic chemistry" Broadway Baby
The Missing Special
Rialto new writing (Richard Hearn) competition winner was performed at Brighton Fringe 2017. With Jon Howlett, Kitty Newbury, Neil James and Sophie Dearlove. "Highly Recommended" Fringe Review
New York Stories
Adapted from Damon Runyon works, featuring Brandon McGuire, Dave Mounfield & Duncan Henderson at Brighton Fringe 2017. ***** "incredibly impressed...excellent storytelling" Broadway Baby
The Ugly One
Marius Von Mayenburg's modern comedy, directed by Lauren Varnfield in 2016. Featuring Jon Howlett, Kitty Newbury, Robert Cohen & Tom Dussek. "A truly outstanding achievement" Fringe Review
Blackbird
Brighton Fringe 2016, directed by Sam Chittenden. Featuring Annabelle Hollingdale, Lucy Laing & Martin Hobbs. "engaging, disturbing, informing, and effecting. Highly recommended" Fringe Review
Glengarry Glen Ross
Brighton Fringe 2016 award-winning production of David Mamet's play. Featuring Duncan Henderson, John Tolputt, Kitty Newbury, Larry Yates, Nick Bartlett, Robert Cohen, Steve Chusak & Tom Dussek, , , , , . "a tight, thoroughly professional production" Fringe Review
Reno
With a re-worked script for Brighton Fringe 2015, still featuring Lauren Varnfield and Robert Cohen. "Highly Recommended : nuanced, gently vulnerable...very engaging...strong performances" Fringe Review
The Lad Himself
A play imagining Tony Hancock stuck in purgatory. Award-winner at Brighton Fringe 2015.
Reno
The first ever play at Rialto in 2014, with Lauren Varnfield as Marilyn Monroe and Robert Cohen as Arthur Miller. "Varnfield has a deft touch..." Plays International
The Crucible
Brighton Fringe 2014 award-winner, staged at Clermont Church. Arthur Miller's 20th century classic about McCarthyism. Large ensemble included Andrew Allen, John Tolputt, Kitty Newbury, Larry Yates, Lauren Varnfield & Lyn Snowdon, directed by Mark Wilson. "a brilliant production" Plays International ; "held its audience spellbound" The Argus.
Underneath The Lintel
Duncan Henderson's astonishing solo show about a Dutch librarian, trying to prove the existence of God. Marlborough 2013. "Pretty Villain continues to impress with the authenticity of its offerings.” Plays International
Life x 3
Yasmin Reza's play was Lauren Varnfield's directorial debut, at Wagner Hall in 2013. With Anna Cox, Daniel Lovett, Lyn Snowdon & Martin Gogarty. "You'll love Life x 3" The Latest
The House Of Bernarda Alba
Where it all began, at The Marlborough in 2013. Lorca's matriarchal tale, with Amuche Iroegbulem, Ana Valerio, Andres Nodroum, Elika Ashoori, Fiona Sagar, Gwen Holmes, Kitty Underhill, Lauren Varnfield & Sam Chittenden, directed by Mark Wilson. "fine performances...well-crafted...adeptly performed" Fringe Review
Reviews Written
An Elephant In The Garden
An engaging and well-crafted adaption of Michael Morpurgo’s tale of a mother and daughter fleeing war-torn Dresden towards the end of World War II, accompanied by an elephant rescued from the zoo.
Read MoreOur Man In Havana
A superb, slick, physical adaptation of a vacuum cleaner salesman in Cuba inadvertently becoming embroiled in espionage
Read MoreBible John
Bible John relates the story of a Glasgow based serial killer in the late 1960’s. Fifty years later, four women bond over their shared interest in the crimes. Will they unmask the killer ?
Read MoreHitman And Her
Partial homage to The Dumb Waiter, Hitman And Her is funny and engaging.
Read MoreWireless Operator
A Lancaster bomber sets off on a bombing raid over Germany. The crew’s chances of a safe return are statistically slim, but even if they succeed, they will be forced to deal with their own collateral mental damage.
Read MoreWe Apologise For The Inconvenience
Douglas Adams’ fans will delight in the insight into the literary genius’ mind, witnessing his struggles against a publishing deadline.
Read MoreSpeed Dial
A tale of academic pressure, jealousy and damaged personal relationships, woven into stylised physical theatre, in which we witness a crossword-setting academic trying to solve the puzzle of his daughter’s kidnapping.
Read MoreFamous Puppet Death Scenes
The internationally acclaimed Old Trout return to Edinburgh Fringe, with this visually appealing and brilliantly creative massacre of tiny people. Highly skilled puppetry is weaved with story-telling, audience members’ heart strings are tugged, you will find yourself, at times surprisingly, caring about the fate of what hitherto appeared to be inanimate objects…
Read MoreFor Queen And Country
A drag act’s unlikely and courageous part in Hitler’s downfall
Read MoreUltimatum
Two strangers are offered a million pounds. No strings, no tax even to pay. The catch ? They have one hour to agree how to split it. But everyone’s reasonable, right ?
Read MoreThe Anniversary
An elderly couple prepare for their 50th anniversary party. A nod to the Theatre Of The Grotesque ensues, with clowning, physical humour and puppetry…
Read MoreRêver
Physical theatre depiction of a being in a dream-like state, cleverly conveyed by three highly skilled actors, participating in Alba’s exceptional physical theatre fringe festival. Clowning, mime, acrobatics, comedy and storytelling fuse seamlessly.
Read MoreMimes
Three mimes co-exist, initially obeying the rules of mime-world. One of them begins to go rogue. Three highly skilled actors, participating in Alba’s exceptional physical theatre fringe festival, treat the audience to clowning, mime, comedy and the exploration of an existential crisis.
Read MoreHarry’s Christmas
Steven Berkoff’s analysis of loneliness at Christmas asks difficult questions of the timeless nature of British society and its relationship with the festive season.
Read MoreAnd Then The Rodeo Burned Down
Clowning, comedy, physical theatre and storytelling intertwine as rodeo tales are told.
Read MoreHarvey Greenfield Is Running Late
Paul Richards’ frenetic – frantic at times – depiction of a man struggling to navigate the modern world.
Read MoreThe Burning of a Sicilian Whore (Blood Rain)
An atmospheric performance, depicting a Sicilian courtesan and her radical approach to female empowerment.
Read MoreIl Burattino
The story of a young Italian man going to fight for his country in the Soviet Union during World War II.
Read MoreMohan: A Partition Story
The story of Indian Partition, as recounted by the 11 year old boy who bore witness.
Read MoreLady Inger of Ostrat
An unknown early Ibsen comes to the lovely Space Theatre on Isle of Dogs
Read MoreHeaven by Eugene O’Brien
A middle-aged couple go to a wedding, but there’s so much more going on
Read MoreRialto Productions came into being when Rialto closed its doors for the last time in 2023.
The aim is to continue the work achieved by Pretty Villain Productions since 2013. Past works are catalogued under Past Projects.
The company would not exist without Lauren Varnfield, co-founder and co-Artistic Diretor of Rialto Theatre and Pretty Villain Productions, who sadly passed away in 2023. Rialto Productions is dedicated to her memory.
rialto.brighton@gmail.com