Reading's RABBLE Theatre has unveiled the cast for their much-anticipated play, Glitch - The True Story of the Post Office Scandal.
This play portrays the lives of the people who got caught up in the post office scandal that has invaded the mainstream media in 2024.
The disastrous turn of events cost some people their livelihood, their mental health, and their reputations.
Leading the lineup is distinguished actress Elizabeth Elvin, known for her performances at The Watermill.
She will take on the role of sub-postmistress Pam Stubbs, whose real-life story is the driving force behind the play.
Elvin's prolific career spans stage and screen, including roles in musicals, Shakespeare, TV dramas, and sitcoms.
Her work covers West End, regional theatres and even Stateside in LA.
Joining Elvin, Laura Penneycard returns to RABBLE, assuming the roles of Nora and others, following her standout performance in their co-production with BBC Radio Berkshire, Who Killed Alfred Oliver?
Adding diversity to the cast is local theatre maker Sabina Netherclift, notable performer, director and movement director with experiences working with renowned theatre companies like Young Vic and National Theatre Studio.
Also in the ensemble, local actor Fayez Bakhsh takes on multiple roles including Daljit.
Zannah Kearns, the writer of Glitch, expressed her intentions behind the play: "[In May 2024], the former CEO of the Post Office… was asked during the Horizon Public Inquiry why it was she’d emailed her husband asking for ‘a non-emotive word for bugs, glitches, defects.’ The purpose of this play, by contrast, is to be unashamedly emotive," she said.
The production from RABBLE Theatre, a company founded in 2012 and known for dramatizing local stories of national significance, is gaining attention even before its opening on June 27.
Already, 76% of the tickets have been sold, indicating a strong interest in their latest offering.
Following certain performances, there will be a post-show Q&A session with the play’s heroine, Pam Stubbs, alongside Kearns, directors Gemma Colclough and Gareth Taylor and the cast.
Co-founder of RABBLE Theatre, Dani Davies, shared her excitement about the upcoming drama: "We’re absolutely delighted to have such an exceptional team working with us on this modern day drama", she said.
Echoing the significance of theatre as a medium of impactful storytelling, Professor Robert Van de Noort CBE, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, highlighted how drama can "appeal to the imagination of the public and politicians alike."
Given the calibre of the cast and the relevance of the story, Glitch is headlining as a must-watch modern day drama.
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