Preview: The Wasp at South Shields Customs House

 

The Wasp – A Play With A Real Sting

 

The Wasp

South Shields Customs House

Wednesday 21 -  Saturday 24 September 2022

 

The Customs House returns as a North East production house this September with the gritty psychological drama The Wasp, starring Jessica Johnson and Christina Berriman Dawson.

Written by Olivier Award winning playwright Morgan Lloyd Malcolm and directed by the nationally acclaimed Jake Smith, it tells the story of Heather and Carla. Their lives have taken hugely different paths – Carla lives a hand to mouth existence while Heather has a high-flying career, husband, and a beautiful home. And yet, here they are in a café having tea and making awkward conversation. That is until Heather presents Carla with an unexpected proposition…

The Wasp is a dark and brooding drama that asks how far beyond the playground we carry our childhood experiences and to what lengths some people are willing to go to in order to come to terms with them.

Director Jake Smith commented:” I am so excited to be bringing The Wasp to The Customs House and to our North East audience. I first watched The Wasp myself in 2015 at the Hampstead Theatre and was bowled over at what appears such a little play on the surface but encapsulates a twisting and turning evening of drama. It is both an intense psychological thriller and at times black comedy. It is written by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, who is known for her pioneering voice in creating powerful narratives for women which focus on class and oppression.

This play combines the power of live theatre with the appeal of an ITV drama, and if The Wasp were in the 9pm drama slot, there isn’t a chance the nation wouldn’t be hooked. It feels everyone somehow might share a connection to the piece as it magnifies the drama of real life. Add in the chance to watch two of our region's finest actors go at it head-to-head, and The Wasp really is one not to be missed.”

Tickets:

The Wasp opens at The Customs House on Wednesday 21st September and runs until Saturday 24th September. Tickets are priced from £12 and available online at www.customshouse.co.uk , from the box office in person or on (0191) 454 1234.