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Benjamin Askew

BENJAMIN ASKEW

  
Nationality:    British
email:    n/a     Website:    n/a

Literary Agent:    n/a

Benjamin Askew trained as an actor at Drama Centre, London. Since graduating in 2007, he has worked professionally in Theatre, television and radio, including two seasons with Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and six months as a member of the BBC Radio Drama Company. His first play, the HOUSe OF GINGeRBReaD had a sell-out preview at London's Arcola Theatre before travelling up to the Edinburgh Festival where it was selected as a 'Pick of the Fringe 2008.' Ben's most recent play IN BeD WITH MeSSaLINa was produced at the Courtyard Theatre, Hoxton for three weeks in July/august 2009. Ben's is represented for his acting work by Sandra Chalmers at Shepherd Management.

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below is a list of Benjamin Askew's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         House Of Gingerbread, The         In Bed With Messalina         Lady of the Lake, The         Love In A Time Of Texting         Necessary Evil
House Of Gingerbread, The

Synopsis:
Hansel and Gretel are lost. To make matters worse, they're being pursued by every witch, monster and sexually-frustrated woodsman in the forest . . . This new verse comedy explores the dark, threatening world that lurks within our favourite fairytales.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:

Organisations:
La Llorona

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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In Bed With Messalina

Synopsis:
In Bed With Messalina is inspired by the colourful history of the Roman empress, Valeria Messalina, (c. 17/20 - 48) who became emperor Claudius's third wife; an adolescent bride who could not be satisfied by her cuckold husband. Messalina's demise would eventually arrive when she attempts to marry another man behind her husband's back. When her plot was discovered, this betrayal led to such rage that her husband would order her public execution. there were appropriate similarities between the ancient desire for public adoration and the modern day obsession with celebrity that the audience can identify with. This is woven into both the text and the direction, via the use of a television prop, which is well integrated as a tool to keep up to date with the outside world. It echoes how we are all trapped by the information we are fed via the media as well as highlighting Messalina's alienation from the outside world due to her imprisonment. Messalina's prison is her bedroom, which is both appropriate and ironic, as it was her bedroom antics that led to her ruin. Messalina is unwilling to apologise for her sexuality or for her adultery, which is both brave and slightly sad at the same time. She believes it is her right to 'come' and if her husband is unable to perform this duty, she owes him no further loyalty; she is exonerated from her matrimonial obligations. Drusus, her adviser, played with conviction by Oengus Macnamara, urges Messalina to perform this public duty in an attempt to save her life, as does her mother Lepida, played by Linnie Reedman, but Messalina shows no remorse or respect to either Mother or Legal Counsel. Messalina's party is truly over.
- Lennie Varvarides, British theatre Guide

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Courtyard, London, Eur >>>     16 Jul 2009

Organisations:
eyestrings Theatre Company

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
TR  29/2009   823

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Lady of the Lake, The

Synopsis:
The glorious reign of King Arthur is drawing to a close. Having lost most of his lands to the Saxons and the love of his wife to his best friend, Arthur retires to his castle in Carlisle hoping to live out his final years in peace and obscurity. But the world is in need of a hero and if Arthur is unwilling to play the part, it may be time for someone else to take the starring role. . .Combining high-energy and fast-paced action with poetic dialogue, this brand new Cumbrian play plunges you into a world of ancient magic and ruthless ambition, of cowardly kings and unchivalrous knights, sword-wielding maidens and innocent young witches - a world in which only one thing is certain: everybody wants to be a legend.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
TR  35/2015  618

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Love In A Time Of Texting

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Theatre 503, London    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Short play

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Necessary Evil

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:

Organisations:
Menagerie Theatre at the Hotbed Festival

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
short play

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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