By Mark Shenton
21 Oct 2009

Lynn Nottage's Ruined, which won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, is to receive its U.K premiere at London's Almeida Theatre, as previously announced, with performances now confirmed to begin April 15, 2010, prior to an official opening April 22, for a run through June 5.

The production will be directed by Indhu Rubasingham, who previously also directed the British premiere of Nottage's Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine, at London's Tricycle Theatre in 2006. She will be reunited with Jenny Jules, who played Undine in that production, to play Mama Nadi, and Lucian Msamati (who also appeared in Fabulation) as Christian. Further casting is still to be announced.

Designs are by Robert Jones with lighting by OIiver Fenwick, original music by Dominic Kanza and sound by Christopher Shutt. Further casting for Ruined will be announced shortly.

The play is set Mama Nadi's bar in a small mining town deep in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Here, her rules apply: no arguments, no politics, no guns. When two new girls tainted with the stigma of their recent past arrive, Mama is forced to reassess her business priorities and personal loyalties. As tales of local atrocities spread and tensions between rebels and government militia rise, the realities of life in civil war provide the ultimate test of the human spirit.

The play, commissioned by Chicago's Goodman Theatre, received its world premiere there in November 2008 before transferring to New York's Manhattan Theatre Club earlier in 2009 (running from January to September). In addition to the Pulitzer, the play was also the recipient of seven Best Play Awards including the New York Critics' Circle Award, two Drama Desk Awards and four OBIE Awards.

Jules has previously appeared at the Almeida in Michael Attenborough's productions of The Homecoming and Big White Fog. She has also appeared extensively at the Tricycle, including appearances in August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean. Her film work includes "A Short Stay in Switzerland," "Octane," "Up 'N' Under" and "Spiders and Flies."

Msamati's theatre credits include Death and The Kings Horseman, The Overwhelming, President of An Empty Room and Mourning Becomes Electra (all for the National Theatre), The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui for the Lyric Hammersmith, Pericles for the Royal Shakespeare Company and Walk Hard, Fabulation and Gem Of The Ocean for the Tricycle. He has previously appeared at the Almeida in Antony Sher's I.D.. His television credits include "No.1 Ladies Detective Agency," "Spooks," "Just Like Ronaldinho," "Ultimate Force," "Too Close for Comfort," and "The Knock."

Rubasingham most recently co-directed the acclaimed at London's Tricycle Theatre, where she also directed Fubulation and Starstruck. She has previously directed Another America: Fire, as part of the PUSH04 season at the Almeida, and Chain Play II there. She has also worked extensively at Birmingham Rep, the Royal Court, Soho Theatre and Hampstead Theatre.

Nottage's previous plays also include Intimate Apparel, A Walk through Time, Crumbs from the Table of Joy, Mud River Stone, Por'knockers, Poof! and Las Meninas. Public booking for Ruined opens on Nov. 12 2009. To book tickets, contact the box office on 020 7359 4404, or visit www.almeida.co.uk