Burroughs, Francis and Walters Will Appear in Royal Court World Premiere Off the Endz

By Mark Shenton
08 Dec 2009

The world premiere of Bola Agbaje's Off the Endz, beginning performances at London's Royal Court's Jerwood Theatre Downstairs Feb. 11, prior to an official opening Feb. 19, will feature a cast that includes Lorraine Burroughs, Daniel Francis and Ashley Walters. It will run through March 13, 2010.



It is Agbaje's second play for the Royal Court; her first, Gone Too Far!, which premiered at the theatre in 2007, won her an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre, and a Most Promising Playwright nomination at the Evening Standard Awards in 2008. She is currently represented in London by the premiere of Detaining Justice, running in repertory at the Tricycle Theatre through Dec. 15. The play is directed by Jeremy Herrin, designed by Ultz, with lighting by Jo Joelson, sound by Emma Laxton and original music composed by Sophie Solomon.

Described in press materials as a play that looks at two young men's aspirations for a better life and how to go about achieving it, the play revolves around David (Walters), Kojo (Francis) and Sharon (Burroughs), who grew up on a London estate. Now in their mid 20s, they're eyeing another kind of life. But how do you choose the right path when temptation lies around every corner? If your emotional or financial debt is sky high, how do you buy your way out?

Walters has previously appeared at the Royal Court in Oxford Street that subsequently transferred to a disused shop unit in the Elephant and Castle shopping centre. Other stage credits include In the Red and Brown Water at the Young Vic and Sing Yer Hearts Out for the Lads at the National's Cottesloe. Best known under the name Asher D in the rap group "So Solid Crew," he has recently also been seen in the BBC TV drama "Small Island," and also appeared on "Hustle." His film credits include "Bullet Boy."

Burroughs was most recently seen on the London stage in The Mountaintop that transferred to the West End's Trafalgar Studios after a run at Theatre 503. Other stage credits include appearing in Othello at Shakespeare's Globe, and at the Tricycle Theatre in The War next Door, How Long is Never?, Dafur: A Response and Fabulation.

Francis has previously been seen onstage in The Brothers Size (Young Vic), The Comedy of Errors and Twelfth Night (both for the RSC), and The Hounding of David Oluwale at the West Yorkshire Playhouse Theatre in Leeds.

Herrin is currently represented at the Royal Court by his production of The Priory, where he is now deputy artistic director and where he has also directed Tusk Tusk, The Vertical Hour and That Face. He will also direct Anya Reiss' Spur of the Moment at the theatre next July.

To book tickets, contact the box office 020 7565 5000, or visit www.royalcourttheatre.com