Future Conditional, The Old Vic

Taking the helm of the first show in his inaugural season filling Kevin Spacey's shoes, Old Vic Artistic Director Matthew Warchus has certainly given himself a challenge.
Not only does Future Conditional assert his plans to make the Old Vic feel 'less like a posh theatre' with a topical contemporary focus and new writing, it also involves a cast of 24 young performers. This big cast of little actors will be given some star power by stage and screen star Rob Brydon.
Focussing on the issues surrounding education, the play is not limited to the classroom, and, with characters spanning pupils, parents and teachers, it looks to give a broad perspective. The drama and comedy revolve around one school girl with a big idea. Afghan refugee Alia joins Britain's Education Research Board with a plan to restore the former glory of our education system. With the titular Future Conditional reflecting the grammatical structure of that which might or could happen in the future, expect an emphasis on 'if'.
Rob Brydon: Theatre
Though most famous for his TV comedy including Black Books and I'm Alan Partridge, Rob Brydon has also impressed on stage. He brought the house down in slapstick comedy The Painkiller (which will transfer to London in 2016). We look forward to seeing how his stand-up skills come into play when acting alongside a cast of young actors.
Tamsin Oglesby - playwright 
Having made her name writing drama to engage children with the RSC's 2012 adaptation of The Mouse and his Child, Tamsin Oglesby has already shown a keen sense of how young minds work. In her last blockbuster play Really Old Like 45, Tamsin Oglesby tackled old age with plausible, painful humour; we're keen to see how she tackles issues at the heart of education and draws out the innate comedy and drama of the classroom.


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