Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre - The Frozen Scream - 07.01.2015 - 17.01.2015

Stage and Television Star

RULA LENSKA

to star in

The Frozen Scream

co-written by novelist Sarah Waters

presented by

Wales Millennium Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome and Christopher Green

RULA LENSKA will star in The Frozen Scream a new production for the winter season which will open at Wales Millennium Centre this December before transferring to Birmingham Hippodrome in January.

Rula has toured extensively both in the UK and abroad and appeared in several West End shows – most recently The Vagina Monologues. Rula joined the cast of Coronation Street in 2009 as Claudia Colby but is probably best remembered for her role of Q in the hit television series Rock Follies. Rula has recently completed a tour of Pygmalion with Alistair McGowan.

Rula said “It is such a joy to be working with my great friend and superb cabaret artist Christopher Green who asked me to be in this unique piece of theatre and with one of my favourite authors Sarah Waters.  This is such an opportunity to be part of something totally different to anything I have ever done or seen before.”

Based on a largely forgotten murder-mystery novel, The Frozen Scream brings the chilling tale back to life for the stage, offering a unique show this festive season co-written by Olivier-award winning performer and writer Christopher Green and best-selling novelist Sarah Waters.

Directed by Christopher Green, who will also perform in the show, The Frozen Scream tells the story of a group of friends stranded in an abandoned lodge in the heart of winter. Attempting to entertain themselves with the tale of Jack Frost, fictional horror quickly slips into reality as events escalate in unexpected ways. The original novel, written by English novelist CC Gilbert, while popular when it was published in 1928, rapidly fell out of favour when a series of mysterious deaths led to the belief that the novel was cursed.

This creative collaboration between Wales Millennium Centre and Birmingham Hippodrome arose from a shared desire to offer audiences an alternative form of Christmas entertainment. Recently the two venues have collaborated on the UK Tour of the Wales Millennium Centre and Cape Town Opera presentation of Show Boat which has just been nominated for a UK Theatre Award for Best Touring Production.

With both Cardiff and Birmingham set to present an extensive programme of family orientated shows, musicals and pantomimes this winter, The Frozen Scream will offer an exciting alternative for local audiences.

The Frozen Scream will premiere at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (11 – 20 Dec 2014), followed by Birmingham Hippodrome (7-17 Jan 2015).

The Frozen Scream is the first play to be written by acclaimed novelist Sarah Waters, well-known for her award wining novels including Tipping the Velvet (1998), Fingersmith (2002), and The Little Stranger (2009). Her latest novel, The Paying Guests, has just been published.

An award-winning performer and writer, Christopher Green has created numerous pieces of experimental theatre including Office Party, VIP, The Razzle and This Show Has No Name. He is also well-known as a character comedian, playing under numerous personas including country music singer, Tina C, and rapping pensioner, Ida Barr.

The Frozen Scream is the first collaboration between Waters and Green.

Age guidance: 16+.

The Frozen Scream runs at Wales Millennium Centre from Thursday 11 – Tuesday 20 December 2015. Tickets are priced at £16. For more information and to book tickets visit www.wmc.org.uk or call 029 2063 6464.

The Frozen Scream runs at Birmingham Hippodrome from Wednesday 7 - Saturday 17 January 2015.  Tickets are priced £15.00-£18.50 and are available online www.birminghamhippodrome.com or phone 0844 338 5000.