Casting revealed for world premiere of Blood Harmony with songs by The Staves

Casting has been revealed for the world premiere of Blood Harmony.

The new play with songs is created by Matthew Bulgo (Last Christmas, #YOLO), Jonnie Riordan (Nigel Slater’s Toast, The Witchfinder’s Sister) and Jess Williams (The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Beginning) with music by acclaimed Indie folk trio The Staves.

Blood Harmony will open at The Lowry from 10-18 June, then tour to The Dukes from 24-25 June and then complete this first leg of the tour at its home venue the Lawrence Batley Theatre from 28 June – 2 July, before heading out on a second tour in 2023.

Blood Harmony, which means the unique and beautiful sound created when siblings sing together shares the story of a fractured trio of sisters, pulled back together with news that turns their worlds upside down.

Tensions from the past and worries about the future leave them feeling paralysed. When it feels like your world has come to a stop, how do you find a way to keep moving forward?

The full cast for Blood Harmony are Eve de Leon Allen (The House With Chicken Legs – HOME Manchester/Les Enfants Terribles, Indecent Proposal – Southwark Playhouse) as Chloe, Keshini Misha (The House With Chicken Legs – Les Enfants Terribles, The Country Girls – Chichester Theatre) as Maia, and Philippa Hogg (Peter Pan – National Theatre/Bristol Old Vic, Offie Award-winning The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Southwark Playhouse) as Anna.

Music by The Staves will be woven through the show with exclusive new arrangements by Kate Marlais (Enter Achilles, Fatherland) sung live by the talented cast of three women. The band have also created an original song exclusively for this unique production.

The production comes from ThickSkin and Lawrence Batley Theatre and is co-produced with Watford Palace Theatre and Wales Millennium Centre and supported by The Lowry.

The show has musical direction and arrangements by Kate Marlais, design by Hayley Grindle, sound design by Charlotte Barber, and lighting design by Charly Dunford. The team deliver ThickSkin’s trademark physicality and cinematic style in this stunning new production.

For more information, full dates and tickets, visit thickskintheatre.co.uk/bloodharmony/

Neil Bettles, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of ThickSkin, said: “Each production we make at ThickSkin has to challenge us and provide new learning for our team. We are really excited about the potential of Blood Harmony as this is the first ThickSkin production to feature live singing and a collaboration with a well known band. Not only is it a beautiful and emotional script but it is wrapped in the gorgeous sounds of The Staves. It is our first venture into new musical theatre and an exciting time for the company as we work with these really exceptional artists.”

Laura Mallows, Co-Founder and Executive Director of ThickSkin, added: “It’s brilliant that this project has attracted some exciting new partnerships for ThickSkin. It’s great knowing the show will have an onward life when it goes to Cardiff and Watford next year and we’re building more tour dates off the back of that. During the pandemic we stayed busy making work for alternate spaces, but we’re thrilled that Blood Harmony marks our return to the stage.”