Go behind the scenes of new digital comedy Going The Distance

A look behind the scenes of upcoming new digital comedy Going The Distance has been released.

The digital production of the new comedy by Henry Filloux-Bennett and Yasmeen Khan will be available on demand from 4 – 17 October 2021.

Sara Crowe stars as ‘Em, Nicole Evans as ‘Billie’, Shobna Gulati as ‘Vic’, Sarah Hadland as ‘Rae’, Merch Husey as ‘Kem, Matthew Kelly as ‘Frank’, Emma McDonald as ‘Gail’, and Penny Ryder as ‘Maggie’ with Stephen Fry as the ‘Narrator’.

Red shoes filming Going the Distance directed by Felicity Montagu. Photo by Ian Wallman
Red shoes filming Going the Distance directed by Felicity Montagu. Photo by Ian Wallman
Daniel Lobo filming Going the Distance directed by Felicity Montagu. Photo by Ian Wallman
Daniel Lobo filming Going the Distance directed by Felicity Montagu. Photo by Ian Wallman
Matthew Kelly and Shobna Gulati filming Going the Distance directed by Felicity Montagu. Photo by Ian Wallman
Matthew Kelly and Shobna Gulati filming Going the Distance directed by Felicity Montagu. Photo by Ian Wallman

The piece is directed by Felicity Montagu and is a co-production from the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Oxford Playhouse, The Dukes and The Watermill Theatre.

When there’s no light at the end of the tunnel and the chips are down, you can count on Matchborough Community Theatre to fight back…

March 2020. Theatres across the country go dark. Hundreds of cherished arts centres face the prospect of permanent closure. But that isn’t going to stop the Matchborough Community Theatre… as they fight to save their local venue with the genius idea to put on a fundraising production of Wizard* (*inspired by but for rights purposes certainly not based on The Wizard of Oz).

Get ready for a brand new comedy about a little theatre with a huge challenge.

L-R Felicity Montagu, Penny Ryder, Matthew Kelly, Shobna Gulati and Sarah Hadland filming Going the Distance directed by Felicity Montagu. Photo by Ian Wallman
L-R Felicity Montagu, Penny Ryder, Matthew Kelly, Shobna Gulati and Sarah Hadland filming Going the Distance directed by Felicity Montagu. Photo by Ian Wallman
L-R Matthew Kelly, Shobna Gulati, Emma McDonald, Nicole Evans and Penny Ryder filming Going the Distance directed by Felicity Montagu. Photo by Ian Wallman.
L-R Matthew Kelly, Shobna Gulati, Emma McDonald, Nicole Evans and Penny Ryder filming Going the Distance directed by Felicity Montagu. Photo by Ian Wallman.
L-R Shobna Gulati, Penny Ryder, Felicity Montagu, Merch Husey and Matthew Kelly filming Going the Distance directed by Felicity Montagu. Photo by Ian Wallman.
L-R Shobna Gulati, Penny Ryder, Felicity Montagu, Merch Husey and Matthew Kelly filming Going the Distance directed by Felicity Montagu. Photo by Ian Wallman.

Yasmeen Khan said: “Going the Distance has been a joyous project on every level; the digital format allowed us to create a hugely ambitious show that responds to all of the challenges presented by COVID-19 over the last 18 months.

“The story itself celebrates theatre and showcases the power of community in the face of adversity, and the cast and crew could not have done more to make it all come together.”

Felicity Montagu added: “To be directing for the first time is one thing but to be directing a cast of such exciting stature is another. The magic they created had me laughing and crying in equal measures. I think they will cast a spell on whoever watches Going The Distance.”

Penny Ryder and Shobna Gulati filming Going the Distance directed by Felicity Montagu. Photo by Ian Wallman
Penny Ryder and Shobna Gulati filming Going the Distance directed by Felicity Montagu. Photo by Ian Wallman
Nicole Evans and Matthew Kelly filming Going the Distance directed by Felicity Montagu. Photo by Ian Wallman.
Nicole Evans and Matthew Kelly filming Going the Distance directed by Felicity Montagu. Photo by Ian Wallman.
Emma McDonald filming Going the Distance directed by Felicity Montagu. Photo by Ian Wallman.
Emma McDonald filming Going the Distance directed by Felicity Montagu. Photo by Ian Wallman.

Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased at goingthedistanceplay.com.

About the author: Josh Darvill

Josh is Stageberry's editor with over five years of experience writing about theatre in the West End and across the UK. Prior to following his passion for musicals, he worked for more than a decade as a TV journalist.

 

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