State Red: Full cast announced

The cast for State Red, Atiha Sen Gupta’s fiery family drama, is Samuel Anderson, Maxine Finch, Geoff Leesley and Toby Wharton.

Richard and Joyce have just returned home from the House of Lords – another late, boozy, important social event that further cements Richard’s chance of being promoted to Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

To their astonishment, and relief, they find their estranged son, Luke, fast asleep upstairs. After a year’s absence – and with only one email letting them know he was safe – where has he been, and why has he come back now?

State Red is a Hampstead Theatre commission which challenges the ‘family comes first’ ethos and confronts the fissures in our multicultural society that infiltrate through to the highest ranks.

Atiha Sen Gupta returns to Hampstead following her critically acclaimed What Fatima Did in 2009 on the Main Stage. Other credits include E4’s hit television show, Skins.

‘One leaves the theatre impatient to discover what Atiha Sen Gupta will do next’ Daily Telegraph for What Fatima Did.

Director Douglas Rintoul is Artistic Director of Transport Theatre Company and is an Associate Director of Complicité. His work has been seen at the Barbican, Trafalgar Studios, Theatre503, Unicorn Theatre, Watermill Theatre, Dundee Rep Theatre, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg and The National Theatre Studio.

Lighting for State Red is by Tim Lutkin and sound by Helen Atkinson.

Samuel Anderson’s previous stage work includes The History Boys (National Theatre/US tour & Broadway) and Talking Loud (Latchmere). TV includes a regular part in Dr Who and Trolled and film includes The Lady In The Van, Pleasure Island and The History Boys.

Maxine Finch’s theatre roles include Skybus (Derby Live) and Inside Out of Mind (Nottingham Playhouse). TV includes regular appearances in Coronation Street, Vera, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks. Film includes Provoked and Face Values.

Geoff Leesley’s stage appearances include Much Ado About Nothing (Royal Exchange), An Inspector Calls (West End and UK tour), The Crucible (Regent’s Park) and Pygmalion (Peter Hall Company). TV includes regular appearances in Grandpa In My Pocket, Eastenders and as Gordon Clegg in Coronation Street. Film includes Wimbledon and Ashes and Sand.

Toby Wharton’s stage work includes Medea and Home (National Theatre), Carthage and Fog (Finborough & Park Theatres, National Tour) and Transient (Pleasance Edinburgh and Shunt Vaults). TV includes series regular in Gates and Silent Witness and film includes The Forgotten Man and Echo Road.