Full cast announced for New Wolsey Theatre’s revival of DNA by Dennis Kelly

The New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich has announced the full cast for their upcoming new production of Dennis Kelly’s acclaimed play DNA, which will run at the venue from 2-9 February.

The modern-day comedy with bite, which was first performed in the Cottesloe Theatre of the National Theatre, will be directed by the theatre’s Chief Executive/Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul and, after an extensive call-out and audition process aimed at performers living in Suffolk and East Anglia, will showcase a predominantly local cast that includes the professional debuts of four rising local performers. The production marks the beginning of a new phase of talent development for New Wolsey Theatre.

A group of teenagers do something bad, something they can’t undo. Panicking, they concoct an elaborate cover-up, unleashing a series of events that twist and turn their young lives into a terrifying game of survival, putting not only their friendship, but their morality to the test. 

The cast will consist of Ntabiso J Bhebhe (professional debut), Eireann Devlin (professional debut), Brayden Emmanuel (You & Me, ITV), Tom Houlton (Paranorman: Live Action Remake, Laika Studios/Ridder Films), Shaun Jenkinson (The Kneebone Cadillac, Theatre Royal Plymouth), Jessica Laitt (Cinderella, Out Of The Box Productions), Gabriella Manning (professional debut), Mae Munuo (The Nutcracker, Bristol Old Vic), Charlie Shephard (professional debut) and Emily Tang (Claus the Musical, The Lowry).

Douglas Rintoul said: “DNA is a special project for the New Wolsey Theatre, it’s my first production as Chief Executive/Artistic Director, it’s a rare outing of this top-notch play from one of our greatest writers, but more importantly it celebrates the best of East Anglia’s emerging talent. If a regional theatre doesn’t support the growth of its local ecology then it will see the loss of more talent from the industry, now more than ever.”

Tickets are now on sale here.