PROGRAMME
WEIRD SISTERS PRESENTS
A PLAY BY
SUSAN EVE HAAR
DIRECTED BY
ABIGAIL ZEALEY BESS
"I WASN'T BORN. I WAS MADE."
At a secluded B&B in upstate New York, a couple arrives to celebrate their tenth anniversary. The room is romantic, garish, off-kilter. So is she. Unstable, sensual, unpredictable... she wants something dangerous.
He’s desperate to please her. But as champagne flows and erotic games escalate, the night spirals into something darker, more surreal… until a baby, a blade, and a secret crack everything open.
Twenty years later, another couple returns to the same room to scatter her mother’s ashes. But something lingers in the wallpaper, in the fan's rhythmic hum, in the echoes of the past. She’s never been here before, at least not this version of her…
WELCOME TO THE KING'S HEAD THEATRE.
If this is your first time to the theatre in general, or our new building, we really hope you enjoy your visit with us, and if you’ve been before - welcome back!
Our new theatre opened just 18 months ago, but the pub theatre has a rich 55-year history launching the career of many incredible names of British theatre, including Maureen Lipman, Hugh Grant, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Alan Rickman, Richard E Grant, Steven Berkoff, Tom Stoppard, Victoria Wood, and Bryony Lavery. A legacy we hope to continue with our new building through our 210 seat main theatre and 60 seat cabaret venue.
You may notice some of these names on your way out; cascading up the stairs we have picked one stand-out production from each year of the pub theatre’s history - many of them world premieres. These stairs are available for sponsorship, with all the funds going directly into our Angels of Angel fund, which helps support productions in coming to our stage.
Rehearsal photography by Steve Gregson
If you have been a few times before, please do also consider joining our KHTClub - which for only £60 per annum will ensure you are always able to buy a Band A seat for just £20! And can lead to a lot of savings.
Thank you for joining us for this production of ECHO. We’re incredibly proud to have the show in the building and a huge congratulations to the amazing creative teams and casts we have gracing our stages. As we look forward, you could join us for a show in our Autumn 2025 season and soon we will be announcing our Spring 2026 season, which is really shaping up to be something special.
In the meantime, we’d love to hear your thoughts, so do follow up on X @KingsHeadThtr or Instagram @kingsheadtheatre - or join our mailing list for exclusive offers! I hope to see you again soon.
Sofi Berenger
Executive Producer (CEO)
SUSAN EVE HAAR - WRITER
Susan Eve Haar is a writer and playwright living in New York City. A member of The Actor's Studio, Writer’s Guild East, Ensemble Studio Theatre, and H.B. Playwright’s Unit, her work has been produced at a variety of venues, including Primary Stages in New York, The Hudson Theater in Los Angeles, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, among others.
Her work has been widely published, appearing in The Best Women’s Stage Monologues: 2020, Best Short Plays of 2018, Best Women’s Monologues of 2018, and several publications from the acclaimed theatrical publishing house Smith and Krause.
She is fascinated with science, particularly the interstitial space between what we can do and what we understand. A member of the board of The McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, she is also the recipient of a Sloan Foundation commission for science writing.
ABIGAIL ZEALEY BESS - DIRECTOR
Abigail Zealey Bess is an award-winning English filmmaker, theatre director, and educator with over 35 years in the arts. Based in New York, she founded Weird Sisters, a company dedicated to developing bold, new work in theatre and film. Her debut film, PLAY BALL!—a trilogy - screened at over 40 international festivals, including Berlin and Cannes Directors’ Fortnight. Her recent films MARY AND LOUISE and ICARUS STOPS FOR BREAKFAST won over 30 awards on the 2020–21 festival circuit. Her latest film, THE LION, stars cult horror icon Judith Roberts.
A Life Member of Ensemble Studio Theatre, Zealey Bess has directed Off-Broadway, Broadway, and internationally, including work at Playwrights Horizons, Cherry Lane, Cort Theatre, Edinburgh Festival, the Young Vic and the Strand.
Recent Credits include BONKERS IN THE BOROUGHS (JOY BEHAR); ELEPHANT WOMAN; and I CAME BACK FOR MOLLY; and upcoming FALLING IN LOVE WITH MR. DELLAMORT (Edinburgh Fringe).
She is a member of Cinefemme, SDC, Actors Studio, NYWIFT, and teaches in the Graduate Film Programs at NYU Tisch and Columbia University.
Instagram: @azbess | Website: www.weirdsistersfilms.com
PEIYAO WANG - DESIGNER
Peiyao Wang is a London-based set and costume designer for theatre and screen. In 2023, Peiyao was selected to be one of the 12 recipients of the National Theatre’s Linbury Prize for Stage Design. Her work was featured in Wallpaper* magazine’s January 2024 issue.
Theatre Credits include: IPHIGÉNIE IN TAURIS (Blackheath Halls Opera); L’INFEDELTÀ DELUSA (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland); TOUTES LES FEMMES: OPERA DOUBLE BILL (Pegasus Opera Company, Royal Academy of Music); DON GIOVANNI (Hurn Court Opera); FOREVERLAND (Southwark Playhouse); AUTUMN OPERA SCENES 2024, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Guildhall School of Music and Drama); PURGATORY IN INGOLSTADT (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama); and INTANGIBLE (Dante or Die).
Associate and Assistant Credits include: REVERBERATION (Bristol Old Vic); NEW BEGINNING (Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg); and THE UK DRILL PROJECT (Barbican).
Film & Screen Credits include: PIKE (BFI, NI Screen); and DETERGENT, GODARD THE DIRECTOR (Sandy Crow).
DANIEL CARTER-BRENNAN - LIGHTING DESIGNER
Daniel Carter-Brennan is a London-based lighting designer whose work spans theatre, comedy, and performance. His designs have lit stages on the West End, Broadway, the Sydney Opera House, the National Theatre of Italy, and across Canada. He’s behind two Olivier-nominated shows: Liz Kingsman’s ONE WOMAN SHOW and Haley McGee’s AGE IS A FEELING, and has lit work by Leo Reich, Stewart Lee, and Fascinating Aïda. Daniel’s style balances precision with a sense of wit, playing with emotional contrast, shadow, and unapologetically theatrical moments. He’s meticulous, opinionated, and generally found tweaking a cue he said was already perfect.
JULIAN STARR - SOUND DESIGNER
Julian studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA), was detailed in Australia’s Stage Whispers as one of the Top 4 Sound Designer and Composers in Australia, and is currently the Associate Sound Designer at the Finborough Theatre.
Credits include: THIS BITTER EARTH (Soho Theatre); DIAGNOSIS (Finborough Theatre); DEAR MARTIN (Arcola Theatre); ACID’S REIGN (Pleasance Theatre); MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (HOME Manchester); THE RIVER (Greenwich Theatre); THE END (Bush Theatre); BOMBAY SUPERSTARS (UK Tour); 23.5 HOURS (Park Theatre); F**KING MEN (Waterloo East); THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (Associate to Clemence Williams, West End); SHARON OSBOURNE – CUT THE CRAP! (West End); THE WHITE FACTORY (Marylebone Theatre - Offie Nominated); MISS PEONY (Australian Tour); SONG FROM FAR AWAY (HOME Manchester, Hampstead Theatre, BBC Radio 4); ZOG (West End, UK Tour); ROSE (Hope Mill Theatre, Park Theatre, West End - Offie Nominated); RETURN TO THE DIRT (Queensland Theatre Company); ANIMAL (Park Theatre, UK Tour); SLEEPWALKING (Hampstead Theatre); SCROUNGER (Finborough Theatre - Offie Nominated); THE DWARFS (White Bear Theatre – Offie Nominated); and AISHA (Tristan Bates – Offie Nominated).
MATT POWELL - VIDEO & PROJECTION DESIGNER
Matt (they/them) is an Offie finalist video designer, musical theatre creative, and queer practitioner.
Video Design & Digital Credits include: MRS PRESIDENT, MARIE CURIE, REBECCA (Charing Cross Theatre); NINE (The Lowry); LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Sheffield Crucible); THE ELIXIR OF LOVE (English National Opera), CAKE: THE MARIE ANTOINETTE PLAYLIST (The Other Palace); BRACE BRACE (Royal Court); GHOST SHIPS (Icon Theatre); THE REAL ONES (Bush Theatre); MOTHER OF THE REVOLUTION (Leeds Industrial Museum); NEW YEAR (Birmingham Opera); LAUGHING BOY (Jermyn Street Theatre, Theatre Royal Bath); SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE POISON WOOD (Watermill Theatre); EXHIBITIONISTS (King’s Head Theatre); I REALLY DO THINK THAT THIS WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE (Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh, Mercury Theatre, Colchester - Stage Awards for Innovation Finalist); GYPSY IN CONCERT (Manchester Opera House for Hope Mill Theatre); RIDE (The Old Globe, Leicester Curve, Southwark Playhouse); ANIMAL (Offie Finalist – Hope Mill Theatre, Park Theatre); ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST (West End, Sheffield Theatres, Lyric Hammersmith); RUMI: THE MUSICAL (D’asha Performing Arts Festival, London Coliseum); and FLIGHT (Royal College of Music).
Directing Credits include: DOROTHY AND HER VERY MANY FRIENDS (Phoenix Arts Club); SANTA MUST DIE (Leeds Playhouse, Red Ladder); NATIVITY: THE MUSICAL (Derby Theatre); and THE UNCONVENTIONALS (VAULT Festival).
NICHOLAS HOCKADAY - CASTING DIRECTOR
Casting Director Theatre Credits include: ALICE IN WONDERLAND (Marylebone Theatre); FOUR PLAY, KING OF PANGEA (King’s Head Theatre); THE CREAKERS (Theatre Royal Plymouth, Southbank Centre); A VERY NAUGHTY CHRISTMAS, SAPPHO (Southwark Playhouse); AFTER THE ACT (Breach Theatre, UK Tour, Royal Court); ROUGH MAGIC, MIDSUMMER MECHANICALS 2022 & 2023 (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse); GENTLEMEN (Arcola Theatre); PADDINGTON LO-COMMOTION (Blenheim Palace); FRIENDSICAL (UK Tour); ALICE IN WONDERLAND (Mercury Theatre, Colchester); PLAYING SHAKESPEARE, MACBETH 2022 & 2025, THE TEMPEST 2023, ROMEO & JULIET 2024 (Shakespeare’s Globe); and TIME & TIDE (Park Theatre).
Children’s Casting Director Theatre Credits include: STARLIGHT EXPRESS (Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre).
ALEX PAYNE - FIGHT DIRECTOR
AMARA OKEREKE
Amara trained at Arts Educational Schools and was named ‘Best Actress in a Musical’ at the Stage Debut Awards for the role of Cosette in Les Misérables in 2018.
Theatre includes: A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (Sheffield Crucible); MY FAIR LADY (West End); LES MISÉRABLES (West End); 13 THE MUSICAL (West End); SPRING AWAKENING (Almeida); THE BOYFRIEND (Menier Chocolate Factory); OKLAHOMA (Chichester Festival Theatre); THE HIRED MAN, WEST SIDE STORY (NYMT); and OUT THERE (BYMT).
Film & TV includes: THE MORNING AFTER (Amazon); RED ROSE (BBC, Netflix); THE CHORAL (Sony); and IN THE LOST LANDS (Constantin Films).
KYLE ROWE
Kyle has just wrapped on YOUNG SHERLOCK (Amazon), directed by Guy Ritchie, and has recently been seen in the new Roland Emmerich and Marco Kreuzpaintner gladiatorial series THOSE ABOUT TO DIE. Kyle will also lead in indie-feature REPUTATION.
Theatre includes: ABIGAIL'S PARTY, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (Royal Exchange); SORRY YOU'RE NOT A WINNER (Paines Plough); and RICHARD, MY RICHARD (Shakespeare North, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds).
Film & TV includes: SEXY BEAST (Chapter One, Paramount+); THE DEVIL’S HOUR (Amazon); MOOD (BBC); RAVEN’S HOLLOW; and the Matthew Dunster directed JUDY opposite Maxine Peake.
WEIRD SISTERS - PRODUCER
Founded in 1997, Weird Sisters is an award-winning company that champions women’s voices through independent theatre and film. Originally created to support women’s creative work, the company has since expanded into a variety of artistic ventures, including feature films, short films, site-specific theatre, and regional and international theatre productions.
Weird Sisters is known for producing innovative, thought-provoking works that push the boundaries of expression.
Recent Theatre Credits include: BONKERS IN THE BOROUGHS (MMAC); I CAME BACK FOR MOLLY (Durango Film Fest); ELEPHANT WOMAN (The Tank); THE RADICALIZATION OF ROLFE (NY Fringe Winner, Players Theatre, The Soho Playhouse); PAPER DOLL (Edinburgh Fringe); LEVITICUS (Edinburgh Fringe); THE F#@%ING WRIGHT BROTHERS (NY Fringe Best of Show 2018); ANOTHER MADCAP MUSICAL; SPRING AWAKENING (NJ Shakespeare Theatre; and SAUGERTIES (Hudson Guild Theatre, LA).
Film & TV Credits include: PLAY BALL! A TRILOGY OF BASEBALL FILMS; FANFARE FOR A COMMON MAN; RANDOM ACTS OF INTIMACY; CAUGHT IN TIME; MARY AND LOUISE; ICARUS STOPS FOR BREAKFAST; and THE LION.
Currently in development is RUTH, the epic TV series focused on the original story of the Gangs of New York.
Dedicated to elevating the voices of women artists, Weird Sisters continues to support new, groundbreaking work across multiple disciplines.
For more information visit www.weirdsistersfilms.com.
DEM PRODUCTIONS - GENERAL MANAGER
Deus Ex Machina Productions is an award-winning UK production company now in its second decade. Led by Ramin Sabi and Emily Lunnon, productions include: RIDE (Old Globe, San Diego, Southwark Playhouse, Leicester Curve, Charing Cross Theatre); THE BOOK THIEF (Leicester Curve, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry); THE WIFE OF MICHAEL CLEARY (Workshop Production, The Other Palace); A SHERLOCK CAROL (Marylebone Theatre 2022, 2023, 2024, The Times Critics Pick); Sue Townsend’s THE SECRET DIARY OF ADRIAN MOLE AGED 13 3/4 – THE MUSICAL (West End); DUST (Trafalgar Studios, New York Theatre Workshop); the European Premiere of Stephen Schwartz's WORKING (Southwark Playhouse); the first major UK revival of SPRING AWAKENING (WhatsOnStage Award Winner, Hope Mill Theatre); BROTHER (Streamed Production, Southwark Playhouse); BLOWHOLE (Soho Theatre, Pleasance); and the world premieres of KARAGULA (Styx, Soho Theatre), TWENTY-EIGHT, CLICKBAIT, FOUR PLAY, SENSE OF AN ENDING (Theatre503).
Current productions include: FOUR PLAY (King's Head Theatre); ALICE IN WONDERLAND (Marylebone Theatre); and A ROLE TO DIE FOR (Marylebone Theatre).
DEM provides management and production accounting services across the industry. Management Clients include: TRAPLORD (Olivier Award Winner, International Tour, Factory International Manchester, Sadler’s Wells East); ERROL’S GARDEN (UK Tour); THE RINK (Southwark Playhouse); THE WILD PARTY (The Other Palace); and AUSTENLAND, THE SINGING REVOLUTION (West End Workshop Productions).
Recent & Upcoming Production Accounting Clients include: THE CHOIR OF MAN (West End); WE WILL ROCK YOU (International Tour); FOOTLOOSE (International Tour); BRING IT ON (Southbank Centre); MONOPOLY LIFESIZED, DOCTOR WHO: TIME FRACTURE; THE GREAT GATSBY (Immersive, London); and AMÉLIE (West End).
JBPM - PRODUCTION MANAGER
JBPM is a production management company, working across theatre, opera, dance, musicals, and events. They have worked on national and international touring productions, West End musicals, and immersive/site specific theatre. They are also Production Associate at Francesca Moody Productions and Head Of Production at Waterperry Opera Festival.
Credits include: THE CHOIR OF MAN (West End, European & International Tours); BLUEY'S BIG PLAY (European & International Tours); AN OAK TREE (Young Vic); HOW TO WIN AGAINST HISTORY (Bristol Old Vic); PIED PIPER (UK Tour); THE ANCIENT OAK OF BALDOR (UK Tour); A VERY NAUGHTY CHRISTMAS (Southwark Playhouse); AUSTENLAND (West End); WILKO (Queen's Theatre Hornchurch); LAY DOWN YOUR BURDENS (Barbican, UK Tour); LAVENDER, HYACINTH, VIOLET, YEW (Bush Theatre); LOST LENDING LIBRARY, A CURIOUS QUEST (Punchdrunk); MADDIE MOATE'S VERY CURIOUS CHRISTMAS (West End); THE BORROWERS (Theatre By The Lake); AN IMPROBABLE MUSICAL (UK Tour); HABIBTI DRIVER (Octagon Theatre); and the ANNUAL FUNDRAISING GALA for the National Youth Theatre.
KING'S HEAD THEATRE
King’s Head Theatre in Islington was established in 1970 as a predominantly producing house and longest running pub theatre in London. Under the leadership of artistic director Dan Crawford, the company produced a number of successful productions which transferred to the West End, including MR CINDERS, WONDERFUL TOWN (starring Maureen Lipman) and Tom Stoppard’s ARTIST DESCENDING A STAIRCASE (Broadway transfer).
Other notable productions in this period include: premieres of Victoria Wood’s GOOD FUN; Sondheim’s MARRY ME A LITTLE; LIKE DOLLS OR ANGELS by Stephen Jeffreys; ELEGIES FOR ANGELS PUNKS AND RAGING QUEENS by Janet Hood & Bill Russell; THE BOYS IN THE BAND by Matt Crowley; THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES by V (Formerly Eve Ensler); FUCKING MEN by Joe Dipietro; and EAST by Steven Berkoff.
In 2011, the company won an Olivier Award for Best New Opera for its production of LA BOHEME and other West End transfer successes such as VIEUX CARRE by Tennessee Williams, STRANGERS IN BETWEEN, and Kevin Elyot’s COMING CLEAN. The company also developed the touring and Edinburgh sensation TRAINSPOTTING, which is now in its 10th year.
Recent productions include: a brand new Mark Ravenhill play written specifically for the pub theatre titled THE HAUNTING OF SUSAN A; the European premiere of FREUD’S LAST SESSION (developed into a major feature film starring Anthony Hopkins); MEDIOCRE WHITE MALE by Will Close and Joe von Malachowski (developed into a BBC Radio 4 play); and launched North London’s first traditional family pantomime under the artistic leadership of pantomime royalty Andrew Pollard, starting with CINDERELLA in 2024.
In 2025, King’s Head Theatre Productions has co-produced GANG OF THREE and we’re delighted to be working with DEM on FOUR PLAY.
Executive Producer (CEO) - Sofi Berenger
Producer & Programmer - Zoë Weldon
Head of Theatre & Operations - Lily Bearwish
Technical Manager - Alex Lewer
Finance Manager - Ania Kanik
Marketing & Digital Producer - Katie Kirkpatrick
Programming Coordinator - Ailish Erskine
Production Coordinator - Molly Hands
Fundraising & Development Associate - Hazel Kerr
Bookkeeper - Alan Mackintosh
Box Office Supervisor - Bekah Mitchell
Bar Supervisor - Adam Reeves
Technical Supervisor - Andrea Zatvarnicka
PR - ANR PR
THEATRE TEAM
Aisa Nerva-Culley, Amelia Kirk, Andrea Zatvarnicka, Andrew Swift, Bec Rolle, Bessie Swan, Charlie Lovejoy, Curtis Robinson, Ellie Burbeary, Georgie Brown, James Huxtable, Lucy Hilton, Maddy Whitby, Madeline Lewis, Matilda Wilkes, Matt Heslop, Nathan Friend, Rachel Coates, Sam McHale, Sarah Morrison, Sean Leacy, and Sydney Baskind.
TRUSTEES
Rutger Beelaerts, Chris Cook, Matthew Hedges, Dawn James, Zeynep Kepekli, Robert Khan (Chair), Kate Mullen, Aaron Porter, James Quaife, Jason Smith, and Helen Williamson. Board Secretary: Alex Boyle.
CAST
She - Amara Okereke
He - Kyle Rowe
CREATIVE
Writer - Susan Eve Haar
Director - Abigail Zealey Bess
Set & Costume Designer - Peiyao Wang
Lighting Designer - Daniel Carter-Brennan
Sound Designer - Julian Starr
Video & Projection Designer - Matt Powell
Casting Director - Nicholas Hockaday
Fight Director - Alex Payne
PRODUCTION
Production Manager - Jack Boissieux for JBPM
Associate Production Manager - Emma Vize for JBPM
Company Stage Manager - Ella Godbold-Holmes
Assistant Stage Manager - Jessica McGarry
Production Assistant - Ida Pontoppidan for JBPM
Lighting Programmer - Daniel Carter-Brennan
Lead Production Electrician - Alex Hannah
Production Electrician - Adam Wileman
Production Sound Engineer - Jim Armstrong
Video Engineer - Jonathan Strutt
Production Carpenters - Emma Horne, Jay Williamson
Set Builder - Centreline Fabrications
Lighting Hires - CEG
Sound Hires - Orbital
Video Hires - Blue-i
Rehearsal Venue - Boury Academy Studios
Transport - EJS
Insurance - Wrightsure
Accountants - Grosvenor Partners
MARKETING & PR
Public Relations - Buchanan PR
Artwork - Steph Pyne
Production Photography - Lidia Crisafulli
Rehearsal Photography - Steve Gregson
Digital Marketing - GAS Group
FOR DEM PRODUCTIONS
Producers - Ramin Sabi & Emily Lunnon
General Managers - Petra Jagušić & Elvira Parr
Finance Coordinator & Payroll Manager - Tina Wright
Executive Assistant - Ben Hunt
Production & Marketing Associate - Lilli Lehmann
Production Assistants - Andie Weiner & Lucy Wilson
Production Finance Assistant - Guillaume Doussin
Development Associate - Lauren Buckley
SPECIAL THANKS
Jack Sain
Dan Steward
Kate Waters