Linda Bassett and Rosie Cavaliero to star in 'CARE' at the Young Vic

The drama follows a single mum, two young siblings, and their gran in a revealing examination of the realities of family life.

Summary

• Linda Bassett; Rosie Cavaliero and Hayley Carmichael are among the cast of CARE
• Alexander Zeldin's family drama follows a family after the grandmother has a fall and is moved into a care home
• Performances begin at the Young Vic on 11 May

Call the Midwife's Linda Bassett and Hayley Carmichael are among the cast of Alexander Zeldin family drama CARE, which begins performances at the Young Vic in London on 11 May, running through 11 July.

The rest of the cast includes Rosie Cavaliero (Bookish), Richard Durden (Bridgerton), Aoife Gaston (Doctor Who), Llewella Gideon (Mr Loverman), and William Lawlor (Arcadia). Ethan Mahony and Charlie Webb make their stage debuts, and and the show also includes participants from Young Vic’s Taking Part Neighbourhood Theatre programme.

The drama follows a single mum, two young siblings, and their gran in a revealing examination of the realities of family life.

Writer and director Zeldin said: “Theatre is uniquely able to bring us closer to our lives, to the reality that we are in but don’t always want to see. CARE is about how, when confronted with the end of life, we come to see life with a new intensity, a new feeling and ultimately a new energy. This subject, of an elderly parent, spouse, sister, brother reaching the end of their life is at the heart of all of our lives. We will, we have, or we are experiencing it. The Young Vic’s space has been an inspiration to me for years, I spent my twenties in awe of the work I discovered there, it is uniquely democratic, open, warm. It is a place we can go to be transformed. To collaborate with Linda Bassett, a true great of British theatre, and be part of Nadia Fall’s ambitious inaugural season, alongside our wonderful group of creatives and actors and co-produced by A Zeldin Company is very exciting.”

Nadia Fall, Young Vic Artistic Director, added: “Alexander Zeldin is one of our finest directors and a true auteur. I’m delighted to welcome him to the Young Vic with CARE, which looks at ageing and life in a delicately affecting, yet uplifting way. It’s a finely drawn and disarmingly recognisable family portrait that reveals how three different generations of one family interact; grappling with change and conflict but where love is ever present. Whatever stage of life we’re in, I think we can all find something of ourselves in this play. It brings together a brilliant cast which includes our Neighbourhood Theatre and promises to be a truly special and intimate production.”

The creative team includes Set Designer Rosanna Vize, Costume Designer Natasha Jenkins, Lighting Designer James Farncombe, Sound Designer Josh Anio Grigg, Movement Director Marcin Rudy, Intimacy Director Katharine Hardman for EK Intimacy, Fight Director Sam Lyon-Behan, Voice Coach Carol Fairlamb, and Dramatherapist Patricia Ojehonmon.

Book CARE tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Linda Bassett and Rosie Cavaliero. (Courtesy of production)