Sheffield Theatres have announced casting for their latest in-house production, Dizzy. Running from September 25th to October 12th in the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse Theatre inside the Crucible building, the co-production between Sheffield Theatres and Theatre Centre is written by the Olivier-nominated Mohamed-Zain Dada. The three-person cast will be playing the show both at Sheffield Theatres, as well as schools in the local area and around the country.
In a press-release earlier today, Sheffield Theatres revealed: “Brendan Barclay (The Importance of Being…Earnest?) will play the role of Stax and Sera Mustafa (Crackers) will play the role of Qamar, while Sex Education’s Reda Elazouar will provide the voice of Dizzy. All cast members make their Sheffield Theatres debut with Dizzy”.
The production focuses on a young mathematician whose world is flipped upside down with the death of her brother. To help overcome this, she enters the world of street art, navigating the memories she has with her brother through the imagery she discovers, learning new things about her departed sibling. The show’s world premiere has been described as “a fantastical adventure exploring memory and mortality, graffiti and grief”, and aims to find “meaning amidst the chaos”.
Writer Mohamed-Zain Dada, who is also the Resident Writer of Theatre Centre, has said: “It’s been a brilliant process of looking into graffiti culture in London […] One of the striking things a graffiti writer told me through the process of developing this show was that ‘tagging is like a love letter to a space or building in some ways, a mediation on impermanence’ and I think this idea of reckoning with impermanence is really what sits at the heart of this play”. In the process of constructing this production, Dada has worked closely with young people in Lewisham, Crawley and Sheffield to “ensure that it speaks to current times”.
In concurrence, Director and Artistic Director of Theatre Centre Rob Watt added: “Zain has created a story that truly resonates. Dizzy is a magical adventure that speaks to the profound losses many young people experience post-pandemic. Through immersive sound design by the sonic genius Mwen, we aim to transport our audience deep into the heart of the story”. The production is aiming to create a new soundscape with this production, which will involve the use of headphones for audience members, in an aim to blend the portrayed story with the audience experience and technology.
The latest collaboration by Sheffield Theatres is set to be one of the most unique it has ventured on in recent years and a production hoping to make waves among theatrical audiences and young people in schools alike. Opening in September, it is a prime opportunity for both new Freshers to experience the talent Sheffield Theatres can offer, as well as for the general population to enjoy a production different to that which they may normally expect.
Dizzy is playing at the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse from September 25th until October 12th
