Sofa owners are delicate creatures, skittish. You need to lure them in. Like a horse with a sugar cube.
Last September, we announced our national tour of Faun – a new play by acclaimed performer and writer Vinnie Heaven in co-production with Alphabetti, Newcastle and Theatre 503, London. Today, we are delighted to announce the show’s cast and creative team, full tour dates this spring and the first events as part of our wraparound programme, providing opportunities to delve deeper into Faun’s themes.
About Faun
We commissioned Faun following the expansion of our mission last year to explore inequity and poverty as the systemic causes of homelessness. Faun shines a light on the homelessness crisis affecting trans people with one in four trans people having experienced homelessness at some point in their lives. Compassionate, enlightening and peppered with quick-fire comedy, at the heart of Faun is a celebration of queer community – full of youth, heart, and panpipes…
Faun tells the story of Ace: 22, trans, queer, and onto their last sofa, this time with high-flying school friend Paige and her boyfriend Ant. Desperate to maintain a roof over their head, Ace quickly becomes stuck in a precarious cycle of people pleasing – to live in someone’s home requires you to be small, smiling and polite, part of the furniture. But, as Ace soon discovers, it’s impossible to hide your true nature and people make mistakes.
Writer, Vinnie Heaven explains “I can’t wait to unleash this fantastical play! I wanted to highlight the extra energy and strength some people require to exist in the space they have to call home. The play ultimately celebrates the queer and trans community, enduring, nurturing and flourishing.”
Citz Artistic director and Joint CEO Chris Sonnex said “It is artists that we often look to to bring joy, highlight injustice, to humanise, activate and to bring people together. I know audiences across the country will inhabit all these things while experiencing this play and enjoy getting to know the main character Ace for all they are.”
Cast and Creative team
Directed by the National Theatre Scotland’s Associate Director Debbie Hannan (Sound of the Underground, Royal Court), Faun will star actor, singer, and trans-inclusivity consultant, Aitch Wylie – known for their work in Snowflake: A New Musical (The Lowry), Stages: A Video Game Musical (VAULTS), The Three Musketeers (UK Tour) and Dr Who: The War Master (Big Finish) – as Ace. Non-binary Edinburgh-based actor, Afton Moran – known for their credits in Happiness Collectors (The Audio Story Company), How To Be Both (R&D; Royal Lyceum Theatre) and Ghost Light (National Theatre of Scotland) – will take the roles of Ant, Stag and Plant. The BRIT School student and Fourth Monkey alumni, Nyah Randon – known for their screen work in Enola’s Tape, Sylvie, Falling, Looked Like You; and previous stage credits in Signed Sealed Delivered (UK Tour) and Fame (Lyric Hammersmith– will bring the roles of Paige and Doe to life.
Creative Team:
Writer – Vinnie Heaven – they/them
Director – Debbie Hannan
Designer – Jacob Lucy – he/him
Lighting Designer – Laura Howard – she/they
Sound Designer – Mwen
Movement Director – Chi-San Howard – she/her
Production Manager – Tabitha Piggott for eStage – she/her
Stage Manager – Chloe Astleford – she/her
Assistant Director - Pia Richards – she/they
Dramaturg – Emma Williams
Production Electrician and Tour Relighter – Ariane Nixon
Co-Costume Designer – Sophia Khan
Sound Associate – Nat Norland – they/them
Interim Stage Manager – Livvy Lynch – she/they
Interim Relighter – Ash Copeland
The show is also supported by our Citz Futures Traineeship. Citz Futures offers paid, year-round opportunities for Cardboard Citizens Members to work alongside industry professionals in backstage and production roles.
Tickets and Dates
Faun will tour the UK between 28 March – 13 May, visiting Newcastle, London, Plymouth, Birmingham, Salford and Bristol and tickets are available to book now!
Tickets will be available at £1 or on a ‘pay what you feel’ basis through the tour to people with experience of homelessness and poverty.
28 March – 15 April: Alphabetti, Newcastle
19 – 29 April: Theatre 503, London
2 – 3 May: Theatre Royal, Plymouth
5 May: Midland Arts Centre
9 – 10 May: The Lowry, Salford
12 – 13 May: Bristol Old Vic, Bristol
Run time: 1 hr 10 mins (no interval)
Age recommendation: Ages 16+
Events Programme
We’re also programming a range of additional events exploring the play and the trans homelessness crisis in both London and Newcastle. The first of these events was a conversation between our Artistic Director Chris Sonnex and the play’s writer, Vinnie Heaven, and director, Debbie Hannan which took place on Monday 3 April 2023.
