Punk Rock at the Actors Studio

This year's LIPA Acting Graduates present a new adaptation of Simon Stephen’s Punk Rock at the Liverpool Actors Studio Theatre tonight and tomorrow (June 14 and 15) The new production tells the story of William Carlisle, a brilliant but troubled student at a sixth form in Stockport. The play follows the lives of William and his classmates as they prepare for mock A-levels whilst tackling the pressures of teenage life head on. They are educated and aspirational, but slowly they discover the disjunction, aggression and tensions within their friendship group and the impact this has on all their lives, giving an insight into the cryptic youth culture of today. Simon Stephen’s Punk Rock premièred at the Manchester Royal Exchange in 2009, before transferring to the Lyric Hammersmith. The play, holds an important place in the world of modern playwriting, and was both a critical and commercial success. A popular study text at both AS and A level, the play still today has a strong fan base and a strong connection to the youth of Britain today. The production cast is made up of graduates from the LIPA Acting Class of 2013, including Richard James-Clarke as William Carlisle, Abi Taylor Jones as Lilly Cahill, Sean Prior as Bennett Francis, Sebastian Gray as Chadwick Meade, Laura Dean as Cissy Franks, Jack Quarton as Nicholas Chatman, Beth Lilly as Tanya Gleason and Cooper Randle as Dr Richard Harvey. The creative team is completed by Frankie Bradshaw (design), Dave Baxter (lighting and sound), Antony Claas (stage management). For more information, visit the Actors Studio website.