Wasted

London Premiere of Kate Tempest’s Debut Play

One of the UK’s most vibrant young performance poets, Kate Tempest debuts her first ever stage play WASTED at the Albany, Deptford on 17 April as part of a national tour. WASTED is an urgent and exhilarating coming-of-age story combining Kate Tempest’s trademark lyricism with a dynamic mix of dialogue, verse, film and original music.

Three old friends. One remarkable day. For Ted (Cary Crankson), Danny (Ashley George) and Charlotte (Lizzy Watts), it’s time to seize control, make a difference, change things. This is it - A dayglo trip through the parks, raves and cafes of South London where life is what you make it. The rapid-fire words of Kate Tempest paint a picture of lives less ordinary in an unforgiving world complete with a heady soundtrack - A play about love, life and losing your mind.

Kate Tempest is from South East London. As well as writing and performing poetry as a solo artist, she also fronts the hip hop-inspired three-piece and Radio One favourites Sound of Rum who recently signed with UK independent label Sunday Best. Their first single Slow Slow was released in February 2011 with debut album Balance following in April 2011.

She has gigged at major UK festivals including Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, Big Chill and Latitude as well as having performed all over London. She has supported legendary punk poet John Cooper Clarke, firebrand Billy Bragg and afrobeat legend Femi Kuti as well as touring the UK with label mates Dan le Sac VS Scroobius Pip. Her poetry has been commissioned by Louis Vuitton, children's charity Barnado's and the Royal Shakespeare Company. One of her poems was illustrated by Turner Prize winning artist Chris Ofili.

WASTED was commissioned by Paines Plough, Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Roundhouse, in association with NSDF and Latitude Festival and was first premiered at Latitude in July 2011. Paines Plough is nationally renowned for producing the very best new plays by the UK’s most important playwrights.

The Albany is South East London's most vibrant and diverse arts space, presenting a wide variety of events including music, theatre and spoken word. Continuing to build on its established reputation as one of London’s most enterprising venues, this year marks the venue’s 30th anniversary.