Writer and Director
Back by popular demand after a sold-out run in 2019, Under the Radar is a dark comedy about gender, consent, power and violence.
Lee, a quick-witted reporter, sets out to write a career-making article on an eccentric inventor, Captain Martin Christensen, and the maiden voyage of his private submarine. The two set off and, before long, the confined space of the vessel becomes a darkly comic microcosm for the conflicts between gender, tradition and modernity. Under the radar these extremes play out, but only one of the passengers will make it back to shore.
Under the Radar looks to dissect unconscious bias and misogyny, especially relevant in the #MeToo era. Through a sharp, witty and macabre narrative lens, it examines our cultures and traditions and asks how connected they are to the foundations of prejudice.
Each Wednesday, the performance will be followed by a panel / Q&A with thought-leaders discussing themes from the play.
Critics' Praise for Under the Radar
Offcomm Commendation for Short Run
Standing Ovation Award - Nomination 'for Jonathon Crewe’s macabre and comical exploration of
gender creating an innovative and groundbreaking piece of theatre'
London Pub Theatres - Rachel Overd (14th November 2019)
‘a rollercoaster of unexpected twists and turns...a staggering, shocking, exciting and ground-breaking piece of theatre...tight talented production - unlike any other...This really is a must-see show!’
Broadway World - Jonathan Marshall (14th November 2019)
‘a timely and relevant work in the wake of...#MeToo...and although unsettling, it's laced with a strong undercurrent of black humour...an intense and disquieting play that cleverly takes us in a series of unexpected directions.’
Theatre, Films and Art Reviews - Elaine Chapman (14th November 2019)
‘Emotionally fuelled and challenging to watch...a multi-layered and very complex play...does exactly what good theatre should do and makes you question what you have just watched.’
Within Her Words - Ingrid Felix (18th November 2019)
‘A complicated and interesting look at the double standards between men and women in modern society'
View from the Outside - Stephanie Ressort (14th November 2019)
‘‘Under the Radar’ doesn’t pull any punches, and has a lot to offer those who enjoy their comedy dark and their theatre provocative.’
Stagedoor - Ethan Taylor
'thought-provoking, humorous and harrowing two-hander that doesn’t pull its punches when tackling gender equality and privilege.'
Papatango New Writing Prize - Reader Feedback
‘compelling, chaotic and macabre play... skilfully interweaving witty dialogue and black humour with a sophisticated treatment of themes’
Promo
Trailer 1 Trailer 2
Audience Responses
CAST
Eleanor Hill as Lee Stilling
'Hill is striking, beautifully expressive, and has a profound stage presence.' She delivers a first-rate performance... that has you kept on the edge of your seat...' (London Pub Theatres, Broadway World; Theatre, Films, and Art Reviews 2019)
Eleanor Hill is an East 15 graduate. Most recently, she created the all female digital tragicomedy web-series, SadVents (viewable on instagram @sadventcalendar) about mental health, trauma & heartbreak through the lens of social media and has now been awarded Arts Council funding to turn this series into a one woman show ,which shall debut in London in June. Her theatre credits include Obsolete Tomfoolery 2018 (Etcetera Theatre), The Bacchae 2018 (Corbett Theatre); Her film credits include With you 2018 (London Film Academy) and The Car 2019 (Short Film by Shirley Marshall).
Nicholas Anscombe as Captain Martin Christensen
Believable and truthful throughout', Nicholas 'is able to balance light and shade. His comic timing is effective, but he uses his skills to flick like a switch, and we never know quite what he's going to say or do.' (Broadway World; London Pub Theatres 2019)
Nicholas is an actor, physical performer and puppeteer trained at Rose Bruford College. Most recently Nicholas played a series regular role in the upcoming Netflix series, The Sandman, from Neil Gaiman. 2019-2020 Saw him playing John in Green Carnation Company's production and tour of Kevin Elyot's, My Night With Reg. You can see him both puppeteering and acting on CBeebies,TwirlyWoos. As well as on Sky's, The Third Day. He earned himself a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance in Memory Man (Encounter Films) and he is currently filming several feature films.
Praise for Under the Radar
'Eleanor Hill particularly shines in the darker, comic elements of the piece, and is downright brilliant in the final scenes... Nicholas Anscombe...succeeds in bringing [Martin] to life without going down the lazy road of caricature...his is a performance that grows and develops deeper dimensions over the course of the play. The power of this two-hander sits squarely on the shoulders of these two actors, and they totally deliver.' View from outside
'Hill delivers a first-rate performance...[Anscombe] is able to balance light and shade. His comic timing is effective, but he uses his skills to flick like a switch, and we never know quite what he's going to say or do' Broadway World
WRITER AND DIRECTOR
Dr Jonathon Crewe is an award-winning writer and director for film, theatre and radio, whose work predominantly investigates forms of representation and socio-cultural hierarchies. His theatre and radio credits include Toy Soldier, Entangled and Tangier. His debut feature film, face2face won Best Director at World Distribution Awards, USA and Best Debut Feature at Alternative Film Festival, Canada). His latest film 'Last night, locked in... filmed during the 20-21 Covid lockdowns won Best Supporting Actor at the World Carnival Awards, Singapore and received an Honorable Mention at the L.A. Neo-Noir Festival, USA.
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PRODUCER
Wan Yuan Teo is a suit in disguise. She is a career marketeer, currently heading up a few heritage brands in an established FMCG. She has been in the UK for 9 years, since her MBA at LBS.
Wan has always been fascinated by the creative, whether working on commercial ads or helping to found the radio station at her university. While her first theatre role was as a sheep in a remake of Ulysses in her youth, she has recently reignited her passion for the arts.
Wan combined her business acumen with her interest in the arts by producing her first theatre production, Under the Radar; followed by an acting and producing role in the soon-to-be released 'Last Night Locked In...
AFTER-SHOW PANELS
Every Wednesday there will be an after-show panel with thought-leaders discussing themes from the play (supported by The Culture Capital Exchange and University of West London):
(1) 16th March - Gender, Power, Consent and Violence. Panellists: Professor Helen Hester (Author of Xenofeminism); Jess Leigh (campaigner at Our Streets Now); Dr Marcus Nicholls (lecturer in media).
(2) 23rd March - Media Ethics: Reporting on Violence. Panellists: Nina de Ayala Parker (tbc) (writer and campaigner); Dr Sumaya Al Nahed (senior lecturer in journalism); Professor Garin Dowd
(3) 30th March - Creative Writing, Narrative and Violence. Panellists: Dr Sarah Grochala (playwright); Dr Jonathon Crewe; Professor Jeremy Strong
Professor Helen Hester - @HelenHester
Professor of Gender, Technology and Cultural Politics at the University of West London.
Her research interests include technofeminism, social reproduction, and theories of work, and she’s a member of the international working group Laboria Cuboniks. Her books include Beyond Explicit: Pornography and the Displacement of Sex (SUNY Press, 2014), Xenofeminism (Polity, 2018), and After Work: The Fight for Free Time (Verso, 2023, with Nick Srnicek).
Jessica Leigh - @jesssjleigh
An award winning campaigner, Jess is a keynote speaker and facilitator for Sexual Harassment, aiming to ensure all people are able to understand, prevent and react to Public Sexual Harassment . She works with many different sectors from mental health to participation of young people in services. As a result of her expertise she is a Trainer Consultant at Young Minds as well as the lead trainer for Our Streets Now, a campaign aiming to end Public Sexual Harassment through both cultural and legislative change. Jess uses her own experiences as a LGBTQ+ women and the medium of storytelling to be able to shape policy, lead workshops and has spoken on the likes of BBC News, Sky News, Houses of Parliament and TEDx.
Dr Marcus Nicholls
Marcus Nicholls is the course leader for Media and Communications at the University of West London. His teaching and research interests include adaptation studies, Decadent literature, the work of J.-K. Huysmans, and horror cinema.
Nina de Ayala Parker - @NinaParker
Nina’s work is focused on achieving intersectional feminist and climate justice objectives in policy, and law - nationally and globally. Advocating for women’s and ethnic minority rights in every campaign she leads, joins or supports. Since 2016, much of Nina’s work has highlighted the administrative and constitutional changes of Brexit and its impact on women, migrants and ethnic minority groups in the United Kingdom. Nina has worked closely with MPs, led on grassroots and national campaigns, and lodged debates in parliament, which can be found in Hansard. In 2020 Nina co-founded an intersectional women's rights organisation entitled Women For Wanawake and produced a Podcast highlighting feminist current affairs available across all podcast platforms: the Feminist Lens. Nina has written extensively on women’s rights, climate justice and ecocide, with pieces in Al Jazeera, Euronews, the Guardian, the New European and other global online publications. Nina is also currently studying a law masters in London.
Dr Sumaya Al Nahed is an academic and researcher based at the University of West London, where she teaches Journalism. She is particularly interested in how news media frame socio-political issues and events, and her work includes analysis of protest movements and social change, and representations of diversity and inclusion in the media.
Garin Dowd is Professor of Film, Literature and Media at University of West London where he is course leader for English. His main research interests are in the areas of literature and philosophy, the work of Samuel Beckett and philosophy and cinema.
Professor Jeremy Strong
Professor of Literature and Film at the University of West London.
He serves on the editorial board of Adaptation and other journals. Widely published on adaptation, he also writes about food, culture, books, and movies. His books include James Bond Uncovered (2018), Educated Tastes: Food, Drink and Connoisseur Culture (2011) and the novel Mean Business (2013). He is currently working on his podcast series The Joy of Guests.
Dr Sarah Grochala
Playwright and academic. She is Senior Lecturer, Writing for Theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Her books include The Contemporary Political Play and The Theatre of Rupert Goold. She has also written on the representation of violence against women on the British stage for the forthcoming Cambridge Companion to British Playwriting Since 1945. Her plays include S-27. She regularly writes audio episodes of Dr Who and The Avengers for Big Finish
Dr Jonathon Crewe
Writer and director for film, theatre and radio, whose work predominantly investigates forms of representation and socio-cultural hierarchies. His debut feature film, face2face, won him Best Director at both World Distribution Awards, USA and Alternative Film Festival, Canada. His latest film 'Last night, locked in... is an homage to neo-noir filmed during the 20-21 Covid lockdowns. It won Best Supporting Actor at the World Carnival Awards, Singapore and an Honorable Mention at the L.A. Neo-Noir Festival, USA.
