Hijinx actors Faye Wiggan and Wiliam Young have recently landed exciting stage roles with Theatre Royal Stratford East and Birmingham Rep, as more theatre venues are looking to cast authentically and inclusively.
Since 2017, Hijinx Actors has been the casting arm of Hijinx, one of Europe’s leading inclusive theatre companies.
Hijinx actor Faye Wiggan has been cast as Debbie in VILLAGE IDIOT, alongside Mark Benton (Early Doors, Waterloo Road) and Eileen Nicholas (Trainspotting). VILLAGE IDIOT is a brand-new production presented by Theatre Royal Stratford East, Nottingham Playhouse and Ramps on the Moon.
On landing the role and starting rehearsals in London, Faye expressed her excitement as she says she feels “shocked”.
“I can’t believe I made it all the way to a city...I have no words. I don’t feel like I want to give up, because look where I am!”
Director Nadia Fall said,
“I’d never read anything quite like Village Idiot: it’s audacious, made me laugh out loud and gave me a window into country life that those of us from towns and cities just don’t get to see. And what’s particularly exciting to me is that this is the first Ramps show that is a new play, written by a neurodivergent writer.”
VILLAGE IDIOT will run 11 – 25 March at Nottingham Playhouse, 29 March – 1 April at the New Wolsey, Ipswich and 13 April – 6 May at Theatre Royal Stratford East.
Alongside Tom McCall (RSC/Bristol Old Vic) as George, Hijinx Actor Wiliam Young has been cast as Lennie in Of Mice and Men at Birmingham Rep, a role he is reprising after playing Lennie in 2017 with August 012. Wiliam said:
“I’m ecstatic to be playing Lennie again. He reminds me of Roald Dahl’s BFG. I’m doing this for all the other people with learning difficulties/disabilities who love to act but haven’t had the opportunity to land any professional roles yet.”
Director Iqbal Khan said,
“I’m so excited to be working with a great and diverse company on this timeless parable from Steinbeck. I look forward to creating a beautiful and generous production, that embraces all who experience exclusion in challenging times.”
Of Mice and Men is presented by The Rep, Leeds Playhouse and Fiery Angel, in arrangement with Josef Weinberger Ltd and will run from 18 March – 8 April at The Rep.
Hijinx has been working with learning disabled actors for more than 20 years, and for the past decade has produced award-winning shows which cast disabled and non-disabled actors side by side.
The unique casting platform, Hijinx Actors, represents over 60 professionally trained actors with learning disabilities and/or autism from around Wales, and has the wider goal of increasing inclusivity in casting within the stage and screen industries. Collectively, Hijinx actors have worked on over 35 stage and screen opportunities external to Hijinx.
Olivia Harris, Head of Business Development: Casting at Hijinx, says,
“One of the main motivations for setting up the casting arm of Hijinx was to champion and support the wealth of talent we see every day with the actors we work with, so we are delighted that Wiliam and Faye have been cast in these major theatre productions across the UK.”
Discover more about the casting platform Hijinx Actors: www.hijinxactors.co.uk.
Image by Kris Askey.
