LENA starring Jon Culshaw and Erin Armstrong to make Debut Full Run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

This August will see LENA, the new play by BAFTA and Olivier Award winner Tim Whitnall, come to the Assembly George Square playing throughout the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The play chronicles the story of Lena Hilda Zavaroni, who was a Scottish singer and a television show host. At ten years of age, with her album Ma!, she was the youngest person in history to have an album in the top ten of the UK Albums Chart. Later she starred in her own television series. She was 13 when she was diagnosed with anorexia, a barely known illness then called the “slimmer’s disease”. She died in 1999 at the age of 35. 4th November 2023 would have been her 60th birthday.

Although it may tell a story from yesteryear, LENA holds a powerful association with our world today, exploring the link between self-esteem and self-image, the individual’s quest for recognition, and our society’s seemingly endless fascination with celebrity culture. LENA stars ERIN ARMSTRONG in the title role, with co-stars ALAN MCHUGH, JULIE COOMBE, HELEN LOGAN, and the incredible JON CULSHAW as Hughie Green.

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A Monday evening, January 1974. As ITV’s talent show “Opportunity Knocks” goes out live, its 17 million viewers are jolted backwards in their sofas by the appearance of a 10-year-old girl in a baby-doll dress, her explosive voice rattling their four-inch TV speakers: “MA-MMM-AAAAAAA!!” As the Clap-O-Meter confirms the child’s landslide victory, show host HUGHIE GREEN – the ‘Simon Cowell of his day’ – is hailing “Little Lena Zavaroni – a star from the beautiful Isle of Bute!”

1999. Twenty-five years on from her triumphs, we discover a very different Lena. Exploring what had happened to her over the intervening quarter of a century reveals a startling, wholly separate story. Funny and sad, powerfully affecting and darkly dramatic, LENA will leave you asking big questions long after you’ve seen it.

Written by BAFTA and Olivier award-winner TIM WHITNALL and directed by PAUL HENDY, this timely play with music features a wealth of showstopping songs including (Ma!) He’s Making Eyes At Me, (You’ve Got) Personality, and Rescue Me, performed live by the show’s five-strong cast and onstage band.

Quotes about the show from Paul Hendy, Jon Culshaw, Erin Armstrong and Tim Whitnall:

“I’m very excited about directing LENA for this year’s Fringe. With its powerfully affecting story, brilliant cast, and classic tunes, LENA is a drama ripe for our times – and one that will stay with an audience long after they’ve seen it.” PAUL HENDY – “LENA” Director

‘I can remember watching Opportunity Knocks every Monday night. As a five year old in 1973, I vividly remember cheering Lena on as she won week after week. I felt I knew her, rather like a school pal you sat next to in history lessons, taking off the teachers and inventing silly songs! ‘Lena’ the play reminds us all of her incandescent talent and poses many questions around fame and its pressures; questions that are still so relevant today. To play Hughie Green at the peak of his slick powers is a challenge to relish. Hughie is our host, narrator and all seeing eye guiding us (most sincerely) through the chapters of Lena’s story’ JON CULSHAW

‘I was 4 years old when Lena died. I hadn’t heard of her before auditioning for the role which, in hindsight, is now so surprising to me knowing her sheer talent – she was a star! Watching and learning about Lena, I felt an instant connection with her and I’m very honoured to be able to share her heartbreaking, authentic story with generations who knew of her, but more importantly, with recent generations who do not. So much about Lena’s story is so relevant in today’s society, with “celeb culture” and the pressures of social media impacting people’s mental health and well-being more than ever. Lena’s story needs to be told, and I have every faith this show will be one that people will remember. To embody the spirit of Lena is a complete privilege and for my first professional theatre performance, it has and will always be such a special experience’ ERIN ARMSTRONG

“I am thrilled to have written a play that not only tells Lena Zavaroni’s jaw-dropping story, but also one which celebrates her incredible talents.

The explosion of Lena Zavaroni into public consciousness may date from the advent of celebrity culture but bringing it back into the spotlight feels timely and appropriate. The more recent trajectories of Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, or Susan Boyle – plus the omnivorous appetite for TV talent or ‘reality’ shows and a craving for social media notoriety – suggest that Lena’s story and its themes have not only endured but are even more relevant than they were in 1974. With nearly 3.5 million anorexia sufferers in the UK (the figures soared during the Covid pandemic), Lena’s one in a million voice needs to be heard now more than ever.

LENA appeals across the age spectrum, from those who remember Lena Zavaroni’s triumphs on “Opportunity Knocks”, to a younger audience who will recognise the chilling parallels between Lena’s time and their own ‘selfie-driven’ age in which self-image and self-esteem seem inexorably linked.

As a former child-performer myself, LENA is a drama which I feel well-qualified to have written, drawing on a wealth of observations and experience gained “in the zone”, having worked alongside many performers who have struggled with addiction issues or eating disorders.” TIM WHITNALL – “LENA” Playwright

Director Biography

Paul Hendy is a scriptwriter, director, and producer.

In a previous life, Paul was a TV presenter and hosted shows such as The Disney Club, Don’t Try This At Home with Davina McCall and Wheel of Fortune (which had been running for twenty-three years until Paul hosted one series and they cancelled it!) He also hosted the BAFTA nominated Dear Mr Barker and the cult classic Stash the Cash (‘cult’ meaning it was rubbish but students liked it!).

Paul wrote, directed and produced the short film, The Last Laugh. The film was a huge success at major film festivals around the world winning several awards including ‘Best Comedy Drama’ at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival, ‘Award of Excellence’ at the Global Film Festival (San Diego) and ‘Best Film’ at the Manchester Film Festival. On screen, Paul has also directed The Terrorist Princess, Mister Sunshine and several TV ads.

His novels Diary Of A C-List Celeb (in no way autobiographical… honest!) and Who Killed Simon Peters? were published by Transworld in 2004 and 2009. They received great critical acclaim and were subsequently translated into Russian and Greek (true!). The novels can currently be found in the bargain bins of most reputable bookshops.

Paul directed and produced a UK Tour of Morecambe. He has optioned the film rights for Morecambe and is currently developing a screenplay called Bring Me Sunshine with Tim Whitnall about the life story of his comedy heroes, Morecambe and Wise…

Paul is also one of the leading pantomime producers in the country and has written, directed and produced over 100 pantomimes in some of the best theatres in the country.

Cast Biographies

ERIN ARMSTRONG – LENA ZAVARONI

Erin plays series regular Cassie Perez in BBC’s Shetland and has also featured in Rillington Place, Millie Inbetween, Emmerdale and River City. Erin has worked with Theatre School Scotland, running film and TV workshops and started her acting career as part of Theatre in Education. Lena marks Erin’s first major starring role in theatre.

JON CULSHAW – HUGHIE GREEN

Widely regarded as Britain’s best impressionist, Jon Culshaw is also an accomplished actor and presenter. Notable credits include Dead Ringers, Spitting Image, The Impressions Show and The Secret World. As an actor, Jon has played a wide variety of roles and delivered performances to much critical acclaim, including The Final Take: Bowie in the Studio for the BBC, Unseen Academicals a Terry Pratchett audio drama for Audible, a portrayal of the great Alan Whicker for The Other Side of the World and Billy and Me, part of the ‘Barnes’ People’ series for The Original Theatre Company and Perfectly Normal Productions. Last year, Jon received widespread critical acclaim for his solo performance in Les Dawson: Flying High, taking the show from a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to a sell-out national tour at the end of 2022.

ALAN McHUGH – VICTOR ZAVARONI

Alan trained at RSAMD and has since worked with the country’s leading theatre companies, including the Citizens, National Theatre of Scotland, Traverse, Royal Lyceum, Tron, Wildcat, Borderline, Perth Rep, Dundee Rep and many more. In addition to many radio and feature/ short film credits, he has worked extensively in television. Credits include Outlander, the double BAFTA Award-winning Limmy’s Show, Taggart, High Road, River City, Scot Squad, Rab C. Nesbitt and Still Game. As a writer, Alan has written the annual Beacon pantomime since 2016, and has penned 2021’s Cinderella.

JULIE COOMBE – HILDA ZAVARONI

After training in acting at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, Julie has enjoyed an incredibly varied career for nearly three decades. Theatre includes Scottish classics such as, The Slab Boys Trilogy and The Steamie. She starred in the first Scottish tour of The Vagina Monologues where her flair for comedy led to the creation of her hit show, Hormonal Housewives, which has seen six UK tours. On radio Julie is a well-known voice from countless comedy shows including the long-running sketch show The WhyFront and the sitcom No Hard Feelings. On TV Julie has ticked off two Scottish soaps starting with STV’s Take the High Road, but is perhaps best known from BBC’s River City as Terri, ‘the tart with no heart’. She was the alien mum Mrs Krspltyx in CBBC’s Intergalactic Kitchen. Her comedy credits for the BBC include Revolver, the sitcom Millport and three seasons of Live Floor Show.

HELEN LOGAN – DOROTHY SOLOMON

Helen has worked widely in theatre with roles in: Local Hero (Royal Lyceum); Hamlet (Bard in the Botanics); Bill McLaren: The Voice of Rugby (Firebrand TC); The Sunshine Ghost (Scottish Theatre Producers); Blithe Spirit; Death of a Salesman;Moonlight and Magnolias; Proof; A Streetcar Named Desire; Tales from Hollywood, (all Perth Theatre); The Angel and The Manse (Glasgow Oran Mor); The Cone Gatherers (APA Tour); Life, Love and Liberty (Dumfries and Galloway Arts); Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off (Prime Productions); Mill on the Floss (Nottingham Playhouse/ Northcott Exeter) and Hard Times (Northcott Exeter). Helen has also performed in several seasons at Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Her film & TV work includes River City (BBC); The Descent (Celador Films/Pathé); We’ve Gotta Get Out of This Place (BBC); A Mug’s Game(BBC); and Dr Finlay (STV).

PRODUCERS
ANNA MURPHY FOR FEATHER PRODUTCIONS
JULIE COOMBE & JOHN MacNEILL FOR GLASS HANDBAG PRODUCTIONS
MICHAEL EDWARDS FOR MJE PRODUCTIONS
ASSEMBLY FESTIVAL

CREATIVES
BECKY MINTO – DESIGNER
EMMA JONES – LIGHTING DESIGNER
PAUL SMITH – SOUND DESIGNER
MATTHEW BROWN – MUSICAL DIRECTOR & ARRANGER
ALISON McNEIL – VIOLINIST

Listings Information
Show: LENA
Dates: 3 – 28 August (not 15th)
Time: 12:35pm
Venue Assembly George Square: Gordon Aikman Theatre
Address: 32 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9LH
Price: £14.00 – £19.00
Box Office: www.edfringe.com / https://assemblyfestival.com