Mammals is a play

Play (theatre)

A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...

 by Amelia Bullmore

Amelia Bullmore

Amelia Bullmore is an English actress and writer. She was born in London and studied drama at the University of Manchester. Bullmore started working as an actor but turned to writing in 1995...

. It was first staged at the Bush Theatre

Bush Theatre

The Bush Theatre is based in Shepherd's Bush, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It was established in 1972 above The Bush public house by Brian McDermott, and has since become one of the most celebrated new writing theatres in the world. An intimate venue renowned for its close-up...

, Shepherd's Bush

Shepherd's Bush

-Commerce:Commercial activity in Shepherd's Bush is now focused on the Westfield shopping centre next to Shepherd's Bush Central line station and on the many small shops which run along the northern side of the Green....

, London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, from 6 April to 7 May 2005. This production then toured the UK in Spring 2006. With a cast of six, including Niamh Cusack

Niamh Cusack

Niamh Cusack is an Irish actress. The daughter of late Irish actor Cyril Cusack, she is the sister of Sinéad Cusack and Sorcha Cusack, and half sister of Catherine Cusack. Cusack played Dr Kate Rowan in the television drama series Heartbeat...

, Mark Bonnar

Mark Bonnar

Mark Bonnar is a Scottish actor who is best known is playing Bruno Jenkins in Casualty. He has also acted in afterlife, Taggart and Wire in the Blood. He has appeared in Nuclear Secrets and The Bill in 2007. In 2009, he starred in the BBC One series Paradox...

 and Nancy Carroll.

The playwright was awarded the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize

Susan Smith Blackburn Prize

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize established in 1978, is for English-language women playwrights. Named for Susan Smith, alumna of Smith College, who died of breast cancer.-Winners:* 1978-79 Mary O'Malley* 1979-80 Barbara Schneider...

 for the work.

The play depicts a marriage in crisis following husband Kev's revelation to his wife Jane that he is in love with someone else. The arrival of Kev's best friend Phil with his whirlwind of a girlfriend triggers a series of confessions which threatens to upturn all of their lives. Kev and Jane's increasingly desperate attempts to discuss their problems whilst hiding them from their two daughters makes for an insightful and often painfully amusing drama. (Taken from Hannah Knowles's review)

Roles

Role	Premiere Cast, 8 April 2005 London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... , The Bush Theatre	British Tour, 20 January 2006 Oxford Oxford The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through... , The Oxford Playhouse The Oxford Playhouse The Oxford Playhouse is an independent theatre in Beaumont Street, Oxford, opposite the Ashmolean Museum.- History :...
Jane	Niamh Cusack Niamh Cusack Niamh Cusack is an Irish actress. The daughter of late Irish actor Cyril Cusack, she is the sister of Sinéad Cusack and Sorcha Cusack, and half sister of Catherine Cusack. Cusack played Dr Kate Rowan in the television drama series Heartbeat...	Niamh Cusack Niamh Cusack Niamh Cusack is an Irish actress. The daughter of late Irish actor Cyril Cusack, she is the sister of Sinéad Cusack and Sorcha Cusack, and half sister of Catherine Cusack. Cusack played Dr Kate Rowan in the television drama series Heartbeat...
Kev	Daniel Ryan (actor) Daniel Ryan (actor) Daniel Ryan is an English actor and writer.He is known for starring as Darren Alexander in the BBC drama comedy Linda Green, Andrew Gilligan in The Government Inspector, Andy Coulson in Steel River Blues and Kenny Reed in The Whistleblowers...	Daniel Ryan (actor) Daniel Ryan (actor) Daniel Ryan is an English actor and writer.He is known for starring as Darren Alexander in the BBC drama comedy Linda Green, Andrew Gilligan in The Government Inspector, Andy Coulson in Steel River Blues and Kenny Reed in The Whistleblowers...
Jess	Jane Hazlegrove Jane Hazlegrove Jane Hazlegrove is an English actress.Jane is well known for portraying Lisa Shepherd in Families, Yvonne Bradley in London's Burning, Sue Clayton in Coronation Street in 1985 and has appeared in Jonathan Creek, The Bill, Doctors and Holby City. She is currently playing Kathleen "Dixie" Dixon in...	Jane Hazlegrove Jane Hazlegrove Jane Hazlegrove is an English actress.Jane is well known for portraying Lisa Shepherd in Families, Yvonne Bradley in London's Burning, Sue Clayton in Coronation Street in 1985 and has appeared in Jonathan Creek, The Bill, Doctors and Holby City. She is currently playing Kathleen "Dixie" Dixon in...
Betty	Helena Lymbery	Helena Lymbery
Phil	Mark Bonnar Mark Bonnar Mark Bonnar is a Scottish actor who is best known is playing Bruno Jenkins in Casualty. He has also acted in afterlife, Taggart and Wire in the Blood. He has appeared in Nuclear Secrets and The Bill in 2007. In 2009, he starred in the BBC One series Paradox...	Mark Bonnar Mark Bonnar Mark Bonnar is a Scottish actor who is best known is playing Bruno Jenkins in Casualty. He has also acted in afterlife, Taggart and Wire in the Blood. He has appeared in Nuclear Secrets and The Bill in 2007. In 2009, he starred in the BBC One series Paradox...
Lorna	Nancy Carol	Anna Chancellor Anna Chancellor -Family:Chancellor was born in Richmond, London, England, the daughter of the Hon. Mary Alice Jolliffe and John Paget Chancellor. Through her mother's mother, Lady Perdita Rose Mary Asquith, Chancellor is the great-granddaughter of The Hon. Raymond Aquith and the great-great-granddaughter of Prime...
Directed by	Anna Mackmin Anna Mackmin Anna Mackmin is an award-winning British theatre director. She has been an associate director at the Sheffield Crucible and at the Gate Theatre in London.-Life and career:...	Anna Mackmin Anna Mackmin Anna Mackmin is an award-winning British theatre director. She has been an associate director at the Sheffield Crucible and at the Gate Theatre in London.-Life and career:...

External links

• Past productions: Mammals – from the Bush Theatre website
• http://www.culturewars.org.uk/2005-01/mammals.htm – Hannah Knowles's review.