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Tightrope Theatre in association with Park Theatre presents the World Premiere of

Cold Water

Written and Directed by Philippa Lawford

WRITER / DIRECTOR | PHILIPPA LAWFORD
PRODUCER / ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR | IZZY PARRISS
TRANSLATOR | ILONA KOHANCHUK
LIGHTING DESIGNER | ED SAUNDERS
COMPOSER | LAURIE BLUNDELL
INTIMACY DIRECTOR | STELLA MOSS
STAGE MANAGER | ELEANOR BIRDSALL-SMITH

Philippa Lawford

Philippa is a writer-director from London. Her debut play, Ikaria, won a runner-up award from the ATG Playwrights’ Prize and an OFFIE Short Run Commendation, and was named no. 2 on Broadway World’s list of Best Theatre of 2022. Ikaria toured the UK in 2023, culminating in an acclaimed run at the Park Theatre, where it was nominated for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Ikaria was produced by Philippa's company, Tightrope Theatre, and was published by Methuen Drama. 

Philippa also works as an assistant director and script reader/facilitator. She is a member of Marylebone Theatre’s emerging writers’ group and has read for the Finborough and the ETPEP award. Philippa also co-runs Offshoots, a regular scratch night in London, and the Clonterbrook Arts Residency in Cheshire.

Izzy Parriss

Izzy Parriss is a freelance theatre director and producer. She is the Artistic Director of Izzy Parriss Productions, Lead Producer and Associate Director at Tightrope Theatre and Lead Producer for The AIDS Plays Project. Her freelance credits include work with Ambassador Theatre Group, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Theatre503, Three Sisters Productions, Omnibus Theatre, Theatr Clwyd, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and Bomb Factory Theatre. In July 2024, Izzy will make her London directorial debut with After Sex by Siofra Dromgoole at the Arcola Theatre. Her associate directing credits include Ikaria by Philippa Lawford.

Ilona Kohanchuk

Ilona Kohanchuk is a Ukrainian born writer and literary translator from Russian. Her translation of Chekhov's classic play The Seagull was adapted by Anya Reiss for the Jamie Lloyd company in 2022 starring Emilia Clarke. Other translations have included Chekhov's The Three Sisters (Oberon Modern Plays, 2014) produced at Southwark Playhouse and Gogol’s screenplay Marriage directed by Russell Bolam. She currently lives and works in London.

Ed Saunders

Ed is a lighting designer for live performance. From a background in designing for theatre and contemporary dance, the scope of what Ed does with light now includes opera, festival stages, fashion, and concert shows.

Earlier in the spring, Ed lit a live concert film for Mercury Prize nominees Porridge Radio at the Pompidou Centre in Paris, and an album launch for electronic artist Gediminas Zygas at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts, where he previously lit Eye to Eye for choreographer and performance artist Jose Funnell and a runway show for menswear designer Saul Nash. In the summer, he’ll be returning to Glastonbury to join the creative team behind the San Remo stage, before heading up to the Edinburgh Fringe with the team from last year’s Her Green Hell to light new theatre show Sisters, Three from Emma Howlett. 

Other recent credits include choreographer Holly Blakey’s Cowpuncher My Ass (Queen Elizabeth Hall, 2020; Royal Festival Hall, 2023); Grounded (The Bridge, Brussels; 2023); A Midsummer Night's Dream (Opera Holland Park, 2023); new opera A&E from duo Muelas+Ward (Arcola Theatre, 2023); London Fashion Week presentations for the likes of Ancuta Sarca and Helen Kirkum (2023, 2024); and a number of contemporary dance works at The Place, London. 

In 2022 Ed was appointed Lumiere by the UK Association of Lighting and Production Design, which partnered him as an assistant to leading lighting designers on the Glyndebourne Opera Festival and on new work from Manchester Royal Exchange, among others.  

Ed has toured and relit work by the likes of Hofesh Shechter and National Dance Company Wales. He is a console operator and programmer for other lighting designers and for Sky TV.

Laurie Blundell

Laurie is an Ivor Novello nominated pianist, composer, songwriter and producer. He has performed at the Queen Elisabeth Hall, Institute Francais, Festival de Mayo - Guadalajara, Teatro de San Telmo - Buenes Aires, amongst many other venues. He recently performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.24 with Exeter Symphony Orchestra and No.23 with The London Octave ensemble at St Martin-in-the-Fields. 

As a composer and improviser he has most notably worked with the National Theatre as Musical Director for Alex Zeldin’s Faith Hope and Charity and with Peter Brook on his last play Why. 

As a songwriter and producer he has worked on Tom Odell’s fourth, fifth and sixth albums and Yussef Dayes’ latest record Black Classical Music.

Laurie has travelled extensively studying traditional dance music while living in Brazil and West Africa. He has also lectured in Composition, Musicianship and Piano performance at City University London, Guildhall School of Music and Dartington International Summer school.

Stella Moss

Stella is a London-based critically acclaimed Intimacy Coordinator and director. Known for her work for both stage and screen, Stella’s approach to intimacy is intuitive, authentic and collaborative, prioritising an inclusive representation of intimacy. Compassion, communication and humour are at the core of all of her work.

Eleanor Birdsall-Smith

Eleanor is a stage manager and producer living in south London. She has worked in film and TV production, including on projects for Netflix, HBO and Sony, and is a former Junior Agent at Independent Talent. Eleanor produced and stage managed the recent sold-out run of Cowboys and Lesbians at the Park Theatre as well as its fringe run. She also produces for screen, including a number of acclaimed music videos for the band PYNCH