Developed under a controversial scheme

The first play written by IT Crowd star Katherine Parkinson is to receive its London premiere.

Sitting – about three people who open up as they pose for a portrait painter – will run at Arcola Theatre in Dalston from April 10.

The show debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe last year as part of a scheme run by BBC Arts and production company Avalon to encourage first-time playwrights. But the initiative was criticised for funding stars who were already established in other fields with other commissions going to Frank Skinner – a long-term client of Avalon’s agency division – and television director Beryl Richards

 Time Out theatre critic Andrzej Lukowski said the Debut scheme was the 'absolute worst idea of the 2018 Fringe'.

Sitting got mixed  reviews at the Fringe, with four stars from Metro and The List; three stars from the Guardian; but only two  from both the Independent and The Stage.

Published: 14 Mar 2019