ECHOES,  written by Henry Naylor, and directed by Mr. Naylor and Emma Buttler, tells the parallel stories of two women born 175 years apart. A Victorian pioneer woman wants to build an Empire. A present-day Islamist schoolgirl wants to build a Caliphate. Both travel east, to impose their ideals upon unwilling peoples…and both see their ideals drowned in seas of blood. Winner of the prestigious Mervyn Sutter Spirit of the Fringe Award at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe (where it was called a “hugely impressive play” by The Guardian and a “must see” by The Times, London), ECHOES transferred off-West End to the Arcola Theatre.

ECHOES  features Filipa Braganca (Robin Hood for The Tramshed) and Felicity Houlbrooke (The King’s Speech at Chichester Festival Theatre).

For over 20 years, Henry Naylor (playwright/co-director) has been one of Britain’s leading satirists, winning many of the country’s top TV awards as both a writer and a director.  Over the past few years, his career changed course, and he began writing and directing hard-hitting drama. In 2014, he wrote and directed The Collector, which won a Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Fringe and subsequently transferred to the Arcola Theatre.

Emma Butler (co-director) is Artistic Director of Theatre Sotto Voce whose most recent productions include the world première of The Unquiet Grave of Garcia Lorca by Nicholas de Jong, The Flood with So & So Arts Club and Romeo and Juliet. Her recent work as a director includes The Bench and Powerpoints, Theatre 503;Romeo and Juliet, Sotto Voce at Holy Trinity Church Sloane Square. 

Produced by Redbeard Theatre Ltd and Gilded Balloon Productions, ECHOES begins performances on Tuesday, April 19 for a limited engagement through Sunday, May 1.  Press opening is Sunday, April 24 at 3:15 PM.  The performance schedule is Tuesday – Thursday at 7:15 PM; Friday at 8:15 PM; Saturday at 2:15 PM & 8:15PM; and Sunday at 3:15 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $25 ($17.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at(212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org. 59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer; Brian Beirne, Managing Director)