Newport actress Nicky Davies portrays the aunt of Marilyn Monroe in her latest stage role.
Nicky plays Grace in the Newport presentation of One Night with Marilyn, of which a rehearsed read-through will be performed at Newport’s Dolman Theatre on November 4.
Marilyn Monroe Play A “Powerful Piece of Writing”
Grace is one of several characters from Marilyn’s formative years that are recalled when Marilyn is sectioned by her psychiatrist Dr Marianne Kris to New York’s Payne Whitney Clinic during February 1961. The play is based on a true to life event, which focuses on Marilyn Monroe’s personal life as well as mental health issues.
“As an advocate for mental health awareness, I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of this powerful piece of writing,” says Nicky of the play, written by PT Rose. “It staggers me that even today, almost 60 years since the death of Marilyn Monroe, that the stigma of mental health is still as relevant today.
“We may have changed the words we use and the way we talk about mental health, but you only have to look around on social media to see that everything we say and do is scrutinised and critiqued.
Nicky is a familiar face on the local theatre scene in Newport, having been a member of Newport Playgoers Society for 14 years appearing in productions such as Pygmalion and The Titfield Thunderbolt, both productions of which made a successful transition to The Minack Theatre.
Nicky, who hails from Rogerstone Newport says of One Night With Marilyn, “ I am so pleased to be involved with such a great cast and such a moving, brilliant piece of drama on a subject that still strikes a chord today.
When To See One Night With Marilyn in Newport
One Night with Marilyn will be performed at Newport’s Dolman Theatre on 7.30pm November 4th, with a cast of local actors performing script in hand to a small audience who will have feedback forms to fill in. This will help shape the script for a future full-scale presentation. The end goal being a locally cast and performed full stage presentation in 2022.
- Tickets for the rehearsed read-through event are free, but now extremely limited and are available via Eventbrite.