Calling all queer theatre fans! Award-winning Vertigo Theatre Productions have announced the lead cast for the world premiere stage adaptation of the acclaimed 1996 neo noir movie Bound written by the legendary Wachowskis and adapted to the stage by Craig Hepworth (Porno Chic, Exam, Noir).
Depending on the era of your lesbian calling, some of you might remember stealing the first haunting glimpses of Gina Gershon’s floppy haired, boyish, toned-bare-armed take of Corky that would cause a young baby gay to quake within the closet.
Well, now you can enjoy a new portrayal coming to the stage in October 2023. Don’t worry, super fans, this production has been authorised by Lily and Lana Wachowski as well as their management. Its authenticity is in safe hands. Here’s everything we know so far.
CREDIT: RANDY TEPPER/GRAMERCY PICTURES/COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTION
Meet the cast
Stepping into these iconic roles of Violet and Corky (portrayed by Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon in the movie) are Farrel Hegarty (Violet) and Sofia Antonia Milone (Corky). Joining them, Ben Keenan will portray Caesar and Richard Allen will play Johnnie (played by Joe Pantoliano and Christopher Meloni in the film).
Farrel Hegarty trained at the East 15 Acting School, graduating in 2010. As well as appearing in the critically well-received My Dinner with Hervé starring Peter Dinklage and Jamie Dornan. Her film credits include Big Boys Don’t Cry, The Payday, Late to the Party and the five time award nominated Edit/Undo.
Sofia Antonia Milone rebooted her career in April 2022 after a break working in related artistic roles. She has already played a variety of queer characters since her return, including Detective Smithy in The Adults are Talking (Stop Swimming Productions), Mia in the short On Rest a Movement for the Hallé Orchestra (Polari), and Becky in the feature A Sorta Fairytale (KDTA Productions).
Ben Keenan began his acting career as part of the esteemed drama collective ‘The Newpoint Players’ back in Northern Ireland. His recent acting credits include guest roles on Eastenders and Doctors and he has a feature film on Amazon Prime and another scheduled for release later this year.
Richard Allen has worked professionally as a theatre actor for over a decade and has worked with the company behind Bound (Vertigo) many times before. His credits include the lead roles in Porno Chic, Last Dance, Fake News, Ascension and Noir. He has also appeared in the comedy plays Christmas Sorority Massacre and Murder She Writes.
When?
The stage adaptation had its first workshop in November at The Contact Theatre in Manchester, with a try out production scheduled to open October 2023 in the UK.
What’s it about?
For those who need reminding, or in case you haven’t seen the film, the story sees sparks fly when Violet – the girlfriend of a violent gangster named Caesar – clocks Corky in the hallway of their building. Corky is fresh out of prison and doing renovations on the apartment next door. Escalating into an intense love affair, they plot out an intricate plan for Violet to escape from Caesar. With two million dollars of the mob’s money, they must trust each other to get out alive. Expect part love story, part erotic thriller, part mob story.
The makers of Bound, the movie
Bound was the directorial debut of trans American film and television directors, writers and producers Lana and Lilly Wachowski, mostly known as the Washowskis. The sisters have been writing and directing as a team through most of their careers, with Bound being their directing debut in 1996. They then achieved fame with their huge box office hit The Matrix (1999), for which they won the Saturn Award for Best Director.
Their other notable works include V for Vendetta, Cloud Atlas and one of our favourite shows, Sense8, which explores issues of identity, sexuality, gender, and politics that its creators felt had been rarely addressed on television. It also features Jamie Clayton as Nomi Marks, a trans woman hacktivist and blogger living in San Francisco with her girlfriend Amanita.
Where can we find out more?
To keep up to date with all things BOUND, you can follow the show on Twitter @Bound_Stage, on Facebook at the page BOUND or visit the Vertigo website at www.vertigotheatreproductions.co.uk.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments, meanwhile head over to our other favourite lesbian films of all time for recs to watch this Christmas!
Last Updated on 22nd December 2022 by Nonchalant Magazine
Lauren is a writer and editor based in Peckham, covering all things queer culture, books, travel, arts and lifestyle, fashion and creativity. She is also a features editor at New Statesman Media Group, writing on sustainability, cities and tech. She most recently had a chapter on Reykjavik published in an LGBTQ+ travel book published by Rough Guides.
