In 1967 Audrey Hepburn portrayed the role of Susy in the film adaptation of Frederick Knott’s classic thriller Wait Until Dark, gaining nominations for both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Actress. The story, often ranked as one of the top 100 scariest films of all time, is now back on stage at the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne from 24th August to 2nd September.
As the heroine, Karina Jones will step into Audrey Hepburn’s shoes to recreate the terror of the character’s intense and suffocating experience. Set amidst the social turbulence of 1960s London, the play follows the story of Susy, a blind woman who, left alone in her apartment, becomes the victim of an elaborate scam hatched by a group of conmen. Susy is left to fend for herself, and eventually finds a way to turn the tables on the conmen and give them a taste of life in the dark.
Karina Jones has an extensive range of theatre, TV and radio credits to her name and is an international aerial circus performer and trained belly dancer! Karina has worked with National Theatre of Wales, The Roundhouse Camden, the Half Moon, Citizens Theatre Glasgow, the Tron, Frantic Assembly, Soho Theatre, Graeae and Paines Plough, and her credits include Soloparentpals.com (BBC Radio 4), The Vagina Monologues (Graeae) and Thomasina in Crystal Clear (Lowry Theatre), for which she was nominated for a Manchester Theatre Award.
Karina has a degenerative sight condition and is visually impaired. She is associate director of Invisible Flash Theatre Company and works as a visually impaired access consultant for many companies, including Graeae and Ramps on the Moon. She was part of the 2012 Paralympics Opening Ceremony team. Karina recently belly danced for the world’s press outside 10 Downing Street to highlight disability rights issues.
Produced by The Original Theatre Company (producers of Night Must Fall) in association with Eastbourne Theatres, the talented cast for this classic thriller also includes Jack Ellis (Best known as Jim Fenner in ITV’s Bad Girls and Harry Mason in Coronation Street) as Mike and Oliver Mellor (Dr Matt Carter in Coronation Street) as Sam Henderson.
Ahead of a national tour, Wait Until Dark premieres at the Devonshire Park Theatre Eastbourne from 24th August to 2nd September with nightly performances at 7.45pm and Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets, from £18-£25.50, can be booked by calling the box office on 01323 412000 or online eastbournetheatres.co.uk.