Opening next month at The Playground Theatre on Latimer Road, Spanish Oranges is a blistering new debut play from acclaimed novelist Alba Arikha, directed by Myriam Cyr.
It was developed in The Playground Theatre’s inaugural Women’s Vocies: A Celebration festival last year and is premiered in the lead-up to the 2026 festival.
In this world premiere, Maryam D’Abo leads the cast. We asked her to tell us a bit about the show.
Where: The Playground Theatre
When: 11 Feb-7 Mar
Ticket link: https://www.theplaygroundtheatre.org.uk/projects/spanish-oranges-
A new play loosely inspired by Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and Scenes from a Marriage! Tell us more.
A competitive relationship, where ego and denial fuel the tension on both sides. It’s an exploration of love , vulnerability and betrayal.
The painful truth that emotional connection does not always align in a marriage.
What attracted you to the role of Flora?
She’s a respected writer, an intelligent and sensitive woman who holds her own in the face of whatever life throws at her.
What do you think of the Playground as a place to work in and bring this play to life? I know you were born in Hammersmith, not far away.
I think the Playground is a wonderful niche venue for writers and performers. It offers a space to explore, experiment, and entertain.
Supporting fringe theatre is vital for the development and performance of new plays and shows.
You’re still remembered with affection as a ‘Bond Actress’ [in The Living Daylights, 1987]. How does it feel to be in that exclusive club?
It’s been wonderful being part of the club and part of the Bond legacy with Albert Broccoli, Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson.
You’ve worked on stage in France as well as in London. Has that informed and enhanced the way you approach acting a role?
I hope so … adapting to the different approaches and ways of working.
Could you sell Spanish Oranges to an audience in just one sentence?
A single day in the life of a couple—one that will change their trajectory forever, no matter how hard they try to escape reality.