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PRESS RELEASE: 17.02.26
MBA presents the world premiere of
THE DAWN OF RECKONING
By Mark Bastin
Directed by Matthew Parker
17 to 28 March 2026
White Bear Theatre, 138 Kennington Park Road, SE11 4DJ
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Two women.
A deserted hotel lounge at the dead of night.
A seemingly random reunion.
“No-one can change the past Helena. If I could I would. Of course I would.”
Ruth and Helena meet seemingly by chance in the lounge bar of The Clevedon Hotel, Bayswater at 3am on a cold, foggy January morning. Ruth, a paediatric neurosurgeon, and Helena, a children’s book illustrator, were once best friends who met at university.
A case of ‘opposites attract’, sexually liberated former punk princess Helena, and mother’s girl from the home counties Ruth seem to have fallen out over the man to whom they were, at different times, married.
Now both 65 years old and estranged for more than 25 years, their reunion seems at first to have happened by chance. But has it?
The Dawn of Reckoning is a powerful two-hander about friendship, loss, guilt and the possibility of finding a second chance when and where it’s least expected. By turns moving and comic, this new play from critically acclaimed Mark Bastin asks the question: How do we move on from tragedy when the hardest person to forgive is ourself?
The world premiere of The Dawn of Reckoning is produced by MBA Productions and directed by multi award-winning director Matthew Parker. Written by Mark Bastin, author of five-star, award-nominated To Have and To Hold it stars multi award-nominated Jilly Bond (National Theatre, Birmingham Rep, Lowry, BBC) as ‘Ruth’ and Bryonie Pritchard (Shakespeare’s Globe, Old Vic, New Vic) as ‘Helena’.
Press for To Have And To Hold by Mark Bastin:
★★★★★ “The backbone of society’s expectations is laid bare in this beautiful story” London Pub Theatres
★★★★★ “A theatrical masterpiece” Fairy Powered Productions
★★★★ “Raw, honest and touching. Bastin’s script is witty and thought-provoking” Playhouse Pickings
Cast Creatives
Ruth: Jilly Bond
Writer & Producer: Mark Bastin Designer: Hannah Williams
Helena: Bryonie Pritchard
Director: Matthew Parker
Lighting: Abbie Sage
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COMPANY BIOGRAPHIES
Jilly Bond (‘Ruth’)
Jilly’s recent theatre credits include Trestle, nominated for Standing Ovation and OFFIE Awards
and productions at the National, Soho, Finborough, Birmingham Rep and Manchester Lowry
Theatres. Recent TV includes Widow’s Might on Sky Arts, nominated for RTS best short drama
and a guest lead in Doctors. She has narrated over 500 audiobooks.
Bryonie Pritchard (‘Helena’)
Bryonie’s theatre work includes productions at Shakespeare’s Globe, the Old Vic, West End,
English Theatre Frankfurt, the New Vic, plays with regional companies, pantos and national
touring. Other work includes Emmerdale, Casualty, Eastenders, The Bill, Nighty Night, films and
commercials. She has recorded plays and comedies for Radio 4, talking books, narrations, ads
and education programmes.
Writer & Producer: Mark Bastin
Writing and co-producing credits include Catch Me if You Can (2021), a filmed monologue at The Arcola Theatre
directed by Finlay Glen; To Have and to Hold (2022) performed at The Hope Theatre and The Bread & Roses,
directed by Finlay Glen.
Director: Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker is an award-winning freelance theatre director and former Artistic Director of The Hope Theatre.
Recent credits include Bonding (Adelaide Fringe & UK Tour), Trestle (Jack Studio Theatre) and I Wish My Life
Were Like A Musical (Wilton’s Music Hall, Kings Head Theatre & UK Tour). Whilst at The Hope he won the Best
Artistic Director OFFIE Award in 2016; the same year The Hope was shortlisted as Fringe Theatre of the Year at
The Stage Awards. Matthew has received 9 Best Director OFFIE Award nominations for his work since 2015 and
won Best Director of a Musical at the 2023 OFFIE Awards for Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story (Jermyn
Street Theatre).
LISTINGS INFORMATION
The Dawn of Reckoning
Written by Mark Bastin
Directed by Matthew Parker
White Bear Theatre
138 Kennington Park Road
London SE11 4DJ
17 – 28 March 2026
Tues – Sat at 7.30pm
Tickets
£17 Full & £12 Concs
Box Office
whitebeartheatre.co.uk/whatson/the-dawn-of-reckoning
Social Media Details
FB: WhiteBearTheatre / X: @WhiteBearTheatr / Insta: @whitebeartheatre
Cast
Jilly Bond (‘Ruth’) & Bryonie Pritchard (‘Helena’)
Creatives
Writer: Mark Bastin
Producer: MBA Productions
Director: Matthew Parker
Designer: Hannah Williams
Lighting Designer: Abbie Sage
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