We are thrilled to officially announce the cast of Sugar, an unflinching trilogy which honours the hard realities of lives lived in and around the system.

Taja Luegaezor Christian – Annie 

Taja is delighted to be appearing in Sugar for Open Clasp Theatre Company. 

Theatre credits include :-   

The Birmingham Passion Play 2019 (Saltmine Theatre Company), What Fatima Did (Derby/Tamasha Theatre Company), King Idomeneo  (Birmingham Opera Company), Code Red: A Woman’s Journey to Safe Healing (Calvin Wilson) and Block Party, The Wedding and Uncle Ben all for Graft Entertainment. 

Film and TV work includes :- Sea View (Strictly Arts) and Certified (Certified the movie)  

When Taja is not on stage she is writing scripts, devising and producing her own projects.  

“I would like to thank Open Clasp for the opportunity & their constant support throughout the process, it has been amazing to work with a theatre company with such passion and purpose. This experience has changed me, thank you” 

Paislie Reid – Julie 

Paislie Reid is a versatile performer, having begun her career in I’m a juvenile delinquent jail me she went on to feature in 2 seasons of CITV series The New Worst Witch as a principle part of the cast. Since this early television debut, she has continued to have a lucrative acting career that has included performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Frantic Assembly, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, 20 stories high and Contact theatre. Paislie is really excited to be working with Open clasp again after first working with them in 2015 on Jumping Puddles. Paislie’s most recent work includes filming an episode for sky Atlantic drama Tin Star and featuring in BBC radio 4 drama the last woman killed in the war. 

Paislie also has skills in BSL and is particularly interested in making the arts more accessible. Outside of acting she is a singer/songwriter and is set to combine her skill set to create and develop a new play with music about the hospitality industry. 

Zoe Lambert – Tracy

Originally from Yorkshire Zoe has been based in the North East for 32 years. During that time she has worked with many companies in the region. This is her fifth production with Open Clasp, the previous ones being, A Twist of Lemon, Rattle and Roll, Swags and tails, and the last first stage development of Sugar three years ago. Also for the company she helped facilitate training of Cleveland Police around the offence of Coercive control. Zoe is excited to be part of this next production of Sugar and to convey these monologues on film. 

Within the region she has also worked with Live Theatre many times, Northern Stage, November Club, The Customs House, Alphabetti, New Writing North, Greyscale. 

Outside the region with Northern Broadsides, Leeds Playhouse, Bolton Octagon, Lancaster Dukes. 

TV and film credits include Emmerdale, Tracy Beaker returns, The Royal today, school for seduction. 

Zoe also plays piano accordion and sings in the band Kissed. 

Christina Berriman Dawson –Rita 

Christina’s theatre credits include Goldilocks & the Three Bears (QDOS Theatre Royal Newcastle),  Under Milk Wood (Northern Stage) Rattle Snake (Open Clasp), Beyond The End Of The Road (November Club-Tour/SAGE), Key Change (New York Theatre workshop, Off Broadway and UK National Tour & Live filming Space/BBC ), Sugar (Open Clasp at Live Theatre), 5 Dead Nobody’s (Customs House), Clothes Swap Theatre Party (Forward Theatre & Derby Playhouse), Dolly Mixtures (Customs House), Make do and Mend performed at European Parliament, From there to you, from here to me (Odd Man Out), Turning Pages (Live Theatre), Season Ticket R&D (Northern Stage), Prince, Queen & Dandini (Tyne Theatre), The Frights (Alphabetti Theatre & Theatre N16 London), Hull’s Angel (Ensemble 52), Gaslight On Grey Street (Theatre Royal Studio), Pied Piper Project & Cautionary Tales From The Trenches (November Club), Flock (ZENDEH), ‘Dick’ in Dick Whittington & ‘Aladdin’ in Aladdin (Barnsley Lamproom Theatre), The Selkie (Sage Gateshead), The Bodies (Live Theatre), Nowt To Look At (BBC Radio Drama), George Gently (BBC) and feature film The Magdalene Sisters.   Christina was awarded the 2017 Live Theatre Bursary and her show RatBoy will be produced in Summer 2020 by Live Theatre . Christina is represented by Janet Plater Management. 

Creative Team

Catrina McHugh MBE – Writer

Laura Lindow  – Director and associate director with Open Clasp Theatre Company

Katja Roberts – Camera Director and Editor (Meerkat Films)

Verity Quinn – Set and Costume Designer

Ali Hunter – Lighting Designer

Roma Yagnik – Sound Designer/Composer

Sugar will be released in June 2020