Casting announced for No Masks, a brand-new Sky Arts virtual play from Theatre Royal Stratford East based on the lives of key workers during the pandemic

Russell Tovey (Years and Years) joins the cast of No Masks, a brand-new Sky original to mark the launch of Sky Arts as a free-to-air channel. The drama, in partnership with Theatre Royal Stratford East and their artistic director Nadia Fall, Sky Arts and Moonshine Features will present a new work based on the real-life testimonies of key workers in East London during the pandemic.

Tovey takes on the role of policeman Noel alongside fellow talented cast members including Lorraine Ashbourne (The Crown) as palliative care nurse Linda, Anna Calder-Marshall (Harlots) as elderly lady Annie, Anya Chalotra (The Witcher) as junior doctor Anuja, and Eamonn Walker (Chicago Fire) as care worker Vincent, with Elijah Melhado from Stratford East's Youth Theatre.

Weaved together with imagined narratives, written by Nadia Fall and Rebecca Lenkiewicz, No Masks will be a testament to the dedication of key workers during the COVID crisis as well as an exploration of our shared hopes and fears.

Russell Tovey says: No Masks was an amazing reintroduction into the world of acting and filming again with a crew. It's a dynamic and thoughtful piece, packed with all the stories and drama of our current climate, told through the words of people that are vital in making a difference on the front line.

No Masks originally began in April 2020, where Stratford East called out to local key workers to submit their stories. These are featured on a virtual wall on their website - www.stratfordeast.com/nomasks and have been used to create the virtual play.

Nadia Fall, Artistic Director of Stratford East, said: "While our physical doors are shut our creative mission is to give a voice to those on the frontline and to bring people together. We are thrilled to be working with Sky Arts and Moonshine Features to showcase the brilliant stories of key workers from our community and be a part of Sky Arts as it becomes free for everyone to watch. We hope this project will be both life-affirming and a moving reality check of what everyday people are living through at this extraordinary time.

As part of Sky Arts mission to increase access to and drive participation in the arts, this special work will bring performance into our homes at a time when it isn't possible to experience live theatre in person.

The 1x60 Sky original will air on Sky Arts this September when the channel becomes free for everyone across the UK to watch on Freeview and Freesat. It will also be available on streaming service NOW TV.

Philip Edgar-Jones adds: Nadia and the team at Stratford East have been working tirelessly to keep theatre alive during this existential crisis point for live art and we are proud to be able to support this brand new production reflecting the lives of people working on the front line during the pandemic.

No Masks is the latest in a raft of brand new original programming recently announced as coming to Sky Arts, including: Landmark, where artists and local communities across the UK will join forces in a quest to create the next great British landmark, English National Opera's Drive & Live, a world-first exclusive broadcast of the ENO's drive-in opera performance of La Boh me and Danny Dyer on Pinter, where Dyer explores the life and works of Harold Pinter and tells the story of their unlikely friendship.

No Masks is produced by Moonshine Features; executive producers are Michelle Crowther and Mike Reilly. Written by Nadia Fall and Rebecca Lenkiewicz for Theatre Royal Stratford East, Nadia Fall is also the director with Lisa Makin as casting director. Barbara Lee is commissioning editor at Sky. No Masks was commissioned by Phil Edgar-Jones Director of Sky Arts and Entertainment and Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content, Sky UK and Ireland.

For more information please contact:

charlotte.mitchell2@sky.uk / hannah.harris-turner@premiercomms.com

About Sky Arts

As the UK's only dedicated arts channel, Sky Arts exists to bring more art to more people across the UK. By throwing open the doors to make the channel free to air, we want to increase access to and participation in the arts.

Offering something for everyone, whatever their passion, Sky Arts showcases the best of classical and popular music, theatre, opera, dance and the visual arts, as well as original drama and comedy.

About Sky

With 24 million customers across seven countries, Sky is Europe's leading media and entertainment company and is proud to be part of the Comcast group. Our 31,000 employees help connect our customers with the very best of Sports, News, the arts and to our own local, original content. Following the success of Sky originals like Chernobyl, Patrick Melrose, Das Boot and Gomorrah we launched Sky Studios and now plan to more than double our investment in original drama and comedy over the next five years.

Our technology allows customers to watch what they want, when they want, how they want, and as we connect millions of families to content they love, it is our responsibility to do it safely - that's why we offer services like Sky Broadband Buddy and the Sky Kids app. And our online streaming service, NOW TV, brings viewers all the enjoyment of Sky with the flexibility of a contract-free service.

We also believe that a company of our scale has a responsibility that goes beyond our business, and into the community. Our Sky Ocean Rescue campaign has reached millions across Europe, we're on track to be free of single-use plastic by 2020, we're investing £25million over five years in ocean-saving tech and we're a proud employer - recognised by The Times and Stonewall for our approach to inclusivity.

About NOW TV

NOW TV is a leading UK streaming service, giving you the best TV, box sets, movies, sports and kids entertainment whenever, and wherever, you want it. Pick from the range of content

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