A Chichester Festival Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre co-production of
SINGLE SPIES
ALAN BENNETT’S HIT COMEDY SINGLE SPIES TO TOUR THE UK IN 2016
Nicholas Farrell, Belinda Lang, David Robb will lead the cast
Directed by Rachel Kavanaugh
The production will visit Chichester, Birmingham, Richmond, Canterbury, Newcastle, Oxford, Cheltenham, Bath, Leeds, Salisbury and Sheffield
A new production of Alan Bennett’s hit comedy will embark on a UK tour in February 2016. Following the success of The King’s Speech, Chichester Festival Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre collaborate once again on this award-winning comedy masterpiece, Single Spies.
Olivier Award-nominated Rachel Kavanaugh will direct Nicholas Farrell (as Guy Burgess), Belinda Lang (Coral Browne and Her Majesty the Queen) and David Robb (Anthony Blunt) in an extensive UK tour opening in February 2016. Further casting to follow.
Bennett’s award-winning espionage double bill is a pointedly satirical snapshot of two members of the infamous ‘Cambridge Five’, Guy Burgess and Anthony Blunt, both recruited as spies by the Soviet Union during World War II.
In 1950s Moscow, Coral Browne receives an invitation to lunch with shunned Soviet spy, Guy Burgess, with the sole instruction to ‘bring a tape measure’. An Englishman Abroad is a wry and touching play which chronicles the pair’s fleeting friendship and Burgess’ attempts to cling to his way of life as a Soviet citizen.
A Question of Attribution gives us a glimpse into Anthony Blunt’s life of espionage within the very walls of Buckingham Palace. Following his double-life as an art historian to royalty and a Soviet spy, this witty tale of forgery and deceit culminates in a sharp and candid interrogation from Her Majesty the Queen herself.
Single Spies premiered at the National Theatre in 1988, opening to critical acclaim and receiving an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 1990.
Nicholas Farrell’s previous credits with Chichester Festival Theatre include The Browning Version/South Downs (and West End) and Damsels in Distress he also starred as Alan Bennett inThe Lady in the Van (Queen’s Theatre). Farrell’s extensive film career includes The Iron Lady,Legend and Chariots of Fire.
Belinda Lang is best known for playing Bill Porter in hit TV show 2 Point 4 Children (BBC), further screen credits include Second Thoughts (LWT), Doctors (BBC) and Midsomer Murders(ITV). She has recently appeared on stage in Oklahmona! (Northampton/Tour), Ladies in Lavendar (National Tour), Hay Fever (Royal Exchange and Haymarket Theatre) and East is East(Birmingham Rep).
David Robb is currently on screen as Dr. Clarkson in the multi-award winning drama Downton Abbey (ITV), his extensive television credits also include Wolf Hall, Roman Mysteries andGarrow’s Law (all BBC). On stage he has recently appeared in The Audience (Apollo Theatre) and Hamlet (Tour & West End).
Rachel Kavanaugh was Artistic Director of Birmingham Repertory Theatre and has directed multiple celebrated productions at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre including The Sound of Music(nominated for Best Musical Revival, Oliver Awards; winner of Best Musical Revival, WhatsOnStage Awards), Much Ado About Nothing and As You Like It. For Chichester Festival Theatre, Kavanaugh’s Love Story was Olivier Award-nominated for Best New Musical and received a West End transfer.
LISTINGS:
Chichester Festival Theatre
4-13 February
Oaklands Parks, Chichester, PO19 6AP
01243 781312
Online bookings: www.cft.org.uk
Birmingham Repertory Theatre
17- 27 February
Centenary Square, Broad Street, B1 2EP
0121 236 4455
Online bookings: www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
Richmond Theatre
1-5 March
The Green, Surrey, TW9 1QJ
0844 871 7651
Online bookings: www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre
The Marlowe Theatre
8- 12 March
The Friars, Canterbury, CT1 2AS
01227 787787
Online bookings: www.marlowetheatre.com
Theatre Royal Newcastle Upon Tyne
15-19 March
100 Grey Street, NE1 6BR
08448 11 21 21
Online bookings: www.theatreroyal.co.uk
Oxford Playhouse
21-26 March
Beaumont Street, OX1 2LW
01865 305305
Online bookings: www.oxfordplayhouse.com
The Everyman Theatre
29 March – 02 April
Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ
01242 572573
Online bookings: www.everymantheatre.org.uk
Theatre Royal Bath
04 – 09 April
Sawclose, BA1 1ET
01225 448844
Online bookings: www.theatreroyal.org.uk
Leeds Grand Theatre
12 – 16 April
46 New Briggate, LS1, 6NZ
0844 848 2700
Online bookings: www.leedsgrandtheatre.com
Salisbury Playhouse
18- 23 April
Malthouse Lane, Wiltshire, SP2 7RA
01722 320 117
Online bookings: www.salisburyplayhouse.com
Sheffield Theatres
26-30 April
55 Norfolk Street, S1 1DA
0114 249 6000
Online bookings: www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk