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BILL KENWRIGHT presents
THE EXORCIST

THE CHILLING BEST-SELLING NOVEL – THE SHOCKING OSCAR-WINNING FILM.

AND NOW THE NEW
STAGE PRODUCTION

INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS

“I’m telling you that ‘thing’ upstairs isn’t my daughter…”

Forty-five years after William Peter Blatty’s best-selling novel terrified an entire generation, The Exorcist will be unleashed onto the West End stage for the very first time in a uniquely theatrical experience directed by Sean Mathias and adapted for the stage by John Pielmeier.

The Exorcist will play a strictly limited run at the Phoenix Theatre from 20 October 2017 to 10 March 2018. Tickets will go on general sale at 4pm on Friday 11 August.

Widely considered the scariest movie of all time, the film adaptation of The Exorcist sparked unprecedented worldwide controversy when it was released in cinemas in 1973. Winner of two Academy Awards, William Friedkin’s masterpiece saw audiences petrified to the point of passing out and went on to become one of the top ten highest grossing films of all time.

“Oh please, Mother, make it stop! It’s hurting.”

When the medical profession fails to provide answers to young Regan’s strange symptoms her desperate mother Chris turns to a local priest for help. But before Father Damien can tackle what’s before him, he must overcome his own shaken beliefs, as this fight is for more than just one girl’s soul…

Sean Mathias has worked at the Royal National Theatre and many times in the West End and on Broadway, as well as extensively internationally. In 2009/2010 Sean’s production of Waiting For Godot played two seasons at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and toured the UK and internationally. In 2013 Godot played Broadway along with his production of Pinter’s No Man’s Land, the latter transferring to Wyndham’s Theatre in October 2017 starring Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, and won Best Revival at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2016.

The Exorcist is designed by Olivier Award-winning Designer Anna Fleischle (Hangmen) with lighting by Tim Mitchell (RSC/Guys and Dolls), composition and sound design by Adam Cork (London Road) and illusion design is by Ben Hart (Impossible).

LISTINGS

Bill Kenwright presents
THE EXORCIST

A play by John Pielmeier.
Adapted from the novel by William Peter Blatty.
Directed by Sean Mathias.

By Special Arrangement with Ben Sprecher and Stuart Snyder
In Association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre

Phoenix Theatre
Charing Cross Rd
London
WC2H 0JP

PLEASE NOTE this production contains material which may shock and offend. Recommended age guidance 18+.

First Performance: 20 October 2017
Booking to 10 March 2018

Monday – Thursday 8pm
‘Friday is Fright-Night’ 6pm evening and ‘Fright Night late show’ 9pm
Saturday 4pm and 8pm

http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-exorcist/phoenix-theatre/
0844 871 7629

Facebook: @TheExorcistLIVE
Twitter: @TheExorcistLIVE

FULL CAST

ANNOUNCED FOR

SALAD DAYS

AT THE UNION THEATRE, STRICTLY LIMITED SEASON

16 AUGUST – 9 SEPTEMBER 2017

 

63 years after its first London production, Salad Days returns in an exciting revamp of the much-loved classical musical. Reimagined for the Union Theatre, Bryan Hodgson’s new production is the highlight of this year’s off West-End season running from 16 August to 9 September 2017 at the Union Theatre.

The cast of Salad Days will be led by Lowri Hamer as Jane and Laurie Denman as Tim. Both are making their professional debut having recently graduated from Guildford School of Acting. They will be joined by Maeve Byrne as Asphynxia, Darrie Gardner as Mrs Dawes, James Gulliford as Nigel, Emma Lloyd as Rowena, Lewis McBean as Tom/Fosdyke, Sophie Millett as Lady Raeburn, Karl Moffatt as Uncle Clam, Tom Norman as Boot, Stephen Patrick as The Inspector, Francesca Pim as Fiona, Jacob Seickell as Troppo, Tom Self as The Tramp and Ashlee Young as Marguerite.

Salad Days is the delightful story of recent graduates Tim and Jane in the midst of a sunny summer in 1954. Glum with their overbearing and pushy parents insisting that they ‘find themselves something to do’, Tim and Jane take on a job looking after a piano in a park. Little are they prepared to deal with the magic that follows, getting them into all kinds of musical trouble and choreographic hilarity. Madness ensues!

Julian Slade and Dorothy Reynolds’ timeless musical is an absolute romp of polite naughtiness and saucy encounters, that endeavours to put a smile on your face and a tap in your toes. With an energetic and peppy score featuring songs such as ‘We Said We Wouldn’t Look Back’, ‘Look At Me, I’m Dancing’, and ‘We’re Looking For A Piano’, Salad Days is a classical musical glittered with thoughts of community, love and happiness that are still as necessary and vital today as they have ever been.

For the full 1950’s ‘picnic in the park’ Salad Days experience, there will be special limited-availability front row ‘PICNIC’ seats from which audiences can enjoy front-row action from cushions and blankets spread on the floor.

Salad Days is directed by Bryan Hodgson (Kray Kray at Theatre N16, Judy! at The Arts Theatre), with associate direction by Samuel Hopkins. Choreography is by Joanne McShane (A Christmas Carol at Blackpool Winter Gardens, Bad Girls and Soho Cinders at the Union Theatre), musical direction by Elliot Styche (MAMMA MIA! for RCCL/Little Star, Old Mother Goose and Dick Whittington at York Theatre Royal), set design by Catherine Morgan (The Arsonists and Punk Rock at Courtyard Theatre) and lighting design by Jack Weir (Summer

In London at Theatre Royal Stratford East, The Boys In The Band at the Vaudeville). Sasha Regan is producing for the Union Theatre, with Ben Dewynter co-producing.

Bryan Hodgson, Director, said: “Salad Days is one of the all-time classics and I’m honoured to be reviving it at such a wonderful venue as the Union Theatre. We’re hoping to build a unique experience that will leave you tapping your toes ’til next Tuesday!”

Salad Days runs at the Union Theatre in Southwark from 16 August – 9 September 2017. Tickets: full price £25, concessions £22.50, front row ‘PICNIC’ seats sat on the floor with cushions and blankets £20 (limited availability). Box Office: 020 7261 9876 http://www.uniontheatre.biz/salad-days.html

Twitter: @SaladDaysLDN #SaladDaysLDN Facebook: @SaladDaysLDN

 

LISTINGS

Venue: Union Theatre, 229 Union Street, London, SE1 0LR

Dates: 16 August – 9 September 2017 (press performance 18 August)

Performances: Tuesday to Saturday evening: 7.30pm; Saturday and Sunday matinee: 2.30pm

Running Time: TBC

Suitability: suitable for all ages

Tickets: full price £25, concessions £22.50, front row ‘PICNIC’ seats sat on the floor with cushions and blankets £20 (limited availability) Bookings: http://www.uniontheatre.biz/salad-days.html

MY LAND’S SHORE FUNDRAISING CONCERT

All Star Productions present a Fundraising Concert at Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre in support of the Welsh Premiere of My Land’s Shore, in Merthyr Tydfil, February 2018.

The concert will feature songs by British Composers in support of a new British Musical and will be hosted by Tim McArthur with Musical Direction by Aaron Clingham.

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Designer of poppies at
Tower of London presents bold new staging in World Premiere of
Bayadère – The Ninth Life.

Bayadère – The Ninth Life
World premiere: Thu 28 & Fri 29 September. 
Press Night: Thu 28 Sept, 8pm.

Shobana Jeyasingh’s latest dance work gets bold new stage design from Tom Piper, co-creator of the Blood-Swept Lands and Seas of Red poppy installation for the Tower of London, at The Lowry this September.

The world premiere of Bayadere – The Ninth Life (Thu 28 & Fri 29 Sept) is a radical reworking of the world-famous ballet La Bayadère by French choreographer Marius Petipa.

Award winning theatre designer Tom Piper is best known for his co-collaboration on the installation at Tower of London which had over 5 million visitors. In this new work, he and Jeyasingh have undercut the stereotypical exoticism of Victorian vision of the Bayadère.  Piper has created a series of shifting structures – museum-like vitrines and cages – to frame the nine exceptional dancers.

La Bayadere, a term used to describe Indian temple dancers, features one of ballet’s most celebrated scenes ‘Kingdom of the Shades.’ More than a re-telling, Jeyasingh’s new 2017 edit looks at the excesses of the 19th century classic, and the European fantasy of Indian culture over the centuries.

The work opens with Jas, a young British Asian male at a train station, messaging his friend about a ballet that his girlfriend has dragged him to see… La Bayadère. Jas feels disassociated from Petipa’s view of Indian culture and in his imagination he is transported to 19th century Paris. In Bayadere – The Ninth Life Jas is transported through history into Jeyasingh’s very own version of the ‘Kingdom of the Shades.’

Composer, producer and DJ Gabriel Prokofiev was nominated for a British Composer Award for his commissioned score for the original piece in 2015. For this new version, he intersperses the score with sounds from city streets to reflect the urban reality of the dancers’ 21st century world. French critic Théophile Gautier’s lascivious impressions of Indian temple dancers on their first visit to Europe in 1838 are spoken as part of the sound score.

Jeyasingh’s earlier version of Bayadère – The Ninth Life premiered at the Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House in 2015.

Listings Information
Bayadère – The Ninth Life
Dates: Thu 28 & Fri 29 September
Times: 8pm
Tickets: £16.50    
Website

 

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR

2017 NATIONAL TOUR OF

FREDERICK KNOTT’S THRILLER

“WAIT UNTIL DARK”

NATIONAL PRESS NIGHT TUESDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2017

Graeme Brookes and Tim Treloar will play Croker and Roat respectively in Frederick Knott’s thriller, WAIT UNTIL DARK. They join the previously announced Jack Ellis as Mike, Karina Jones as Susy and Oliver Mellor as Sam Henderson. Shannon Rewcroft and Thomas McCarron complete the cast as Gloria and Policeman.

The tour will begin at Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne on 24 August 2017, with a national press night on Tuesday 5 September 2017 in Richmond.

Graeme Brookes has just finished playing Alan in The Original Theatre Company’s production of Invincible in New York City, as part of the Brits Off Broadway festival, and on tour in the UK. Graeme’s other theatre credits include The Tempest (Teatr Modrzejewskiej/Colchester Mercury), A View from the Bridge, The Rivals; A Slight Ache/The Lover, King David – Man of Blood (all Colchester Mercury Theatre) and Transmissions (Birmingham Rep).

Tim Treloar most recently played Teddy in House and Garden at the Watermill Theatre, Newbury. His theatre credits include The Heart Of Robin Hood, Thomas More, Sejanus, Believe What You Will, Back To Methuselah , Richard II , Romeo And Juliet (all for the RSC), Birdsong (UK tour) and Henry V (National Theatre). His television credits include Dark Heart (ITV) and Father Brown, Framed, Casualty, Silent Witness, Doctors, Holby City and The Bench (all BBC).

Set amidst the social turbulence of 1960s London, the play follows the story of Susy, a blind woman who, left alone in her apartment, becomes the victim of an elaborate scam hatched by a group of conmen. Susy is left to fend for herself, and eventually finds a way to turn the tables on the conmen and give them a taste of life in the dark.

Frederick Knott, best known for writing Dial M For Murder, wrote WAIT UNTIL DARK in 1966. Audrey Hepburn starred as Susy in the 1967 film adaptation, for which she was nominated for both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Actress. The film is often ranked as one of the top 100 scariest films of all time.

WAIT UNTIL DARK will be directed by Alastair Whatley, with designs by David Woodhead, lighting by Chris Withers, sound and music by Giles Thomas, fight coordination by Rc-Annie and casting by Ellie Collyer Bristow. The national tour is produced by Tom Hackney for The Original Theatre Company.

Website: www.waituntildark.co.uk

Facebook: /WaitUntilDarkByFrederickKnott

Twitter: @Wait_Until_Dark

 

2017 TOUR SCHEDULE

24 August – 2 September Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne 01323 412000 www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk

4 – 9 September Richmond Theatre 0844 871 7651 www.atgtickets.com/richmond

12 – 16 September Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham 01242 572573 www.everymantheatre.org.uk

19 – 23 September Cambridge Arts Theatre 01223 503333 www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

25 – 30 September Salisbury Playhouse 01722 320333 www.salisburyplayhouse.com

3 – 7 October Exeter Northcott Theatre 01392 726 363 www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

10 – 14 October Lichfield Garrick Theatre 01543 412121 www.lichfieldgarrick.com

24 – 28 October Malvern Festival Theatre 01684 892277 www.malvern-theatres.co.uk

31 October – 4 November Palace Theatre, Southend 01702 351135 www.palacetheatresouthend.co.uk

6 – 11 November New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

14 – 18 November New Theatre, Cardiff 029 2087 8889 www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

21 – 25 November York Theatre Royal 01904 623568 www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

28 November – 2 December Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford 01483 440000 www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

Book Story by MONSTRO Theatre
Learn to love your shelf
Little Angel Studios: Wednesday 27th September – Sunday 1st October 2017
Little Angel Studios Press Performance: Wednesday 27th September, 10.30am
Tour: Wednesday 27th September – Saturday 4th November

In this celebration of books, reading and libraries, the pioneers of the puppet musical MONSTRO Theatre and their talented band of performers use songs, puppetry and dynamic performance to tell the story of the story in the digital age.

This is the tale of some books, in a library. But these are no ordinary books and this is no ordinary library. It’s Brian’s library: a wonderful, magical place where the books like to flutter their pages and let their shelves go… Then one day Brian changes and the library goes quiet. What’s going on? The books had better stiffen their spines and get to the bottom of this mystery.

Book Story engages with the challenges of the digital age by exploring our deep fondness for the simpler age of the page. With singing books and shimmying librarians, it’s a production that’s funny, surreal, touching and completely unpredictable. As it celebrates our love of books, Book Story also celebrates the power of our imaginations and our human need to pass on all the stories of our lives: from mind, to page, to ear, to heart. It’s a tonic for the digital age.

Award-winning writer/director Ben Glasstone comments, This is a notion I’d had maybe ten years ago when sitting in a library and staring at a shelf of oversize books, thrown haphazardly together on a shelf. These books look like odd shelf-fellows. Why are they sitting next to each other on a shelf? Who put them there? How do they feel about it? Some years later, looking for an idea for a kids’ show for my theatre company I decided to pursue these questions further. Once you start to think about books as characters, you notice a lot of compelling analogies between people and books.

This is MONSTRO’s second full production, developed with support from The Arts Council, the Puppet Centre Trust, Little Angel Theatre, Worboys Productions and the House Network.

Little Angel:
Performance Dates Wednesday 27th September – Sunday 1st October 2017
Location Little Angel Studios, Sebbon Street Community Centre, Sebbon Street, N1 2EH
Box Office Tickets are available from www.littleangeltheatre.com or 020 7226 1787 priced from £10.

Tour Dates:
6th October Goodrich Village Hall, Goodrich
High Street, Goodrich HR9 6HX

7th October Spring Arts & Heritage Centre, Havant
56 East St, Havant PO9 1BS

8th October The Capitol Theatre, Horsham
North St, Horsham RH12 1RG

9th October Hook Library, Kingston
The Hook Centre, Hook Rd, Chessington KT9 1EJ

11th October Central Library, Redbridge
Clements Road, London IG1 1EA

13th October Trestle Arts Base, St Albans
Base, Russet Dr, St Albans AL4 0JQ

14th October Old Town Hall & Arts Centre, Hemel Hempstead
44A High St, Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE

16th October Tooting Library, Wandsworth
75 Mitcham Rd, London SW17 9PD

18th – 21st Oct TakeOff Festival, The City Theatre, Durham
Fowlers Yard, 6 Back Silver St, Durham DH1

22nd Oct Gulbenkian, Canterbury
Gulbenkian, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NB

23rd Oct The Woodville, Gravesham
15A Wrotham Rd, Gravesend DA11 0PA

24th Oct Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds
Westgate St, Bury Saint Edmunds IP33 1QR

26th Oct Norden Farm Arts Centre, Maidenhead
Altwood Rd, Maidenhead SL6 4PF

27th Oct Arts Centre, Bridport
9 South St, Bridport DT6 3NR

29th Oct artsdepot, North Finchley
5 Nether St, North Finchley, London N12 0GA

4th Nov Astor Community Theatre, Deal
Stanhope Rd, Deal CT14 6AB

A Frantic Assembly and State Theatre Company South Australia production
Originally produced in collaboration with Warwick Arts Centre in association with Chichester Festival Theatre and the Lyric Hammersmith

THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE

• CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR 2017 UK TOUR OF FRANTIC ASSEMBLY’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED HIT PLAY THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE
• MATTHEW BARKER AND KIRSTY OSWALD TO RETURN TO THE PRODUCTION, ALONGSIDE NEW CAST MEMBERS CATE HAMER, SELINE HIZLI, JOHN MCARDLE AND ARTHUR WILSON

Full casting has been announced for Frantic Assembly and State Theatre Company South Australia’s critically acclaimed Things I Know To Be True ahead of its return to the UK from 27 September 2017.

Original UK cast members, Matthew Barker and Kirsty Oswald, return to reprise their roles as Mark and Rosie respectively. Joining them in the company will be Cate Hamer as Fran, Seline Hizli as Pip, John McArdle as Bob and Arthur Wilson as Ben.

As beautifully touching as it is funny and bold, Andrew Bovell’s Things I Know To Be True tells the story of a family and marriage through the eyes of four grown siblings struggling to define themselves beyond their parents’ love and expectations.

Featuring Frantic Assembly’s celebrated physicality, and co-directed by Frantic Assembly’s Tony and Olivier Award nominated Artistic Director Scott Graham and State Theatre Company’s Artistic Director Geordie Brookman, Things I Know To Be True is a complex and intense study of the mechanics of a family that is both poetic and brutally frank.

The production will tour to the Oxford Playhouse, The Lowry in Salford, Leicester Curve, Mercury Theatre in Colchester, York Theatre Royal, Chester Storyhouse, Nuffield Southampton, The Lighthouse in Poole and Lyric Hammersmith.

Matthew Barker reprises the role of Mark from the 2016 UK tour of Things I Know To Be True. Matthew trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. His theatre work includes Sweet Bird of Youth (Chichester Festival Theatre), Good People (Hampstead Theatre & Noel Coward Theatre) and Much Ado About Nothing (Derby LIVE). For the National Theatre he has appeared in Husbands and Sons, NT50, 13, Emperor & Galilean, Hamlet and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (also Gielgud Theatre). His work on television includes The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies, Doctors, EastEnders, Jericho: The Killing of Johnny Swan and No Angels.

Cate Hamer plays Fran. With extensive credits across stage and television, her theatre work include Machinal (National Theatre), The Love of the Nightingale, Mary & Lizzie, The Tempest (RSC), Dona Rosita, The Tower, Volpone (Almeida Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare’s Globe Tour),  A Bed Amongst the Lentils (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Indian Ink (Salisbury Playhouse), Scenes From An Execution (Hackney Empire Studio), A Christmas Carol and Crime and Punishment (Glasgow Citizens) amongst many others. Her television credits include Eastenders, Holby City, The Town, Doctors, The Bill, Coronation Street, When I’m 64, Casualty, Inspector Lynley and Without Motive.

Seline Hizli plays Pip. Seline trained at RADA. Perhaps best known for playing Margaret in ITV’s Grantchester, her other television credits include Land Girls, Appropriate Adult, Call the Midwife, Luther and Mum. Seline’s theatre credits include One Night in November, Blood Wedding (Royal & Derngate), The House of Bernarda Alba (Almeida Theatre), Jumpy (Royal Court & Duke of York’s Theatre), The Republic of Happiness (Royal Court), Dirty Butterfly (Young Vic) and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Playhouse Theatre).

John McArdle plays Bob. With credits across stage and screen from the past 37 years, John is known best for his work on telelvision, including the roles of Billy Corkhill in Brookside and Ronnie Hale in Emmerdale. Other screen credits include Mersey Beat, New Tricks, Waterloo Road, Prime Suspect 5, Waking the Dead, Law and Order UK, Vera, Casualty and Holby City amongst others. His extensive theatre credits include Lennon (Liverpool Everyman), Our Country’s Good (Liverpool Playhouse), The Crucible (Sheffield Crucible), Brassed Off (York Theatre Royal & UK Tour), The Arbour (National Theatre), with film credits including There’s Only One Jimmy Grimble, Charlie Noades R.I.P, Through My Eyes and The Rochdale Pioneers. For BBC Radio 4, his work includes A Clockwork Orange, The Spire, King of the Hill, and Stockport, So Good They Named It Once. John has also written and published his autobiography titled You Never Said Goodbye.

Kirsty Oswald plays Rosie. Her previous work with Frantic Assembly has included Desdemona in Othello and last year’s production of Things I Know to Be True (UK Tour). Other theatre credits include The Father (Duke of York’s Theatre), The Judas Kiss (Hampstead Theatre &  Duke of York’s Theatre), The Winter’s Tale (Sheffield Crucible) and We Are Proud To Present… (Bush Theatre). Her television credits include The Coroner, Beowulf, Ripper Street, Holby City and Doctors, and film credits include Gutterdammerung, A Little Chaos and Dirty Weekend. She has also worked extensively across BBC Radio. Training at Rose Bruford, she won the prestigious Highly Commended Award at the Spotlight Prize.

Arthur Wilson plays Ben. His theatre work includes Man and Superman (National Theatre), Richard II (Shakespeare’s Globe), Home – Edinburgh (National Theatre of Scotland), Peter Pan (Kensington Gardens, 02 & US Tour), Persuasion (Manchester Royal Exchange), The Crunch (Look Left Look Right), Project Space (Secret Cinema) and The Borrowers (Citizens Theatre). His television credits include Call The Midwife, Law and Order,20 Anything, The Academy and Sea of Souls.

LISTINGS

27 – 30 September 
Oxford Playhouse
11-12 Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2LW
01865 305 305
www.oxfordplayhouse.com

3 – 7 October
The Lowry (Quays Theatre)
Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ
0843 208 6000
www.thelowry.com

10 – 14 October
Leicester Curve
60 Rutland St, Leicester LE1 1SB
0116 242 3595
www.curveonline.co.uk

17 – 21 October 
Mercury Theatre, Colchester
Colchester CO1 1PT
01206 573948
www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

31 October – 4 November
York Theatre Royal
St Leonard’s Pl, York YO1 7HD
01904 623568
www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

7 – 11 November
Chester Storyhouse
Hunter St, Chester CH1 2AR
01244 409113
www.storyhouse.com

14 – 18 November
Nuffield Southampton
University Rd, Southampton SO17 1TR
023 8067 1771
www.nstheatres.co.uk

21 – 25 November
The Lighthouse, Poole
21 Kingland Rd, Poole BH15 1UG
01202 280000
www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

11 January – 3 February 2018
Lyric Hammersmith
Lyric Square, King Street, London, W6 0QL
020 8741 6850
www.lyric.co.uk

Running time approx 2 hours, including an interval
Contains strong language
Suitable for ages 14+

Theatre Royal Bath Productions, Cambridge Arts Theatre and Rose Theatre Kingston present
THE REAL THING
Starring Laurence Fox

• FULL CASTING IS ANNOUNCED FOR TOM STOPPARD’S THE REAL THING, WHICH TODAY BEGAN REHEARSALS
• AS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED, LAURENCE FOX WILL LEAD THE CAST UNDER THE DIRECTION OF STEPHEN UNWIN
• PRODUCTION WILL EMBARK ON LIMITED UK TOUR, INCLUDING TO CO-PRODUCING VENUES CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE, THEATRE ROYAL BATH AND ROSE THEATRE KINGSTON FROM WEDNESDAY 6 SEPTEMBER

Theatre Royal Bath Productions, Cambridge Arts Theatre and Rose Theatre Kingston are delighted to announce full casting for Tom Stoppard’s poignant classic The Real Thing, directed by Stephen Unwin, which today began rehearsals ahead of its limited UK tour from 6 September.

As previously announced Laurence Fox will star as Henry in the production. He will be joined by Adam Jackson-Smith as Max, Rebecca Johnson as Charlotte, Santino Smith as Brodie, Flora Spencer-Longhurst as Annie, Venice Van Someren as Debbie and Kit Young as Billy.

The production will open on Wednesday 6 September in Cambridge before touring to co-producing venues Bath and Kingston, with national press night on Wednesday 20 September at Theatre Royal Bath. It will then visit Malvern, Edinburgh, Brighton and Guildford.

Henry is the smartest and sharpest playwright of his generation. His wife, Charlotte, an actress has been appearing in a play by Henry about a couple whose marriage is on the verge of collapse. Max, her leading man, is also married to an actress, Annie. When Henry’s affair with Annie threatens to destroy his own marriage, he realises life has started imitating art. But are they really in love? Is it the real thing?

Laurence Fox is best known for his role as DS James Hathaway for seven series of Lewis. Other television roles include A Room With A View and Wired with film credits including Gosford Parkand Becoming Jane. Fox’s theatre credits include Strangers on a Train (Gielgud Theatre) and Our Boys (Duchess Theatre).

Adam Jackson-Smith recently starred in The Dresser (UK Tour; Duke of York’s) alongside Ken Stott and Reece Shearsmith. Other stage credits include The First Man (Jermyn Street Theatre) and Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre).

Rebecca Johnson’s extensive theatre credits include All Our Children (Jermyn Street Theatre), Present Laughter (Theatre Royal Bath), Wendy and Peter (RSC) and Twelfth Night (Sheffield Theatres / ETT).

Santino Smith trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama where credits included All That I am, The Narrative, The Rover and The Taming of the Shrew.

Flora Spencer-Longhurst’s stage credits include A Christmas Truce and Much Ado About Nothing & Love’s Labour’s Lost (RSC), Once (Phoenix Theatre) and Titus Andronicus (Globe Theatre).

Venice Van Someren most recently starred in Gabriel (UK Tour). Other credits include Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down (Theatre N16), Punk Rock (Theatro Technis) and The Cherry Orchard (Boris Shchukin Institute).

Kit Young recently graduated from RADA where credits included The Oresteia, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Tom Stoppard is a multi-award winning playwright with many notable plays includingRosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Arcadia, The Coast of Utopia, The Hard Problem andThe Invention of Love. Stoppard also co-wrote Shakespeare in Love which won the Academy Award for best screenplay.

Stephen Unwin founded English Touring Theatre (ETT) in 1993 prior to becoming Artistic Director of Rose Theatre Kingston for five years. Unwin’s credits for Theatre Royal Bath include Moon Tiger starring Jane Asher and Present Laughter starring Samuel West and Phyllis Logan.

The Real Thing was first staged in London’s West End in 1982 and subsequently transferred to Broadway where it went on to win multiple awards including the Tony Award for Best Play in 1994 and, 16 years later, the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. Stoppard’s poignant classic offers an intellectual and entertaining examination of infidelity.

The production will have set and costume design by Jonathan Fensom (Farinelli and the King, Duke of York’s; Journey’s End; West End Broadway – Tony Award nomination for Best Scenic Design) and lighting by Tim Mascall (I Loved Lucy, Arts Theatre; The Importance of Being Earnest, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre).

LISTINGS

Cambridge Arts Theatre 
Wednesday 6 – Saturday 16 September 2017
Box Office: 01223 503 333
Website: www.cambridgeartstheatre.com
Performance schedule: Evenings 7.45pm, Thu & Sat mats 2.30pm (No performance Sunday 10 September)
Prices: £23 – £42

Theatre Royal Bath
Monday 18 – Saturday 30 September 2017
Box Office: 01225 448 844
Website: www.theatreroyal.org.uk
Performance schedule: Mon – Wed 7.30pm, Thu – Sat 8pm, Thu & Sat mats 2.30pm
Press Night: Wednesday 20 September, 7pm 
Prices: £19.50 – £35.50

Rose Theatre Kingston 
Tuesday 3 – Saturday 14 October
Box Office: 020 8174 0090
Website: www.rosetheatrekingston.org
Performance schedule: Mon – Thu & Sat 7.30pm, Fri 8pm, Thu & Sat mats 2.30pm
Prices: £10 – £45

Malvern Festival Theatre
Monday 16 – Saturday 21 October
Box Office: 01684 892277
Website: http://www.malvern-theatres.co.uk
Performance schedule: Mon – Sat 7.30pm, Wed & Sat mats 2.30pm
Prices: £22.96 – £33.04

Edinburgh King’s Theatre
Tuesday 24 – Saturday 28 October
Box Office: 0131 529 6000
Website: http://www.edtheatres.com/
Performance schedule: Tue – Sat 7.30pm, Wed & Sat mats 2.30pm
Prices: £18 – £31.50

Brighton Theatre Royal
Monday 30 October – Saturday 4 November
Box Office: 0844 871 7650
Website: www.atgtickets.com/brighton
Performance Schedule: Mon – Sat 7.45pm, Thu & Sat mats 2.30pm
Prices: £16.90 – £48.90

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
Monday 6 – Saturday 11 November
Box Office: 01483 44 00 00
Website: www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/
Performance Schedule: Mon – Thu 7.45pm, Fri – Sat, 8pm, Thu & Sat mats 2.30pm
Prices: £23 – £33.50