Nuffield Theatre Presents THE SAINTS, Now thru 17 August

This August Nuffield presents Matthew Le Tissier and Francis Benali in their acting debuts in its production The Saints, where the renowned ex-Saints players will feature as themselves in cameo roles in pre-recorded film segments.

Matthew Dunster will direct Nuffield's latest new commission, written by Luke Barnes and the cast will include Scarlett Alice Johnson, Cary Crankson, Claire-Louise Cordwell, Harry Hepple, Tendayi Jembere, Carl Prekopp, Matthew Raymond and Will Stokes.

Scarlett Alice Johnson will play the role of love interest, Emily. Scarlett is best known for playing Vicki Fowler in EastEnders and is more recently known for her leading role as Laura in the BBC series Pram Face. Her other credits include the 2008 film Adulthood and TV series Big Bad World, Beaver Falls (Channel 4) and Playhouse Presents NIGHTSHIFT (Sky Arts). Her previous theatre work includes Slaves (Theatre503); Aunt Dan and Lemon (Royal Court) and Under Milk Wood (National Theatre).

Cary Crankson leads the cast as Kenny Glynn. Cary has recently been seen as Mugsy in Dealer's Choice at Royal & Derngate in Northampton, directed by Nuffield Associate Director Michael Longhurst. This year he also appeared in three plays at the New Diorama Theatre as part of a season with Faction Theatre Company. Past credits include Wasted (Paines Plough/The Roundhouse); London (Paines Plough/Salisbury Playhouse and UK tour); Chapel Street (Underbelly/Old Vic New Voices); Othello (Rose Theatre Bankside) and Mad Blud (Theatre Royal Stratford East).

Matt Le Tissier and Francis Benali are two of Southampton Football Club's most famous ex-players, fondly remembered by fans for their loyalty and long service to the club, both of whom played from the mid-1980s until the early 2000s.

The Saints, a play about the highs and lows of following Southampton Football Club and the pivotal role of football within regional cities across the country, will premiere at Nuffield Playing Field, a specially built pop-up theatre which combines outdoor stadium with Jacobean theatre. The production explores the unequivocally theatrical experience of attending a football match, from the sense of spectacle and occasion to the intimacy and power of crowd behaviour and the sense of belonging and community this creates. It is the flagship production of the Art at the Heart festival, which Nuffield is curating this summer, in collaboration with other Southampton arts organisations.

Nuffield is running a crowdfunding campaign alongside The Saints, called 'Be a Saint'. Audience members can donate amounts from £5 to £500 and will receive rewards including having a drink with Matt Le Tissier and Francis Benali during the Festival and football and theatre memorabilia. For more information and to donate visit, nuffieldtheatre.co.uk/support-us.

Tickets can be booked through Nuffield's Box Office:

023 8067 1771 / nuffieldtheatre.co.uk

Art at the Heart is supported by Southampton City Council, The Sackler Foundation and Arts Council England. It forms part of the City's Golden Jubilee celebrations. The Saints is supported by The Saints Foundation.