Cast Announced for World Premiere of DIARY OF A MADMAN at Gate Theatre

Artistic Director of the Gate Theatre Christopher Haydon today announces the full cast for the world première DIARY OF A MADMAN. Haydon directs Deborah Arnott (Mavra Sheeran), Liam Brennan (Pop Sheeran), Lois Chimimba (Mel McCloud), Guy Clark (Matthew White) and Louise McMenemy (Sophie Sheeran). Following the success of the Gate Theatre's recent Fringe First winning The Christians and Grounded, Diary of a Madman marks the Gate Theatre's third visit to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Diary of a Madman is a brand new adaptation of Gogol's classic story by Al Smith, reimagined in contemporary Scotland. Directed by Christopher Haydon, the sharply political, witty Diary of a Madman is on at the Traverse Theatre 4-28 August (press performance on 5 August) and at the Gate Theatre 28-30 July and 5-24 September (press performance on 6 September).

Pop Sheeran, father, proud Scotsman and guardian of the Forth Rail Bridge, is about to lose it all. A global corporation has bought this Scottish icon. They send innovative new paint with their English researcher, Matthew - who has also caught the eye of Pop's 18 year old daughter Sophie. How will Pop cope when his sense of fatherhood, professional and national identities are challenged?

Deborah Arnott plays Mavra Sheeran. Her recent theatre credits include Tracks of The Winter Bear (Traverse Theatre), The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Lyceum, Edinburgh) and The Scaldie Hoose (Theatre Workshop). Her television credits The End of Story, The Sword and The Cross and That Old One.

Liam Brennan plays Pop Sheeran. His theatre credits include Twelfth Night (Belasco Theatre, New York, Shakespeare's Globe and Apollo Theatre), A View from the Bridge, Romeo and Juliet (Royal Lyceum Edinburgh and Nottingham Playhouse), Measure for Measure, Edward II, Twelfth Night, Macbeth (Shakespeare's Globe) and The Found Man, Men In White Suits, The Speculator, Family, King Lear, Knives in Hens, Wormwood (Traverse Theatre). His television credits include Shetland, Swine Fever, High Road and Bad Boys. His film credits include No Man's Land, Feet Steps, Gas Attack.

Lois Chimimba plays Mel McCloud. Her recent theatre credits include wonder.land (National Theatre and the Manchester International Festival), Pitcairn (Shakespeare's Globe, Chichester Festival Theatre and UK tour), Nightingale and Chase (Albany Theatre), A Long and Happy Life (Vibrant Festival), Laridae (White Bear Theatre) and Deep (Talawa Theatre). Her television includes Radges and Fried. Her film credits include The Proposal and Earth, Air, Fire, Water.

Guy Clark plays Matthew White. Diary of a Madman is Clark's professional debut.

Louise McMenemy plays Sophie Sheeran. Her recent stage credits include The Iphigenia Quartet: Agamemnon & Chorus (Gate Theatre), See Bob Run (The Bread and Roses Theatre), Boris Godunov & The Ghost Train (The Brockley Jack Theatre) and All Things Nice (White Bear Theatre).

Al Smith's writing credits include Harrogate (HighTide / Royal Court Theatre), Enola, The Bird (Underbelly), Radio (Underbelly / Soho Theatre / 59E59NYC) and The Astronaut Wives Club (Soho Theatre). He is currently under commission to The Royal Court Theatre. His radio credits include LifeLines, Duchamp's Urinal, Life in the Freezer, The Postman of Good Hope, Radio (BBC Radio 4) and Everyday Time Machines, Everyman (BBC Radio 3). His television credits include Shakespeare Live, The Coroner, Father Brown, The Cut, Africa, Holby City and EastEnders. Smith has won the BFI / Wellcome Trust Screenwriting Prize and the Pearson Playwriting Bursary (Finborough).

Christopher Haydon directs. He is Artistic Director at the Gate Theatre and formerly an Associate Director at the Bush Theatre. His credits at the Gate include The Iphigenia Quartet, The Christians (also Traverse Theatre, winner: Fringe First), Grounded (also Traverse Theatre, Studio Theatre Washington DC, national and international tour; winner: Fringe First, Best Production - Off West End Awards), Image of an Unknown Young Woman (winner: Best Production, Off West End Awards), The Edge of Our Bodies, Trojan Women, Purple Heart, The Prophet and Wittenburg. Other theatre credits include: Twelve Angry Men (Birmingham Rep/West End), Sixty-Six Books, In the Beginning (Bush Theatre/Westminster Abbey), A Safe Harbour for Elizabeth Bishop (Southbank Centre), Grace, Pressure Drop (On Theatre), Deep Cut (Sherman Cymru/National Tour), Monsters, Notes from Underground (Arcola) and A Number (Salisbury Playhouse). His short films include The Taming of the Shrew/Two Gentleman of Verona (Globe Theatre), Devil in the Detail (Royal Court/Guardian). As a journalist he has written for: The Scotsman, The Financial Times, The Independent, The Guardian, The New Statesman and Prospect Magazine. He is the co-editor of three books: Conversations on Religion, Conversations on Truth (Continuum), and Identity and Identification (Black Dog).

Box Office: 0131 228 1404, http://www.traverse.co.uk/

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