THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY Opens Royal & Derngate's Autumn Season, Opens Sept 17

Following the success of the recent Hometown season, Royal & Derngate presents The Talented Mr Ripley as its next Made in Northampton production, which launches the Autumn season. Featuring film and TV star Michelle Ryan, this gripping psychological thriller takes to the Royal stage from Friday 17 September until Saturday 9 October. It is directed by Raz Shaw, director of Gambling at the Soho theatre in March of this year and 2009's critically acclaimed A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Globe.

Adapted by contemporary dramatist Phyllis Nagy from Patricia Highsmith's bestselling novel, the gripping and subversive tale of The Talented Mr Ripley follows the eponymous Tom Ripley, an enigmatic conman with a flair for manipulation and deceit. Sent to Italy under the guise of coaxing home the wayward son of a wealthy financier, his web of lies steadily spreads until murder becomes his only escape...

The cast features the glamorous Michelle Ryan as Marge Sherwood. Michelle's recent films include 4,3,2,1, directed by Noel Clarke (Kidulthood, Dr Who) and Huge, directed by Ben Miller. Michelle came to international fame in the US revival of the Bionic Woman and is also famous for her UK TV roles - she played Zoe Slater in BBC TV's EastEnders and last year starred in a Dr Who special with David Tennant as Lady Christina De Souza. Sam Heughan is cast as the handsome Richard Greenleaf - Sam played the lead in the feature film Alexander the Great from Macedonia and this year will be seen alongside Jim Broadbent and Matthew Macfadyen in Channel 4's drama Any Human Heart. Tom Ripley is played by talented young actor Kyle Soller, who recently appeared in The Globe Theatre's tour of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The idyllic charm of the '50s Italian Riviera forms the incongruous backdrop to a darkly compelling study of obsession, duplicity and betrayal. This stylish and dynamic production by acclaimed director Raz Shaw is a fascinating and refreshing take on the classic novel, probably best known from the 1999 film starring Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law.

Conjuring up sparkling turquoise waters and sun-drenched beaches, The Talented Mr Ripley is a chance to escape from a cold Autumnal night into a spine tingling adventure in the Mediterranean. Tickets for this poetic adaptation of Highsmith's thrilling story are on sale now, priced from £27 to £11. For more information or to book, call the Box Office on 01604 624811 or visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk

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