Philip Seymour Hoffman to Direct 'Riflemind' in UK

Twenty years after their frontman, John, walked off stage for good, the iconic rock band Riflemind are set to get together again. For John (John Hannah), a reunion might be his second chance; for his wife Lynn (Susan Prior), it could be the end of the world as she knows it ... As the band descends upon John's country manor, one weekend fast becomes the ultimate test of talent, friendship and loyalty.  

Philip Seymour Hoffman will direct the European premiere of "RIFLEMIND", a new play by Sydney Theatre Company Co Artistic Director Andrew Upton. "RIFLEMIND" will open at the Trafalgar Studios in the hubbub of London's West End on Thursday 18 September, following previews from 15 September.  

Riflemind originally premiered at the Sydney Theatre Company in 2007, directed by Hoffman. The West End season also features original Australian cast members Susan Prior, Steve Rodgers and Jeremy Sims alongside John Hannah and Paul Hilton. Andrew Upton's most recent play, an adaptation of Gorky's "The Philistines", opened at The National Theatre in 2007 to critical acclaim.

John Hannah is best known for his roles in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Sliding Doors" and he is co-starring with Brendan Fraser in "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" (third in the "Mummy" film series). Theatre includes Neil LaBute's "The Mercy Seat" (Almeida) and "Miss Julie" (Young Vic). His television includes starring roles in "Rebus" and "Cold Blood".  

Paul Hilton has starred in many London stage productions including "Rosmersholm" at The Almeida Theatre, "The Wild Duck" directed by Michael Grandage at the Donmar Warehouse and "Mourning Becomes Electra" at the Royal National Theatre. His television credits include starring in "Medieval Heist" and "True Dare Kiss".

Philip Seymour Hoffman is Co-Artistic Director of the LAByrinth Theater Company in New York. His LAByrinth directing credits include the world premieres of "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot", "Our Lady of 121st Street", "Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train" and "In Arabia, We'd All Be Kings", each written by Stephen Adly Guirgis.  Hoffman's celebrated New York production of "Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train" was presented at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where it won the 2001 Fringe First Award, and London's Donmar Warehouse, where it was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Play of 2002.  It then moved for an extended run at London's The Arts Theatre. Similarly, his acclaimed production of

"Our Lady of 121st Street" transferred Off Broadway to the Union Square Theater, where it ran for nearly six months. As an actor, his most recent theatre credits include "Jack Goes Boating" (The Public Theater), "Long Day's Journey Into Night"(Broadway), "The Seagull" (The Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival) and "True West" (Broadway).
 
Hoffman's forthcoming films include Richard Curtis' "The Boat That Rocked", Charlie Kaufman's "Synecdoche, NY", which Kaufman wrote and directed and John Patrick Shanley's "Doubt" opposite Meryl Streep. Last year Hoffman starred in the independent film "The Savages" for which he won a Best Actor Spirit Award; Mike Nichols' "Charlie Wilson's War" which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and Sidney Lumet's "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead". Prior to that, Hoffman starred in "Capote", which he executive produced through his company, Cooper's Town Productions, winning the Academy Award® for Best Actor and BAFTA for his performance.

RIFLEMIND will launch a new phase of international collaboration for Trafalgar Studios as a unique producing house in the West End. Sydney Theatre Company, whose joint Artistic Directors are playwright Andrew Upton and his wife, actress Cate Blanchett, will join Trafalgar as an Associate Company of the venue. As an Associate Company, STC and Trafalgar will jointly develop new work, forming an international creative bridge in both directions.  

Performance times for "RIFLEMIND" at the Trafalgar Studios will be Mondays to Saturdays at 7.30pm with Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets, priced from £25 - £45, are available from the Trafalgar Studios box office on 0870 060 6632.

Photo  by Genevieve Rafter Keddy.

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