Photo Flash: Yasmina Reza's ART Comes to Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

A HUGELY successful stage comedy with a stellar cast comes to The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, next month (June).

The revival of Yasmin Reza's West End hit Art stars Nigel Havers, Denis Lawson and Stephen Tompkinson. A dazzling - and very funny - study of friendship, prejudice and tolerance, Art is one of the most successful plays ever. Having opened in 1996, it took both the West End and Broadway by storm, winning awards on both sides of the Atlantic.

When Serge (Nigel Havers) spends an extortionate amount of money on an all-white modernist painting, his close friends Marc (Denis Lawson) and Yvan (Stephen Tompkinson) are baffled. But do their violent reactions to this provocative canvas mirror more dangerous antagonisms toward each other?

All three cast members are well-known to the public. Nigel Havers is one of the best-known figures in British acting, having appeared in numerous TV series and films, including Chariots Of Fire and Don't Wait Up.

Denis Lawson has also had a stellar career, appearing in everything from the original Star Wars trilogy (as Wedge Antilles) to the long-running series New Tricks, as well as playing John Jarndyce in the BBC's adaptation of Charles Dickens' Bleak House.

Completing the trio is Stephen Tomkinson. He first came to public prominence as reporter Damien Day in Channel 4 sitcom Drop The Dead Donkey, and has gone on to become one of our most popular actors, starring in TV series including Ballykissangel and DCI Banks. He also appeared in the much-loved British film Brassed Off.

Art is at The Marlowe Theatre from Tuesday 5 to Saturday 9 June, with performances at 2.30pm (Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday) and 7.30pm. Tickets, priced from £22.75 to £43.75 (concessions available) can be purchased from the Box Office on 01227 787787, and marlowetheatre.com. See the website for details of accessible performances.

Photo Credit: Matt Crockett