The Royal Exchange Theatre News

From 5 February 2013, joining the previously announced Gavin Lee who will play Jerry Travers in the West End hit musical Top Hat are Broadway actress Kristen Beth Williams as Dale Tremont, Olivier award nominee Alex Gaumond as Alberto Beddini and Clive Hayward as Horace Hardwick. Vivien Parry continues as Madge Hardwick and Stephen Boswell as Horace's valet Bates.

From 4 February 2013 a new cast will perform in Nicholas Hytner's five star West End production of One Man, Two Guvnors. As previously announced, Rufus Hound will take the lead as loveable chancer Francis Henshall. He will join new cast members Sam Alexander, Ian Burfield, Amy Cudden, Harry Kershaw, Kelly Price and Hugh Sachs. Martin Barrass will return to the production to play Alfie, and current cast members David Benson, Rhona Croker and Derek Elroy will continue. Mensah Bediako, Owen Brazendale, Gillian Budd, Max Hutchinson, Tom Lorcan, Aimee Parkes and Claire Sundin complete the ensemble.

From 4 February 2013 a new cast will perform in Nicholas Hytner's five star West End production of One Man, Two Guvnors. As previously announced, Rufus Hound will take the lead as loveable chancer Francis Henshall. He will join new cast members Sam Alexander, Ian Burfield, Amy Cudden, Harry Kershaw, Kelly Price and Hugh Sachs. Martin Barrass will return to the production to play Alfie, and current cast members David Benson, Rhona Croker and Derek Elroy will continue. Mensah Bediako, Owen Brazendale, Gillian Budd, Max Hutchinson, Tom Lorcan, Aimee Parkes and Claire Sundin complete the ensemble. Check out the headshots of the cast below!

Lindsay Posner returns to the Almeida to direct Rebecca Lenkiewicz' new stage adaptation of Henry James' The Turn of the Screw from 18 January - 16 March 2013, with press night on 24 January. The cast comprises Caroline Bartleet (a woman), Laurence Belcher (Miles), Eoin Geoghegan (a man), Gemma Jones (Mrs. Grose), Anna Madeley (The Governess), Orlando Wells (Sackville) and Isabella Blake, Emilia Jones and Lucy Morton who will alternate the role of Flora. The Turn of the Screw is sponsored by Pinsent Masons LLP.

Matthew Dunster will direct Rodney Ackland's Before The Party at the Almeida from 21 March - 11 May 2013, with press night on 28 March. Based on a short story by Somerset Maugham, Before The Party has designs by Anna Fleischle with lighting by Philip Gladwell and sound by Ian Dickinson. Casting will be announced shortly.

Steep Theatre Company's Twelfth Season will begin tonight, October 4th, with their production of Robert Holman's Making Noise Quietly. Mr. Holman's body of work has served as an inspiration to many of today's most exciting playwrights, including Steep favorites Simon Stephens (Harper Regan, Pornography) and David Eldridge (Festen, Under the Blue Sky). Steep brings Mr. Holman's seminal work, Making Noise Quietly, to the Chicago stage for the first time in 23 years. Erica Weiss, Associate Artistic Director of Route 66 Theatre Company and director of their 2011 hit Twist of Water, will be making her Steep directing debut.

THE TEAR THIEF, adapted from the book written by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, opens at Little Angel Theatre in London. Produced in association with the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, the show runs at Little Angel from tonight, 22 September to 4 November with its press showing on 29 September at 3.30pm. It is suitable for age 3 and up.

Our reporter talks to Owain Arthur, who's currently starring in the West End hit One Man Two Guvnors.

THE TEAR THIEF, adapted from the book written by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, opens at Little Angel Theatre in London. Produced in association with the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, the show runs at Little Angel from 22 September to 4 November with its press showing on 29 September at 3.30pm. It is suitable for age 3 and up.

Steep Theatre Company's Twelfth Season will begin on Thursday, October 4th, with their production of Robert Holman's Making Noise Quietly. Mr. Holman's body of work has served as an inspiration to many of today's most exciting playwrights, including Steep favorites Simon Stephens (Harper Regan, Pornography) and David Eldridge (Festen, Under the Blue Sky). Steep brings Mr. Holman's seminal work, Making Noise Quietly, to the Chicago stage for the first time in 23 years. Erica Weiss, Associate Artistic Director of Route 66 Theatre Company and director of their 2011 hit Twist of Water, will be making her Steep directing debut.

Paul Chequer and Mark Quartley will share the title role in Michael Morpurgo's Private Peaceful which will have a strictly limited run at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 18 - 29 September 2012. Directed and adapted for the stage by Simon Reade, award-winning children's author Michael Morpurgo's Private Peaceful has designs by Bill Talbot and sound by Jason Barnes.

Trevor Nunn is to direct Rob Brydon, Nigel Harman and Ashley Jensen in Alan Ayckbourn's A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL, opening at the Harold Pinter Theatre in the Autumn. Jessica Ellerby, Barrie Rutter, Paul Thornley and Susan Tracy will join previously announced company members Teresa Banham, Daisy Beaumont, Georgia Brown, Rob Compton, Matthew Cottle and Steven Edis.

Little Angel Theatre is producing three exciting and original new shows for autumn and winter 2012.

Told in reverse order, MY ARMS is a compelling new one-hour play written by James Leach. A drama about the limits of love and our willingness to forgive, inspired by stories of the wives of men who go to prison: how sudden it is and how can it leave an indelible mark on a family.

Told in reverse order, MY ARMS is a compelling new one-hour play written by James Leach. A drama about the limits of love and our willingness to forgive, inspired by stories of the wives of men who go to prison: how sudden it is and how can it leave an indelible mark on a family.

Building on the success of her first season, Artistic Director Purni Morell continues the Unicorn's commitment to pushing the boundaries in theatre for audiences aged 2 to 21.

Michael Attenborough will direct Jonathan Pryce as William Shakespeare's KING LEAR running at the Almeida Theatre from the 31 August - 3 November 2012.

Trevor Nunn is to direct a cast including Rob Brydon, Nigel Harman and Ashley Jensen in Alan Ayckbourn's A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL opening at the Harold Pinter Theatre later this year.

LITTLE ANGEL THEATRE announces August 2012 to January 2013 listings. The Little Angel Theatre is located at 14 Dagmar Passage, London N1 2DN.

Trevor Nunn is to direct a cast including Rob Brydon, Nigel Harman and Ashley Jensen in Alan Ayckbourn's A Chorus of Disapproval opening at the Harold Pinter Theatre later this year. Joining the trio on stage will be Teresa Banham, Daisy Beaumont, Georgia Brown, Rob Compton, Matthew Cottle and Steven Edis, who is also the show's Musical Director. The production runs September 17, 2012 - January 5, 2013, with an opening night scheduled for September 27, 2012.