The Glass Menagerie Set for Edinburgh International Festival

Tony Award-winner Cherry Jones stars in Tennessee Williams's heartbreaking family drama, in the European premiere of an acclaimed, Tony Award-nominated Broadway production by celebrated director John Tiffany.

St Louis, 1937. While matriarch Amanda Wingfield desperately struggles to provide her vulnerable daughter Laura with a 'gentleman caller', her son Tom dreams of escape from his warehouse job and his oppressive life at home. Lyrical, dream-like and deeply moving, Williams's aching masterpiece is an iconic work in American theatre.

Cherry Jones is one of the finest stage actors of her generation, acclaimed as President Taylor in 24 on television and for performances in films including Ocean's Twelve, The Perfect Storm and Signs. She gives a humane performance as matriarch Amanda, agonisingly ambitious for her family, yet fearful of the darkness that surrounds them.

This stylised, evocative production is directed by John Tiffany, one of the most exciting and respected directors working today. His Black Watch for the National Theatre of Scotland has toured the world to universal acclaim, and his Broadway production of the musical Once won eight Tony Awards. As Associate Director of the National Theatre of Scotland, he directed Peter Pan, The Bacchae at the 2007 International Festival, Alan Cumming's radical solo Macbeth, and Let the Right One In.

Designer Bob Crowley's staging features floating platforms, menacing black pools and fire escape ladders stretching to heaven. Movement is by Steven Hoggett, and the specially composed minimalist score is by acclaimed young American composer Nico Muhly.

The Glass Menagerie runs at the King's Theatre, Edinburgh August 7th- 21st.

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