Cartwright Productions' THE HAIRY APE Begins Previews Tonight, May 16

The first major London revival in over 25 years of Eugene O'Neill's play opens at the Main House, Southwark Playhouse, London, for a four week run on Friday, 18 May with previews from tonight, 16 May 2012.

Cartwright Productions and Creature of London in association with Southwark Playhouse today announced their production of THE HAIRY APE by Eugene O'Neill, directed by Kate Budgen, designed by Jean Chan, with lighting by Richard Howell and sound by Tom Gibbons.

New York City. 1922. Yank has spent his life shovelling coal on an ocean liner. Brutish, powerful and commanding, he knows where he belongs: in the stokehold. But when the daughter of a wealthy industrialist decides to slum it and see life below deck, Yank's universe changes forever. Unable to forget the way she looked at him, Yank hits the booming streets of New York to seek revenge.

Writer Eugene O'Neil is one of the fathers of modern American drama. He was awarded a Nobel Prize for Literature and the Pultizer Prize for Drama on four separate occasions. Plays include Beyond the Horizon, Anna Christie, The Emperor Jones, Strange Interlude and The Iceman Cometh. One of his most famous plays, Long Day's Journey into Night, is to be revived in the West End this year, starring David Suchet.

Director Kate Budgen trained at Birkbeck College and was previously Associate Director at Pentabus Theatre. Recent directing credits include Rigor Mortis (Finborough Theatre), Crossed Keys (Eastern Angles), A New Breed (Jersey Arts Trust), May Fair (Latitude Festival), Tales of the Country (Pentabus Theatre, National Tour), Miriam Gonzalez Durantez (Theatre 503) and Bedbound (Lion and Unicorn). She has worked as an Assistant Director for the Gate Theatre, Almeida Theatre, The Opera Group and for Opera North. She completed The National Theatre Studio Director Course in in 2010 and she was previously a Creative Associate at the Bush Theatre. She was a runner up in the 2010 JMK Award with The Hairy Ape.

More information and tickets from www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

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