Full Casting Announced For Sheffield Season; Simm, Cohu And Sher All To Star

 

John Simm will make his Sheffield Crucible stage debut as Hamlet in September 2010. The production will reunite him with Sheffield's Associate Director Paul Miller - the two last collaborated on Elling which originated at the Bush Theatre before transferring to the West End. Simm was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor for this role.

 

John Simm is currently appearing in Speaking in Tongues at the Duke of York's. His other theatre includes Goldhawk Road (also at the Bush) and Danny Rule (Royal Court Theatre). Perhaps best known for his role in BBC's Life On Mars, his many other television credits include Skellig, The Devil's Whore, Dr Who, Sex Traffic, The Canterbury Tales, State of Play, Crime and Punishment, The Lakes and Cracker; and for film, Seven Days, Understanding Jane, Diana and Me, Human Traffic, Wonderland, 24 Hour Party People and Blue/Orange.

 

Associate Director of Sheffield Theatres, Paul Miller directs. His work includes Elling at the Trafalgar Studios, Baby Girl/DNA/The Miracle, The Enchantment, The History Boys (Wyndham's and Ahmanson Theater LA), Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads and The Associate for the National Theatre, and Total Eclipse at the Menier Chocolate Factory. He worked for many years at the National Theatre Studio developing new plays and has directed for the Bush, the Arcola, Hampstead, ETT, Soho Theatre, the Sheffield Crucible and the Royal Court. Miller will also direct True West in Evans' opening season at Sheffield.

 

 

Casting Update: An Enemy of the People

 

Full casting is today announced for An Enemy of the People the inaugural production of Daniel Evans' tenure at Sheffield Theatres - the production will re-open the company's newly refurbished Crucible Theatre after a £15.3m redevelopment programme. The production opens on 17 February, with previews from 11th and runs until 20 March.

 

Antony Sher leads the company as Tomas Stockmann. He will be joined by Roger Bingham (Morten Kiil), Alex Blake (Citizen 3), Chris Brailsford (Citizen 1), Lucy Cohu (Katrine Stockmann), Susannah Fielding (Petra Stockmann), Trystan Gravelle (Hovstad), Philip Joseph (Aslaken), Charles McClury (Mr Vik), Daniel Poyser (Citizen 2), Brodie Ross (Billing), John Shrapnel (Peter Stockmann) and Chook Sibtain (Horster).

 

It's boom time in the spa town. Investment in the public baths is paying off handsomely. Visitor numbers have never been higher.

 

But one man knows the toxic secret underlying the town's newfound wealth. His concern is for the health of the people.

 

So how can he be their enemy?

 

Written in 1882, this version of Ibsen's play by Christopher Hampton was first seen at the National Theatre in 1997. The company will include five actors from Sheffield - Alex Blake, Roger Bingham, Chris Brailsford, Charles McClury and Daniel Poyser , as well as the largest community ensemble seen on the Crucible stage comprised of over 40 local residents.

 

Antony Sher makes his Crucible debut as Dr Tomas Stockmann. His many theatre credits include The Tempest, Othello and Richard III (Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Actor) - all RSC, Kean (Apollo Theatre and national tour), Primo (also playwright - National Theatre and Music Box Theater, New York, Outer Critics' Circle and Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Solo Performance), I.D. (also playwright, Almeida Theatre), Stanley (National Theatre and Circle in the Square Theater, New York, Olivier and Tony Awards for Best Actor), Titus Andronicus (NT Studio, TMA Award for Best Actor), Torch Song Trilogy (Albery Theatre, Olivier Award for Best Actor). For television, his credits include God on Trial, Primo, The Company, Home, The Jury and Macbeth; and for film, Churchill: The Hollywood Years, Shakespeare in Love, Mrs Brown, Alive and Kicking, The Wind in the Willows and The Young Poisoner's Handbook.

 

Lucy Cohu plays Katrine Stockmann. She is currently playing alongside John Simm in Speaking in Tongues. Her other theatre work includes Macbeth and Way of the World (Birmingham Repertory) and Mad Forest (Royal Court). Her television work includes Murderland, Ballet Shows, Torchwood, The Queen's Sister (BAFTA nomination for Best Actress), Cape Wrath and Forgiven (Emmy award for Best Actress); and for film, Einstein and Eddington, Becoming Jane and Gosford Park.

 

Susannah Fielding plays Petra Stockmann. Her theatre work includes Much Ado About Nothing, The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other, Philistines and The Rose Tattoo (all National Theatre). Her television work includes Dr Who, Filth, Pete Versus Life and Wallander.

 

John Shrapnel plays Peter Stockmann. His theatre credits include Phedre (National Theatre), King Lear (Liverpool Playhouse & Young Vic), Julius Caesar (Barbican), South Pacific (National Theatre), The Hothouse (Chichester Festival Theatre) and Hamlet (RSC). His television work includes Apparitions, The Palace, The Rise and Fall of Rome and Jesus & Mary; and for film, The Duchess, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Troy, Gladiator and Notting Hill.

 

Daniel Evans returns to Sheffield Theatres as Artistic Director, having previously appeared in Cloud Nine and The Tempest (both on the Crucible Stage). An award-winning actor and director, Evans' most recent theatre work includes Sunday in the Park with George (Menier Chocolate Factory, Wyndham's Theatre and Broadway) - a role for which he won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical (his second Olivier Award, the first being for Merrily We Roll Along in 2001) and a Tony Award nomination. As an actor, his extensive credits include work with the Donmar Warehouse, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Court Theatre and National Theatre. His directing credits include Peter Gill Double Bill (Young Vic), Esther (Welsh National Theatre) and Certain Young Men (Guildhall).

 

Designs are by Ben Stones, with lighting by Tim Mitchell and music and sound is by Ben and Max Ringham.