Lyric Hammersmith Presents A THOUSAND STARS EXPLODE IN THE SKY, 5/7-6/5

Lyric Hammersmith Artistic Director Sean Holmes directs an A THOUSAND STARS EXPLODE IN THE SKY a new play by three of the UK's finest playwrights David Eldridge, Robert Holman and Simon Stephens.

As the universe begins to crumble a mother gathers her sons on their family farm in the North East of England, where they prepare to face the unknown. Will a lifetime's worth of closely guarded secrets finally be revealed and will lost love once again be found before time itself comes to an end?

A Thousand Stars Explode in the Sky sees a collaboration between three British playwrights. David Eldridge, whose previous work includes Under the Blue Sky (Royal Court/West End), Market Boy (National Theatre) and Festen (Almeida/West End), collaborates with Robert Holman, whose recent work includes Across Oka (Royal Shakespeare Company), Rafts and Dreams (Royal Court) and Jonah and Otto (Royal Exchange Theatre), and Lyric Artistic Associate Simon Stephens whose most recent work at the Lyric, Punk Rock, was hailed as a critical success.

Starring Kirsty Bushell as Nicola Benton (Simon Stephens' Pornography, Tricycle and Angels in America at the Lyric, which won her a TMA Best Supporting Actress Nomination); Nigel Cooke as William Benton (most recently seen at the Lyric in Three Sisters); Lisa Diveney as Dorrity Porter (Greta Garbo Came To Donegal, Tricycle Theatre); Harry McEntire as Philip Benton (Spring Awakening and Simon Stephens' Punk Rock both Lyric Hammersmith); Ann Mitchell as Margaret Benton (Nominated for Best Actress in the Evening Standard Awards and the Laurence Olivier Awards for Through The Leaves, Southwark Playhouse/Duchess Theatre); Tom Mothersdale as Karl Steiner in his professional stage debut, Pearce Quigley as James Benton (The Seagull Royal Court/Broadway and BBC 3's Being Human); Jemma Redgrave as Harriet Benton (ITV's Cold Blood and the Afghanistan Season, Tricycle); Andrew Sheridan as Edward Benton (BAFTA award winning film Control); Rupert Simonian as Roy Benton (Life Savers, Theatre503) and Alan Williams as Jake Benton (War Horse, National Theatre/New London Theatre).

The production is directed by Sean Holmes, designed by jon Bausor, with lighting by Adam Silverman and sound by Nick Manning.

Performances run May 7 through June 5. Monday through Saturday evening performances are at 7:30pm, Wednesday May 26 and on Saturday May 29 there will be a 1:30pm. The final performance will be a matinee on Saturday June 5 at 2:30pm.

Tickets are avaliable by calling 0871-22117-22 or online at www.lyric.co.uk