Nottingham Playhouse And Northern Stage Announce Cast of WONDERLAND

Nottingham Playhouse has announced the full cast list for the 2019 production of its popular and acclaimed play Wonderland.

Following rave reviews from critics and audiences Nottingham Playhouse revealed that Wonderland would be returning to the theatre to kick off its 2019 season, prior to a run at Northern Stage in Newcastle.

Set in 1983 Nottinghamshire, Wonderland sees two 16-year-olds, Malcom (played by John Booker) and Jimmy (played by Joshua Glenister) wait nervously at the pithead. Guided by veteran miner Colonel (played by William Travis), they descend into the brotherhood, banter, searing heat and liquid blue light of Welbeck Colliery.

Meanwhile in London, an American CEO Ian MacGregor (played by Robin Bowerman) is brought in to reform King Coal. Pits close and a strike is called.

Taking the stage as The Times reporter David Hart will be Giles Taylor, while Geff Francis will play pit manager Tilsley and transport secretary Nicholas Ridley. Holding roles as pitmen in the story will be Karl Haynes as Bobbo, and Jack Quarton as Fanny.

Nicholas Shaw and Paul Kemp have been confirmed to play pitman Spud and real-life politician Peter Walker in the Nottinghamshire-based show, respectively.

Directed by Nottingham-born Adam Penford and written by the daughter of Nottingham miner Beth Steel, the local story proved a huge hit with East Midlands audiences and returns to the award-nominated theatre for the second year running.

Morgan Large's ambitious coal-face set design also received critical acclaim, winning Best Design in the UK Theatre Awards 2018.

Adam said: ""Wonderland was a huge hit in 2018 and received standing ovations every performance. Our audience has been calling for its return since it closed and it's clear they feel an ownership of Beth Steel's beautiful play.

"It's rare that theatre resonates so strongly with a community, producing tears and laughter in equal measure. I'm sure the production will capture the imagination of the audience again, whether they're returning or seeing the show for the first time.

"I'm also thrilled we're taking it to Northern Stage, where the story will resonate just as deeply."

Wonderland runs from Friday 8 February through to Saturday 23 February 2019 at Nottingham Playhouse and from Wednesday 27 February to Saturday 9 March 2019 at Northern Stage.

Full cast biographies:

John Booker - Job Seekers (Interaction); Breaking Point (Mike Ingham); Pornography (Kingsway); Roses & Morphine (Kingsway), Stardust (13 Theatre Company);

Joshua Glenister - Wonderland 2018 (Nottingham Playhouse); The LAGO Season (Tristan Bates Theatre); Ghost About the House (King's Head Theatre) The Living Room Trilogy Workshop (Arts Theatre); A Single Act (Liverpool Playhouse); All Shook Up (Unity Theatre)

William Travis - The Kitchen Sink; Hard Times (Oldham Coliseum Theatre); Ghosts (HOME, Manchester); Fallen Angels (Salisbury Playhouse); Blind Date (Touring); Romeo and Juliet(Pilot Theatre)

Robin Bowerman - Wonderland 2018; Noises Off; The Ashes; Of Mice and Men; Vertigo; Amy's View (Nottingham Playhouse); Shiv (Leicester Curve); Inside Out of Mind (Meeting Ground Theatre Company)

Giles Taylor - Shakespeare In Love, King Charles III (tours), This House (NT/West End/Chichester), Twelfth Night, A Christmas Carol, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Merchant of Venice (RSC), Wolf Hall, Bring Up The Bodies (RSC, West End & Broadway)

Geff Francis - Death of a Salesman (Royal & Derngate Northampton); The Winslow Boy (UK Tour); Sheppey (Orange Tree Theatre); Eurydice (Young Vic); The Shawshank Redemption (Wyndham's Theatre); Lucky You (Edinburgh Festival)

Karl Haynes - Shebeen; The Ashes; Of Mice and Men (Nottingham Playhouse); Passion (Théâtre du Châtelet); War Horse (National Theatre UK, Ireland and South Africa Tour); Much Ado about Nothing (Mercury Theatre)

Jack Quarton - Wonderland 2018 (Nottingham Playhouse); On the Mend (Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham); Much Ado About Nothing; The Tempest; Swallows and Amazons (Storyhouse, Chester); Great Expectations; Alice in Wonderland (Derby Theatre)

Nicholas Shaw - The Giant Killers (Long Lane Theatre Company); Nell Gwynn (Shakespeare's Globe); Wolf Hall Parts 1 & 2, Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies (RSC); Rutherford & Son, Hamlet (Northern Broadsides)

Paul Kemp -Imperium (RSC/Gielgud Theatre); Richard III (Arcola); Beacons (ParkTheatre); Wendy and Peter Pan (RSC); Ghost Stories (Arts Theatre, West End)

Tickets are priced £37.50 - £8.50

For more information visit www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk