Nuffield Theatre Announces Cast for FANTASTIC MR. FOX

Director of Nuffield Theatre Sam Hodges today announces the full cast for its brand new adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic Fantastic Mr Fox, a co-production with Curve, in association with Lyric Hammersmith. Greg Barnett plays Mr Fox, with Richard Atwill (Rat/Bean), Raphael Bushay (Badger/Boggis), Jade Croot (Kit), Sandy Foster(Rabbit), Lillie Flynn (Mrs Fox), Gruffudd Glyn (Mole/Bunce), Kelly Jackson (Mouse), and Edward Hole and Tanya Shields completing the ensemble, alongside actor-musicians, Patrick Burbridge, Anna Fordham and Richie Hart.

The play, adapted by Sam Holcroft, directed by Maria Aberg, and featuring original music from Arthur Darvill, receives its world première at Nuffield Theatre where it opens on 30 November, with previews from 22 November, running until 8 January, before touring the UK in 2017 beginning at Lyric Hammersmith on 25 January.

Mr Fox is smart, clever and rather fantastic, but he doesn't realise how determined The Farmers are to get revenge. Can he hatch a plan to save his family and friends? Can they outrun the diggers and outsmart The Farmers, and can rabbit shut up long enough not to give the game away?

Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr Fox is family fun at its finest. A juicy tale of greed, pride and the power of friendship, this flagship production for the Roald Dahl centenary celebrations, promises a dahlicious theatrical feast with live music and songs and gloriumptious designs. A wondercrump treat for the whole family!

Sam Holcroft's most recent play, Rules For Living, premièred at the National Theatre in 2015. She was the Writer-in-Residence at the National Theatre Studio from 2013-14 and was the Pearson Playwright in Residence at the Traverse Theatre in 2009-10. In 2014 she was a recipient of the Windham Campbell Prize for Literature in the Drama category and in 2009 she won the Tom Erhardt Award for up and coming writers. Her other plays include The Wardrobe, Edgar And Annabel, Dancing Bears, While You Lie, Pink, Vanya and Cockroach. She is currently under commission from The Royal Court Theatre.

Richard Atwill plays Rat and Bean. His theatre credits include Macbeth, Eugene Ionesco's Macbett (RSC), God in Ruins (RSC/Soho Theatre), Potted Potter (Broadway), The Changing Room (Royal Court Theatre), The Adventure(Pleasance/Manchester Royal Exchange/Watford Palace Theatre), Unscorched, Captain Oates' Left Sock, iWitness, Beating Heart Cadaver (Finborough Theatre), The Roman Bath (Arcola/National Theatre, Bulgaria), Beyond The Pale (Southwark Playhouse) and Roots and The Light of Heart (Theatre Cymru). For television his work includes Shakespeare Live and Horrible Histories; and for film, Risen and Bill.

Raphael Bushay plays Badger and Boggis. He graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in 2014. His credits include Henry V (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre).

Greg Barnett plays Mr Fox. His theatre credits include This Little Life of Mine and Therèse Raquin (Park Theatre), These Trees Are Made of Blood (Southwark Playhouse), Making a Scene (National Theatre), The School for Scandal(Theatre Royal Bath), Swallows and Amazons (Vaudeville Theatre and UK tour), Spend Spend Spend (Watermill and UK tour), Zorro (Garrick Theatre), Peter Pan (Birmingham Rep), Twelfth Night (Royal and Derngate) and Sweeney Todd (UK tour). His work for television includes Fleabag and Undercover; and for film, Hot Property, Bonobo and The Road to Nirvana.

Jade Croot plays Kit. Her theatre credits include Doctor Faustus (RSC and Barbican). Her film work includes The Machine.

Lillie Flynn plays Mrs Fox. Her theatre credits include Sunny Afternoon (Harold Pinter Theatre, Hampstead Theatre), Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre), Love Story (Duchess Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre), Quadrophenia (UK tour), The Spirit of Broadway (China tour) and The War Of The Worlds (UK tour).

Sandy Foster plays Rabbit. Her theatre credits include Days of Significance, Oppenheimer, A Shoemaker's Holiday(RSC), Desire Under the Elms (Lyric Hammersmith), Much Ado About Nothing (Manchester Royal Exchange), A Streetcar Named Desire (Curve) and Twelfth Night (Filter Theatre). Her television work includes The Dumping Ground, The Kerry and Lu Show and Call the Midwife; and for film, Mr Turner, Toshi, Muse of Fire and What You Will.

Gruffudd Glyn plays Mole and Bunce. His theatre credits include Three Sisters (Young Vic), American Trade, The Winter's Tale, Romeo and Juliet, The Grain Store, Julius Caesar, Young People's Hamlet (RSC), Brave New World(Royal and Derngate and UK tour) and After the End (Sherman Theatre). His television work includes Dr Who, Poldark, Stella, Gwaith/Cartref, Hinterland/Y Gwyll; and for film, The Martian, The Theory of Everything and Thor: The Dark World.

Kelly Jackson plays Mouse. Her theatre credits include Sweet Charity (Millennium Performing Arts), RENT (The Obie Theatre), Wildlife (Bloomsbury Theatre) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Paul Holman Associates, The Broadway Theatre).

Maria Aberg directs. Her directing work includes, for the RSC Dr Faustus (also Barbican), The White Devil, As You Like It, King John, The Gods Weep, Days of Significance, Hotel (National Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing(Manchester Royal Exchange), The Chairs (Theatre Royal Bath) and Alaska (Royal Court). She has also directed at Hampstead Theatre and Trafalgar Studios. Forthcoming directing projects include The Great Gatsby (Royal & Derngate and Birmingham Rep) and The Winter's Tale (Romateatern, Sweden).

Arthur Darvill is an actor and composer, best-known for his regular appearances as Rory in BBC TV's Doctor Who and as Rev. Paul Coates on ITV's Broadchurch. Darvill's most recent theatre work as composer includes I Want My Hat Back (National Theatre), I Heart Peterborough (Eastern Angles), The Bacchae (English Touring Theatre), It's About Time (Nabokov/Latitude), and Jack and The Beanstalk (Lyric Hammersmith). He won the Musical Theatre Matters Award for Been So Long (Young Vic/English Touring Theatre).

Directed by Maria Aberg; Designed by Tom Scutt; Music by Arthur Darvill

Lyrics by Arthur Darvill, Sam Holcroft, Al Muriel and Darren Clark

Sound Designer: Claire Windsor; Lighting Designer: Lee Curran

Movement Director: Ayse Tashkiran; Music Director: Richie Hart

Nuffield Theatre

22 November 2016 - 8 January 2017

Press night: 30 November 2016 7pm

And then on UK tour