O'Kane, Cunniffee, Taaffee et al. Set for Open Air Theatre's '10-'11 Season

The 2009 production of Hello, Dolly! won three Laurence Olivier Awards at this year's ceremony, taking awards for Best Musical Revival, Best Actress in a Musical (Samantha Spiro) and Best Theatre Choreography (Stephen Mear).

Following a record-breaking season, Artistic Director Timothy Sheader is joined by directors Philip Franks, Steve Marmion and Liam Steel to present the 2010 season at London's beguiling outdoor theatre.

Opening the season, Timothy Sheader directs Patrick O'Kane (direct from War Horse) and Emma Cunniffe (The Lakes and currently Dumb Show, Kingston Rose Theatre), as John and Elizabeth Proctor, Emily Taaffe (Nation at the National Theatre) as Abigail and Oliver Ford-Davies (RSC, including Gregory Doran's recent production of Hamlet) as Danforth in Arthur Miller's The Crucible from 24 May - 19 June. The unique setting of the Open Air Theatre allows another classic to find a new voice.

The rest of the cast includes: Lucy May Barker, Charlie Cameron, Philip Cumbus, Anni Domingo, Susan Engel, Christopher Fulford, Patrick Godfrey, Christopher Hunter, Bettrys Jones, Paul Kemp, Geoff Leesley, Alexandra Mathie, Gary Milner, Ellie Paskell, Malcolm Rogers.

One of Shakespeare's earliest plays The Comedy Of Errors returns to the theatre after fourteen years, directed by Philip Franks (recent West End productions include the Ronald Harwood plays Collaboration and Taking Sides). A story of mistaken identity, this new production is set in 1940's Casablanca and plays from 24 June - 31 July 2010. The young and vibrant cast is lead by Daniel Weyman (TMA Award nomination for the title role of Nicholas Nickleby at Chichester Festival Theatre) as Antipholus of Syracuse alongside Daniel Llewelyn-Williams as Antipholus of Ephesus. Jo Herbert (Gwendolen in last year's production of The Importance of Being Earnest) plays his wife Adriana. Anna-Jane Casey (currently playing Velma in Chicago) fronts a live swing band in the role of Courtesan.

The rest of the cast includes: Alister Cameron, Josh Cohen, Joseph Kloska, Christopher Logan, Christopher Ravenscroft, Sophie Roberts, Veronica Roberts, David Shaw-Parker, Richard Warrick and Faye Winter.

Following the 2009 production of The Tempest, Steve Marmion (who directed Edward Gant's Amazing Feats of Loneliness for Headlong, and transferred Rupert Goold's production of Macbeth to Broadway) directs Macbeth re-imagined for everyone aged six and over. This is the third year that the theatre has presented a Shakespeare play staged especially for family audiences using the original language and text. Playing from 3 July - 31 July 2010 the cast includes Golda Rosheuvel (RSC credits include Rupert Goold's The Tempest and Angels in America for Headlong) as Lady Macbeth, Simon Trinder (who played opposite Pete Postlethwaite in The Tempest, Manchester Royal Exchange and spent three years at the RSC) as Macduff and Josephine Butler as Banquo. For the second year running, there will be a Saturday morning performance and two performances on a Sunday to provide more opportunities for the whole family to share the experience together.

Celebrating Stephen Sondheim's 80th birthday, the season closes with his 1987 musical Into the Woods co-directed by Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel. Perfectly placed within the Open Air Theatre amphitheatre, the stories of The Brothers Grimm are given a dark and humorous twist. Hannah Waddingham plays the Witch with Jenna Russell as the Baker's Wife. Hannah was nominated for an Olivier Award for her portrayal of Desiree in Sondheim's A Little Night Music, and played the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot in the West End and on Broadway. Jenna won an Olivier Award for Sunday In The Park With George, and subsequently transferred the production to Broadway where she was nominated for a Drama Desk and Tony Award.

The rest of the cast includes: Marc Antolin, Valda Aviks, Billy Boyle, Gaye Brown, Sophie Caton, Alice Fearn, Mark Goldthorp, Amy Griffiths, Mark Hadfield, Amy Ellen Richardson, Ben Stott and Gemma Wardle.

Further casting will be announced soon.

Booking is now open at www.openairtheatre.com or through the Box Office: 0844 826 4242.

 

 

Need more UK Regional Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...