Terrence Rattigan's FLARE PATH Coming to The REP in April

The critically acclaimed production of Terence Rattigan's epic wartime romance Flare Path, visits Birmingham Repertory Theatre from Monday 25 - Sat 30 April.

Set in a hotel near an RAF Bomber Command airbase during the Second World War, Flare Path follows the lives of Teddy, a pilot, Patricia, his actress wife and her ex-lover, Peter Kyle, a famous film star, who are all caught in a surprising love triangle.

Based in part on Rattigan's own wartime experiences, this powerful drama offers a truly authentic look at the fear, camaraderie and passion which arise following an unexpected and dangerous mission into the German skies.

This major revival will be directed by rising star Justin Audibert (RSC, Young Vic) and comes from the producers behind the hit touring production of Birdsong.

The cast will be led by Graham Seed as Squadron Leader Swanson, Lynden Edwards as Peter Kyle and Hedydd Dylan as Patricia Graham.

Graham Seed says of the play:
"Rattigan writes such good characters; he just didn't write bad parts. One of his best plays is The Deep Blue Sea and this has early elements of that. It's a very evocative and powerful play.

The real life pilots who carried out such dangerous missions were incredibly brave and they understated the danger always. The play is set against the backdrop of planes taking off and not coming back and at one point my character says: 'we do owe these boys something.' You can see why Churchill loved it. The Great War was so ghastly that it became romantic, but in the Second World War far more civilians were bombed."

Graham Seed is perhaps best known for playing Nigel Pargetter in the BBC radio series The Archers for 27 years until his dramatic exit at the beginning of 2011. Graham's recent work in theatre includes An Audience with Jimmy Savile opposite Alistair McGowan (London's Park Theatre and Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2015), The Mousetrap (National Tour), Yes Prime Minister (National Tour) and Toad of Toad Hall (West End).

Lynden Edwards's West End credits include Mr Lindquist and Carl Magnus in Trevor Nunn's Tony Award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music (Garrick & Menier Theatres), Les Miserables (Palace Theatre) and The Mousetrap (St Martin's Theatre).

Hedydd Dylan's recent theatre credits include The Watchman/Cassandra/Cilissa/Athene in The Oresteia (HOME Theatre), Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Jackie Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer and Jane Damport in The Shoemaker's Holiday (all for the Royal Shakespeare Company).

They will be joined by Claire Andreadis as Countess Skriczevinsky (Doris), William Reay as Flying Officer Count Skriczevinsky and Corporal Jones (Wiggy), Jamie Hogarth as Sergeant Miller (Dusty), Charlie G Hawkins (EastEnders) as Percy, Polly Hughes as Mrs Miller (Maudie) and Emma Carter as Betty.