Wildspark Theatre & the Cockpit Set Cast of THE BOMBING OF THE GRAND HOTEL

Wildspark Theatre & the Cockpit have announced their cast for forthcoming original production, The Bombing of the Grand Hotel.

The play explores the incredible relationship between Patrick Magee, who planted the Brighton bomb and Jo Berry, whose father was killed in the blast.

Spanning four decades in the histories of both characters, the play excavates the origins of their remarkable choices and asks if it is really possible for them to start to see the world through one another's eyes.

We are pleased to announce RUARI CONAGHAN as Patrick Magee and RACHEL BLACKMAN as Jo Berry.

Ruairi Conaghan's credits include Theatre Uncut (national tour), Molly Sweeney at the Lyric Theatre Belfast, the Off West End and New York transfer of All That Fall (dir. Trevor Nunn), Philadelphia at the Donmar Warehouse, Truth and Reconciliation at the Royal Court, and for the National Theatre, Scenes from the Big Picture, Peer Gynt and Trust. TV includes Downton Abbey, The Suspicions of Mr Whicher and Supergrass. He was Nominated as Best Supporting Actor in the TMA/Sunday Times British Theatre Awards.

Rachel Blackman is a multi-disciplinary performance artist, writer, actor, theatre maker and the artistic director of award winning independent company Stillpoint. Her work has been commissioned by Fuel Theatre, the Brighton Festival, Oval House, White Nights and The Nightingale Theatre. Recent projects as a performer include Moon Project (Stillpoint), Of The Spheres (2013) and Impulse (2012) with artist Kate Genevieve and Ghosts in the Machine, dance film by Billy Cowie (2011). As director, Bloodlines (Roundhouse, 2015); and 3 Mile Radius & Life in a Bedsit (Rich Mix, 2014). Awards include Best Female Performer, Brighton Festival and Fringe and Fringe Review Award for Outstanding Theatre for Steal Compass, Drive North, Disappear, 2010 Rachel has also appeared as Charra in Matrix Revolutions, Home and Away and The Crucible at the Sydney Theatre Company directed by Marion Potts and much more.

RUAIRI and RACHEL are supported by an experienced ensemble from Ireland and Brighton.

AOIFE MCMAHON trained at RADA and credits includes: Juno & The Paycock (Liverpool Playhouse & Bristol Old Vic), The Silver Tassie (National Theatre), Goodnight Mr Tom (Phoenix Theatre, West End), The Tempest (Watermill), Autumn Fire (Finborough), Translations (Abbey Theatre), The Oresteia (Summerscape Theatre, NY), Hallelujah (Theatre 503), The Great Theatre of the World for Bill Gaskill, Beauty and the Beast, Henry VIII (RSC), Scenes From A Big PIcture (National Theatre), Oh Go My Man (Royal Court), Macbeth (Derby Playhouse), Gates of Gold (Finborough Theatre), Dancing at Lughnasa (Greenwich Theatre), Andorra (young Vic), Playboy of the Western World (Liverpool Playhouse), Oriana (Kabosh), Deidre (Armagh Rhymers Theatre. TV credits include Partners In Crime, A Touch of Frost, Doctors, My Dad's Prime Minister, The Clinic, Steel River Blues, Random Passage and film Holy Cross.

GLENN SPEERS is originally from Co.Armagh, N.Ireland. His theatre credits include The Lady From The Sea (Courtyard Theatre),Ourselves Alone (Samuel Beckett theatre, Dublin), The Commitments (Palace Theatre, London). Films include Perrier's Bounty, Noble, The Four Warriors, and Orthodox. TV includes "Misfits" (E4) and "Ripper Street" (BBC1).

PAUL MUNDELL trained at Bristol Old Vic. Theatre credits include: Hetty Feather (Vaudeville/Rose Theatre Kingston/Novel Theatre), Bluebeard (Soho Theatre), Flies (Pins and Needles and Tobacco Factory, Bristol), Muscle (Hull Truck and Bristol Old Vic), Alice Through The Looking Glass (Theatre Royal Bath, The Egg), Spyski (Peepolykus/Lyric Hammersmith), A Christmas Carol and Alice Through The Looking Glass (Tobacco Factory, Bristol), Beauty And The Beast (Creation Theatre Company), Kindertransport (Aberystwyth Arts Centre), Can of Worms (Strange Bedfellows/BAC), Fallen Angels (Big State Theatre), , Eggshell Blues (Theatre West), Twelfth Night & Hamlet (Cambridge Shakespeare Festival) and The Picture of Dorian Gray (Big Telly Theatre Company) Film credits include Small Talk, The Sad Case, The Call, and Hammered. Television credits include: Emmerdale (ITV) Inside theTitanic (Dangerous Films Ltd/Discovery/France 2). Radio includes The Quest, Anaesthesia, Faust, On The Field, Cavity, Perfect Day, J'Accuse and Poetry Please (all BBC Radio 4).

BETH FITZGERALD's theatre includes: Kemble's Riot, (NYC directed by KerryMcClean); Imperial Fizz (Adelaide Festival directed by Guy Masterson); for The National Theatre - The Women Of Troy (Thalia), The Seagull (Olga), Three Sisters (Anya), directed by Katie Mitchell; The House Of Bernarda Alba, directed by Howard Davis. For Guy Masterson Productions - Follow Me (awarded a Herald Angel Award), Oleanna, Bye Bye Blackbird, The House Of Correction (for which she was awarded the The Stage Award for Best Actress); Thirteen (dir. Paul Hodson); The Oresteia(dir. Gregory Thomson). For the Brighton Festival - The New World Order(dir. Ellie Jones); The Bootmaker's Daughter (dir. Thomas Guthrie), The Cheeky Guide To Love (the Ornate Johnsons). TV includes - Catterick, Doctors, Bad Girls, Slightly Filthy Show, The Safe House, Bang Bang It's Reeves & Mortimer. For Radio 4 - The Sons OfDanny Mulligan.