Greg Hicks Returns to the Arcola Theatre in Tolstoy's THE KREUTZER SONATA

An acclaimed new production of Leo Tolstoy's THE KREUTZER SONATA, adapted by Nancy Harris and starring RSC Associate Artist Greg Hicks, will transfer to Arcola Theatre from Wednesday 6 to Saturday 23 July. Press night is Monday 11 July at 7.30pm.

Hicks will play the enigmatic protagonist Pozdnyshev, who blames a criminal act on Beethoven's Kreutzer Sonata. It marks his first London role since newspaper editor Morris Honeyspoon in Clarion at the Arcola, described by Michael Billington as 'a tremendous performance'.

Leo Tolstoy's short story became instantly notorious on its publication, and was banned in both Russia and America for its radical views on sex and marriage. This gripping stage adaptation by acclaimed playwright Nancy Harris will see Hicks united with two musicians to realise Tolstoy's lifelong wish - a performance of the story with live music.

John Terry's production opened to great acclaim in September 2015 at The Theatre Chipping Norton. One reviewer said "It could be the performance, possibly the production, of the English theatre's year."

Confined within a lonely train carriage, Pozdnyshev is driven mad by jealousy, a disintegrated marriage and the overwhelming power of Beethoven's music. He recounts the moment when he watched his wife, a pianist, perform the famous Kreutzer Sonata with another man, and became convinced that the breathless passion of the performance could only mean that they were having an affair.

Famously daunting and dramatic, Beethoven's Kreutzer Sonata was declared unplayable by the violinist for whom it was dedicated. Musical Director Harry Sever brings not only the power of the Beethoven Sonata to this production, but atmospheric, newly composed music that echoes and rethinks the original. It comes to life with the exceptional talents of Alice Pinto on piano and Phillip Granell on violin.

Mehmet Ergen, Artistic Director of Arcola Theatre, said: "I am delighted to be welcoming Greg Hicks back to the Arcola for this haunting and intoxicating version of Tolstoy's daring tale."

The Kreutzer Sonata precedes the Arcola's 10th Grimeborn opera festival, which plays from 26 July to 10 September. The full programme will be announced shortly.

Tickets for The Kreutzer Sonata are available now at www.arcolatheatre.com/the-kreutzer-sonata

Greg Hicks has been a member of The Royal Shakespeare Company since 1976. He was nominated for the Best Actor Olivier Award, and won Best Shakespearian Performance at the Critics' Circle Theatre Awards, for playing the title role in Coriolanus at the Old Vic. Leading RSC roles include the title roles in King Lear and Macbeth and Brutus in Julius Caesar. He was Orestes in The Oresteia at the National
Theatre and Christ in Steven Berkoff's Messiah at the Old Vic. He is returning to Arcola Theatre having previously played Morris Honeyspoon in Clarion and Dr Thomas Stockmann in Mehmet Ergen's 2008 production of An Enemy of the People.

John Terry (Director) is Artistic Director of Chipping Norton Theatre. His recent critically acclaimed shows there include The Kreutzer Sonata (starring Greg Hicks) Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, The Glass Menagerie, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, Alarms and Excursions, Toby Hulse's Around The World In 80 Days and Charlotte Keatley's My Mother Said I Never Should. He has developed new plays with nationally renowned playwrights James Graham, Tom Morton-Smith and Mike Bartlett and directed work for The Orange Tree Theatre, The Arcola, The Finborough Theatre and Manchester Royal Exchange. He has worked as Associate Artist for National Youth Theatre, Staff Director for The National Theatre and Associate Director for The Finborough Theatre.

The Kreutzer Sonata

Arcola Theatre
24 Ashwin Street
London
E8 3DL

Wednesday 6 - Saturday 23 July

Nightly at 7.30pm
Saturday matinees at 3pm

PRESS NIGHT: Monday 11 July
at 7.30pm

£19 (£15 concessions) | £14 (£12 concessions) | £10

www.arcolatheatre.com/the-kreutzer-sonata
020 7503 1646

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