It will begin performances Aug. 5, prior to an official opening Aug. 16, for a run through Oct. 15.
The cast comprises Stella Gonet, Suranne Jones, Catherine McCormack, Lucy Briers, Laura Elphinstone, Lisa Kerr and Olivia Poulet. It is designed by Tim Shortall with lighting by Jason Taylor, sound by Ian Dickinson and video design by Finn Ross. Stafford-Clark's Out of Joint/ Chichester Festival Theatre co-production reunites him with producer Sonia Friedman, with whom he co-founded Out of Joint Theatre Company in 1993.
The play is described in press materials as a "provocative study of success, and what happens to those who get left behind." Set in Thatcher's England, it revolves around a hard-nosed, go-getting businesswoman Marlene who is hosting a dinner party to celebrate her promotion to MD of the Top Girls Employment Agency. Her guests - all powerful women from myth and history - make for an extraordinary gathering.
Gonet, who plays Isabella Bird/Joyce/Mrs. Kidd, has appeared on TV in "The House of Eliott" and "Holby City." Stage credits at the National Theatre include Racing Demon, Skylight, Hamlet and The Voysey Inheritance for the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company productions of Measure For Measure, Three Sisters and The Revenger’s Tragedy.
Jones, who plays businesswoman Marlene, most recently appeared on TV as DC Bailey in the new ITV1 series "Scott and Bailey." She played the role of Karen McDonald in "Coronation Street" for over four years. Her stage credits include A Few Good Men in the West End and Blithe Spirit at Manchester's Royal Exchange. McCormack, who plays Lady Nijo/Win, has been seen in the feature films "Braveheart," "Dangerous Beauty," "Spy Game" and "28 Weeks Later." Onstage, she was Olivier-nominated for her performance in the National's All My Sons, and has also appeared there in Honour and Dinner. In the West End, she has been seen in The 39 Steps and The Lady from Dubuque.
Briers, who plays Pope Joan/Louise, has been seen onstage in Ivanov (Wyndham's), Some Kind of Bliss (Trafalgar Studios), The Voysey Inheritance (National) and Churchill's Cloud Nine at Sheffield Crucible, amongst others. TV roles include Mary Bennet in "Pride and Prejudice."
Elphinstone, who plays Patient Griselda/Nell, has previously appeared onstage in A Month in the Country for Chichester Festival Theatre, Tom and Viv at the Almeida Theatre and Pains of Youth for the National Theatre.
Kerr, who plays the Waitress/Kit/Shona, has appeared in Out of Joint's production of The Big Fellah (Lyric Hammersmith and tour), as well as in Andersen's English for Hampstead Theatre.
Poulet, who plays Dull Gret/Angie/Jeanine, has been seen on TV in "The Thick of It" and onscreen in "In the Loop."
To book tickets, contact the box office on 0844 871 7632, or visit www.topgirlstheplay.com.
