Heading the cast will be TV's new "Doctor Who," Matt Smith, who previously appeared at the venue in the world premiere of Polly Stenham's That Face, which subsequently transferred to the West End's Duke of York's Theatre. He was also seen on the London stage in Swimming with Sharks, which played the Vaudeville Theatre in 2007.
In Shawn's play, a beleaguered desk clerk at a hotel in the tropics tries to placate, amuse and occasionally seduce the widely varied clientele. According to publicity materials, the play is comprised of a series of brief scenes, some bitingly satiric, some outlandishly bizarre; its raucous mood covers over the hotels essentially dark and foreboding atmosphere.
Joe Hill-Gibbins will direct the reading, with a cast that also includes Geoffrey Beevers, Diane Borger, Andrew Buckett, Bill Buckhurst, Ben Caplin, Anna Calder-Marshall, Kier Charles, Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Darnley, Sarah Davies, Jacqueline Defferary, Monica Dolan, Emily McDonnell, Elyse Dodgson, Amanda Drew, Deborah Eisenberg, Stephanie Fayerman, Ed Fortes, Alan Francis, Ian Gelder, Adam Gillen, Jonathan McGuiness, Alex Guiney, Jeremy Herrin, William Hope, Shane Hough, Maxwell Hutcheon, Patrick Kennedy, Isabella Laughland, Rob Laycock, Deirdre Lennon, Daisy Lewis, Alex Lowe, Charlotte Lucas, Emily Lucienne, George Mackay, Bruce Mackinnon, Benjamin Noble, Pamela Nomvete, Will Payne, Harry Peacock, Stephen Pidcock, Pearce Quigley, Ian Redford, Tariq Rifaat, Marcelo Dos Santos, Danny Sapani, Kerry Shale, Baruka O'Shaughnessy, Roderick Smith, Colin Stinton, Bobby Stokes, Nicolas Tennant, John Trindle, June Watson, Harry Waller, Nigel Whitmey, Amanda Wilkin and Becky Wootton.
Further readings in the series will see Tom Cairns direct Shawn's 1975 play Our Late Night on June 12; Caryl Churchill direct his 1976 play A Thought In Three Parts on June 19; Patsy Rodenberg direct his 1978 play Marie and Bruce on June 25; and Andre Gregory direct Shawn himself in his 1997 play The Designated Mourner on June 26.
All performances take place in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at 4 PM, except for The Designated Mourner, which commences at 3 PM. To book tickets contact the box office at 020 7565 5000 or visit www.royalcourttheatre.com.
