The play, described as a "love letter to the theatre," marks the theatrical dirctorial debut of Joe Wright, the film director ("Anna Karenina, "Atonement," "Pride and Prejudice") whose parents founded and ran the Little Angel children's theatre in London. He will direct a cast that comprises Jamie Beamish, Ron Cook, Aimeé-Ffion Edwards, Susannah Fielding, Daniel Kuluuya, Daniel Mays, Fergal McElherron, Amy Morgan, Joshua Silver, Maggie Steed and Peter Wight.
The production will be designed by Hildegard Bechtler, with lighting by Jon Clark, sound by Matt McKenzie, music by Michael Bruce and movement by Marcello Magni.
In the play, Rose Trelawny (Morgan) is the brightest star in the firmament of the Wells, the theatre company that raised her from birth. But she's prepared to give it all up for the love of her stage-door suitor, aristocratic Arthur (Silver). His family is less convinced of her charms, however, and her joyful challenge to their dreary, snobby existence shocks them to their core.
Beamish has performed at Shakespeare's Globe, the RSC, the National Theatre and the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park. He has also appeared in three Joe Wright films, "Anna Karenina," "Hanna" and "Atonement."
Cook has previously appeared at the Donmar in Richard II, King Lear (also New York), Hamlet (at Wyndhams, also Elsinore and New York), Twelfth Night, Helpless, Juno and the Paycock and Glengarry Glen Ross; and extensively in the West End, at the RSC, National and Royal Court. Edwards has previously appeared at the Donmar in The Recruiting Officer, and in Jerusalem at the Royal Court, in the West End and on Broadway.
Fielding has appeared in four productions at the National Theatre and also as Portia in Rupert Goold's RSC production of The Merchant of Venice. West End credits include All New People.
Kaluuya has appeared at the Royal Court in Oxford Street and Sucker Punch (winning the Evening Standard Editor's Award for a Shooting Star, as well as the Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Most Promising Newcomer). Most recently he was seen in "Black Mirror – 15 Million Merits" for Channel 4.
Mays has previously appeared at the Donmar in Moonlight. He has performed in seven productions at the Royal Court including their forthcoming production Hero.
McElherron received a Dublin Fringe First – Best Actor Award and an Irish Times/ESB Best Supporting Actor Award for his roles in Candide, and the Dublin Fringe Best Actor Award for Mojo Mickybo.
Morgan has previously appeared at the Donmar in Inadmissible Evidence, in the West End in Hay Fever and at Manchester's Royal Exchange in The Country Wife.
Silver graduated from RADA in summer 2012 and since graduation appeared in The Hotel Plays by Defibrillator Theatre Company at the Grange Hotel.
Steed's recent stage credits include The School for Scandal at Theatre Royal Bath, Uncle Vanya at Chichester Festival Theatre, The Belle's Stratagem at Southwark Playhouse and The Constant Wife at Salisbury Playhouse. She has previously appeared extensively at the National Theatre and for director Neil Bartlett.
Wight has performed in the West End, on Broadway at the National Theatre, the RSC, the Royal Court and numerous other theatres in the UK. Extensvie screen credits include "King of Soho," "Another Year," "Atonement" and "Babel."
To book tickets, contact the box office on 0844 871 7624, or visit www.donmarwarehouse.com for more details.
