, The show is scheduled to begin performances March 10 prior to an official opening March 15, for a run through March 26. It is one of a slate of seven original productions that artistic director Daniel Evans has newly announced, including three new plays, a new British musical, a regional premiere and two major revivals of 20th century classics.
The Nap, which revolves around a snooker player called Dylan, is described in press materials as a laugh out loud comedy thriller about love, honour and not getting snookered. The Crucible is also famously the home of the World Snooker Championship, which will be held at the theatre in April. The play will be directed by Richard Wilson. O'Connell, who has appeared onstage previously at the Royal Court and National, is best known for his screen work which in addition to "Unbroken" (for which he won the Chopard Trophy Award at the Cannes Film Festival), includes "71" (Most Promising Performer Chicago Film Critics), "Starred Up" (Best Actor Dublin International Film Festival), "300: Rise of an Empire" and "This is England."
Also in the new season, Daniel Evans will direct the world premiere of the new British musical Flowers for Mrs Harris, based on the novel by Paul Gallico, composed by Richard Taylor with a book by Rachel Wagstaff. It will begin performances May 18 prior to an official opening May 23, for a run through June 4. It revolves around a house cleaner who sets out on a quest to have a Christian Dior dress of her own. She will be played by National Theatre and West End regular Clare Burt, including appearances in the original National Theatre run of London Road and its subsequent film incarnation, who was previously seen at Sheffield in This is My Family.
The season will also include the regional première of Mike Bartlett's Contractions and new productions of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun and Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot.
For further details on the season, and to book tickets, contact the box office on 0114 249 6000 or visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk for more details.
