Writer-director Terry Johnson (Hitchcock Blonde and the forthcoming Royal Court production Piano/Forte) will helm the play, which opens Nov. 10 after two days of previews.
Schlesinger was last seen in the RSC’s acclaimed revival of The Crucible. Actor-director Wilson famously played the curmudgeon Victor Meldrew in the popular TV sitcom "One Foot in the Grave." His directing credits include Primo, which starred and was adapted by Antony Sher and based on Primo Levi’s concentration camp memoir "If This Is a Man."
The title of Thompson's satire refers to the British political office of Chief Whip, whose responsibility it is to "whip" the ruling party's politicians into voting in accordance with government policy.
Thompson’s latest offering follows his acclaimed newspaper satire Damages, which ran at the Bush in 2004.
The venue's autumn season also includes Bones (Oct. 17-Nov. 4), a new play by Bogus Woman author Kay Adshead; and Pumpgirl (Sept. 12–Sat. 14) by Abbie Spallen, which arrives at the Bush after a run at the Edinburgh Festival. For more on the Bush Theatre's season, call (0)20 7610 4224.