In a press statement, Donmar artistic director Josie Rourke commented, "As I begin rehearsals for The Physicists, I'm thrilled to announce our new programme of work at the Donmar – bringing two of our greatest living writers to our stage, Brian Friel and Alan Hollingsworth. Director Lyndsey Turner makes her Donmar debut directing Friel's Philadelphia, Here I Come! - its portrait of youthful hope feels very right in this Olympic moment. We follow this with Man Booker Prize winner Alan Hollingsworth's powerful new version of Racine’s breathtaking tragedy, Berenice. It offers at its core an extraordinary role for a woman, and I'm delighted to be directing Anne-Marie Duff in the title part."
The full cast for The Physicists, beginning performances May 31 prior to an official opening June 7 for a run through July 21, comprises Paul Bhattacharjee (Einstein), Joanna Brookes (Nurse Boll), Oliver Coopersmith (Wilhelm-Kaspar Möbius /Blocher), Ben Hardy (Adolf-Friedrich Möbius / Coroner), John Heffernan (Johann Wilhelm Möbius), Adam McNamara (Uwe Sievers), Miranda Raison (Nurse Monika/Lina Rose), John Ramm (Detective Inspector Richard Voss), Justin Salinger (Newton), Sophie Thompson (Dr. Mathilde von Zahnd) and Obioma Ugoala (Fantam Murillo).
Philadelphia, Here I Come! begins performances July 26, prior to an official opening July 31, for a run through Sept. 22. The cast of Lyndsey Turner's production will include Rory Keenan and Paul Reid as two versions of the character of Gar O'Donnell, his private self and his public self, respectively, as he prepares to leave Ballybeg and the Ireland of his childhood to start a new life in America.
Racine's Berenice, in a new version by Alan Hollinghurst, begins performances Sept. 27 prior to an official opening Oct. 2, for a run through Nov. 24. Josie Rourke directs Anne-Marie Duff in the title role of a play that is characterized in press materials as the "perfect tragedy of unfulfilled passion," for which Hollinghurst's new version "anatomises the agony of love." Hollinghurst's novels include "The Swimming Pool Library," "The Folding Star," "The Line of Beauty" and "The Stranger’s Child." Duff has previously appeared at the Donmar in Days of Wine and Roses. Other recent theatre work includes Cause Célèbre (Old Vic) and Saint Joan (National Theatre – Evening Standard & Critics’ Circle Awards for Best Actress).
Public booking for Philadelphia, Here I Come! and Berenice opens June 6. To book tickets, contact the box office on 0844 871 7624, or visit www.donmarwarehouse.com for more details.
