By Mark Shenton
19 Oct 2009

The Almeida has announced casting for its new production of Patrick Hamilton's 1929 play Rope, to begin performances Dec. 10 prior to an official opening Dec. 16, for a run through Feb. 6, 2010.

The cast will include Bertie Carvel, who starred as Leo Frank in the U.K premiere of Jason Robert Brown's Parade at the Donmar Warehouse in 2007, and subsequently starred in the world premiere of Alexi Kaye Campbell's The Pride in 2008.

Roger Michell will direct, with designs by Mark Thompson, lighting by Rick Fisher and sound by John Leonard. The cast will also include Emma Dewhurst, Michael Elwyn, Henry Lloyd Hughes, Blake Ritson, Alex Waldmann and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Inspired by the real life murder of a young boy in 1920 by two University of Chicago students, Leopold and Loeb, Rope is set in an apartment in London's Mayfair. Wyndham Brandon (Ritson) and Charles Granillo (Waldmann) have murdered fellow student Ronald Kentley and deposited his body in a chest in their living room. Believing they are above suspicion and common morality they invite the student's father, his aunt and several of their friends over for tea, served on the chest. The play was first produced at the West End's Strand Theatre (now the Novello) in 1929. In 1948 Rope was directed as a film by Alfred Hitchcock starring James Stewart. In 1983 Alan Rickman starred in a radio version of the play, which was broadcast on BBC Radio 4. In 2007, Patrick Hamilton's Gaslight was presented by the Old Vic, directed by Peter Gill, with a cast including Rosamund Pike and Kenneth Cranham. Hamilton's Hangover Square, adapted for the stage by Fidelis Morgan, was seen earlier this year in sell-out run at the Finborough Theatre.

Carvel, who is playing Rupert Cadell, has also appeared in Chichester Festival Theatre's production of The Circle and at the National Theatre in Man of Mode, The Life of Galileo and Coram Boy His film credits include "John Adams" and "Suits and Stripes," and his TV credits included "Waking the Dead," "Hawking" and "Midsomer Murders."

Dewhurst, who is playing Mrs Debenham, has appeared in In Flame (Bush Theatre and West End's New Ambassadors), Medea (Queen's Theatre) and The Invention of Love (National Theatre). TV credits include "The Palace" for ITV and "Doctor’s" and "In a Wild Workshop," both for the BBC.

Elwyn, who is playing Sir Johnstone Kentley, has appeared in Three Sisters< for the Royal Exchange Theatre, The Long Road for Soho Theatre and Revelations for Hampstead Theatre as well as many credits for the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park and The Orange Tree.

Lloyd-Hughes, who is playing Kenneth Raglan, has appeared in Punk Rock (Lyric Hammersmith), Divine (Soho Theatre), Shoot/Treasure/Repeat (National Theatre). Film credits include "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire".

Ritson, who is playing Wyndham Brandon, has played in Stoppard's Arcadia at the National (playing Augustus) and at Bristol Old Vic (playing Septimus). Film credits include "Hilary and Jackie," "The John Lennon Story" and "Dead Man Running." On television his many credits include Mr Elton in "Emma," Edmund Bertram in "Mansfield Park" and Shelley in "The Romantics."

Alex Waldmann, who is playing Charles Granillo, was seen in the Donmar Warehouse's West End productions of Hamlet (playing Laertes) and Twelfth Night (playing Sebastian) at Wyndham's Theatre. Other theatre credits include Troilus in Troilus and Cressida at the Barbican, and Angry Young Man (Trafalgar Studios).

Waller-Bridge, who is playing Leila Arden, has been seen on stage in 2nd May 1997 at the Bush Theatre, Roaring Trade at Soho Theatre and Present: Tense at the Trafalgar Studios.

Director Michell's recent theatre credits include The Female of the Species (Vaudeville Theatre), Betrayal and Old Times (both at the Donmar Warehouse) and Honour for the National Theatre, where he has also directed Landscape with Weapon, Blue/Orange, The Homecoming, Under MIlkwood and The Coup. He directed the original production of My Night with Reg at the Royal Court and subsequently at the West End's Criterion Theatre. He was previously a Resident Director at the Royal Shakespeare Company. On film, he has directed "Notting Hill," "Venus," "Enduring Love" and "The Mother", and also directed and co-wrote the screenplay for "The Buddha of Suburbia. "

To book tickets, contact the box office on 020 7359 4404, or visit www.almeida.co.uk