David Hare's South Downs and Terence Rattigan's The Browning Version to Play West End's Pinter Theatre

By Mark Shenton
03 Feb 2012

Anna Chancellor
Anna Chancellor

The double-bill of Terence Rattigan's The Browning Version and David Hare's new play South Downs (written in response to Rattigan's play), which premiered last year at Chichester's Minerva Theatre last year, will transfer to the West End's Harold Pinter Theatre, beginning performances April 19, prior to an official opening April 24, for a run through July 22.

Anna Chancellor and Nicholas Farrell will once again lead the casts in these plays which, according to press materials, examine life in boarding public schools. Rattigan's own Harrow School and Hare's own Lancing College provide the backdrop for their stories, one told through the eyes of a master and one told through the eyes of a boy. Both revolve around unexpected acts of kindness which place the harsh and at times cruel worlds of these schools into stark contrast.

South Downs is directed by Jeremy Herrin and The Browing Version by Angus Jackson. The productions also feature Jonathan Bailey, Andrew Woodall, Mark Umbers, Amanda Fairbank-Hynes, Bradley Hall, Rob Heaps, Alex Lawther and Liam Morton.

The Chichester Festival productions are brought to the West End by Playful Productions, Neal Street and Robert Fox Ltd.

Chancellor, who plays Belinda Duffield in South Downs and Millie Crocker-Harris in The Browning Version, has recently been seen on screen as Lix in BBC 2's drama "The Hour" and onstage as Lady Caroline Blackman in The Last Duchess (Hampstead Theatre). Other theatre credits include Creditors (Donmar Warehouse and BAM), The Observer, Never So Good and Stanley (all National Theatre, with Stanley subsequently reprised on Broadway). Other screen credits include the role of Caroline Bingley in the popular BBC adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice" and playing Duckface, Hugh Grant’s jilted fiancée, in "Four Weddings and a Funeral."

Farrell, who plays Reverend Eric Dewley in South Downs and Andrew Crocker-Harris in The Browning Version, has been seen in the West End in Birdsong, Kean and The Cherry Orchard, and he has also appeared for the RSC and National Theatre. Film credits include Airey Neave in "The Iron Lady," "Bloody Sunday" (directed by Paul Greengrass), "Chariots of Fire," "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan" and "Hamlet," and TV credits include "The Jewel in the Crown."

To book tickets, contact the box office on 0844 871 7622, or visit www.browningversion.com for more details.