The Dishwashers will then tour to Newcastle, Richmond, Bromley, Malvern, Brighton, Nottingham and Cambridge.
The play will be directed by Nikolai Foster, and co-star Rik Makarem and Andrew Jarvis. When young Emmett (Makarem) was a high flyer in the City he was a customer in an upmarket restaurant but now, thanks to a recent reversal in his fortunes, he’s starting a new career there – as a dishwasher. Alongside his new colleagues, dominant self-appointed leader, Dressler (Essex), who's been happily scraping and scrubbing for over 30 years, and the decrepit Moss (Jarvis) who's about ready for retirement, Emmett attacks the endless supply of crockery that descends from above.
Essex was recently seen as Eddie Moon in the BBC's "EastEnders," and has also recently completed two feature films, "Traveller" and "Meet the Guvnors." Other stage credits include Godspell and Mutiny! (both in the West End), Peter Hall's production of She Stoops to Conquer and tours of Aspects of Love and All the Fun of the Fair (the latter of which transferred to the West End).
Makarem is best known for his character Nikhil Sharma in "Emmerdale" and Dr Rupesh Patanjali in "Torchwood: Children of Earth." He was recently seen onstage in Passing By at the Tristan Bates Theatre.
Jarvis has played many seasons at the RSC, and other recent credits include Macbeth (Sheffield Crucible), The Lord of the Rings (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and The Woman in Black (West End) To book tickets for Birmingham, contact the box office on 0121 236 4455 or visit www.birmingham-rep.co.uk