Bovell was recently represented in London by the U.K. premiere of his play When the Rain Stops Falling at the Almeida Theatre. Speaking in Tongues was previously seen in London at Hampstead Theatre in 2000, and was subsequently re-worked into the multi-award winning screenplay for the film "Lantana" in 2001, which starred Anthony LaPaglia, Barbara Hershey and Geoffrey Rush. Bovell is best known for co-writing the screenplay for "Strictly Ballroom" with Baz Luhrman.
In the play Simm – best known for his role as detective Sam Tyler in the BBC series "Life on Mars" – plays another detective, Leon Zat, a brooding figure at the center of a thriller. According to press materials, nine parallel lives, interlocked by four infidelities, one missing person and a mysterious stiletto, are interwoven through a fragmented series of confessionals, interrogations and 'split-screen' scenes. These strands are drawn together by the investigations of Zat; taking it beyond a mere whodunit and into a theatrical puzzle and emotional labyrinth. This collage of relationships examines the issues of betrayal, commitment, loss of trust between men and women and, ultimately, the ripple effect of actions on the remotest of strangers.
Cohu, winner of the 2008 International Emmy Best Actress Award for her performance in the child abuse drama "Forbidden," was nominated for an international Emmy for her performance as Princess Margaret in "The Queen's Sister," which also earned her a BAFTA nomination. She can currently be seen in the science fiction drama "Torchwood." Other TV roles include "Cape Wrath," "Silent Witness" and "Murderland." Film roles include appearances in "Gosford Park" and "Becoming Jane." Onstage, she has appeared at the Royal Court Theatre in Caryl Churchill's Mad Forest, as Lady Macbeth in Macbeth for Birmingham Reperotry Theatre, and as Lady Sneerwell in English Touring Theatre's production of School for Scandal.
Simm was most recently seen onstage in Elling at the Bush Theatre that subsequently transferred to the West End's Trafalgar Studios, where he was nominated for an Olivier Award for his perofrmance. He made his professional stage debut in 1996 in another Bush Theatre production when he appeared in Simon Bent's Goldhawk Road there; he has also appeared onstage at the Royal Court in Danny Rule. Other TV appearances include "The Lakes," "Clocking Off," "Sex Traffic," State of Play," "Dr. Who," "The Devil's Whore" and "Skellig"; on film, he has appeared in "Human Traffic" and "24-Hour Party People."
Hart was last seen onstage in 2,000 Feet Away at the Bush in 2008 and before that in the Gate Theatre, Dublin production of Pinter's The Homecoming in 2001 that transferred to the West End's Comedy Thetre and was subsequently seen at New York's Lincoln Center. He is best known for his film roles as John Lennon in "Backbeat" and Professor Quirrell in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone"; other film roles include Ken Loach's "Land and Freedom" and Michael Winterbottom's "Wonderland" and "A Cock and Bull Story." Fox has appeared onstage in the Young Vic's touring production of Cruel and Tender, Charlotte Jones's In Flame at the New Ambassadors Theatre, Shared Experience's production of I Am Yours at the Royal Court, and Genet's The Maids at the Donmar Warehouse. Her extensive film credits include "Shallow Grave," "Welcome to Sarajevo," "Intimacy" and Jane Campion's "An Angel at My Table," amongst others. She was recently directed by Campion again in "Bright Star," which premiered at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
Speaking in Tongues is directed by Toby Frow, who previously directed Bovell's Ship of Fools at Theatre 503, which won him a Time Out Critics' Choice Award. Other directorial credits include Samuel Adamson's Some King of Bliss (seen at the Trafalgart Studios and subsequently at New York's 59E59's Brits Off-Broadway festival). He has had stints as resident assistant director at the Donmar Warheouse, worked for two seasons at Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre, and been resident director at Birmingham Rep. He has also directd a touring production of Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman for the National Theatre, directed a London revival of Jonathan Harvey's Beautiful Thing and The Real Thing at the regional Salisbury Playhouse.
Speaking in Tongues is produced by Blue Horizon Productions and Jessica de Rothschild's Sweet Pea Productions.
To book tickets, contact the box office at 0870 060 6623 or visit www.speakingintonguestheplay.com.
