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REGENTS PARK OPENS SUMMER DOORS ONCE AGAIN
Following a record-breaking season in 2009, Artistic Director Timothy Sheader of the Regents Park Open Air Theatre has launched the 2010 season at London’s most unique theatre.
Opening the season, Timothy Sheader directs Patrick O’Kane and Emma Cunniffe, as John and Elizabeth Proctor, Emily Taaffe as Abigail and Oliver Ford-Davies as Danforth in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible from 24 May – 19 June.
One of Shakespeare’s earliest plays The Comedy Of Errors returns to the theatre after fourteen years, directed by Philip Franks. A story of mistaken identity, this new production is set in 1940’s Casablanca and plays from 24 June – 31 July 2010. The young and vibrant cast is lead by Daniel Weyman as Antipholus of Syracuse alongside Daniel Llewelyn-Williams as Antipholus of Ephesus. Jo Herbert plays his wife Adriana. Anna-Jane Casey fronts a live swing band in the role of Courtesan.
Following the 2009 production of The Tempest, Steve Marmion directs Macbeth re-imagined for everyone aged six and over. This is the third year that the theatre has presented a Shakespeare play staged especially for family audiences using the original language and text. Playing from 3 July – 31 July 2010 the cast includes Golda Rosheuvel as Lady Macbeth, Simon Trinder as Macduff and Josephine Butler as Banquo. For the second year running, there will be a Saturday morning performance and two performances on a Sunday to provide more opportunities for the whole family to share the experience together.
Celebrating Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday, the season closes with his 1987 musical Into the Woods co-directed by Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel. Perfectly placed within the Open Air Theatre amphitheatre, the stories of the Brothers Grimm are given a dark and humorous twist. Hannah Waddingham plays the Witch with Jenna Russell as the Baker’s Wife. Hannah was nominated for an Olivier Award for her portrayal of Desiree in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, and played the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot in the West End and on Broadway. Jenna won an Olivier Award for Sunday In The Park With George, and subsequently transferred the production to Broadway where she was nominated for a Drama Desk and Tony Award.
The rest of the cast includes: Marc Antolin, Valda Aviks, Billy Boyle, Gaye Brown, Sophie Caton, Alice Fearn, Mark Goldthorp, Amy Griffiths, Mark Hadfield, Amy Ellen Richardson, Ben Stott and Gemma Wardle.
Further casting will be announced soon.