Nicholas Hynter's ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS Transfers to Royal Haymarket in 2012

Nicholas Hytner's five star award-winning production of One Man, Two Guvnors will transfer to the Theatre Royal Haymarket after two sell-out record-breaking runs at the National and Adelphi Theatres. Booking for performances at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, 2 March – 15 September 2012, will open on 16 December 2011. Owain Arthur will take over as lovable chancer Francis Henshall when the production moves to the Theatre Royal Haymarket having previously stepped in to the role at the Adelphi. Further casting will be announced shortly for the Theatre Royal Haymarket transfer.

Richard Bean's award-wining adaptation, based on Carlo Goldoni's The Servant of Two Masters, opened at The National Theatre in May 2011. Last month, after a UK tour, One Man, Two Guvnors opened in the West End at the Adelphi Theatre where it will complete its run on 25 February 2012. A Broadway production of One Man, Two Guvnors will open at the Music Box Theatre 18 April 2012.

With songs by Grant Olding, One Man, Two Guvnors Physical Comedy Director is Cal McCrystal, designs are by Mark Thompson, with lighting by Mark Henderson, sound design by Paul Arditti, fight direction by Kate Waters and choreography by Adam Penford.

After training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Owain Arthur who has been understudying the role of Francis Henshall as part of the West End Company, has also been seen in Nicholas Hytner's National Theatre production of The History Boys, as well as Romeo and Juliet for the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Comedy of Errors for the Royal Exchange Theatre and Birdsong at the Comedy Theatre. On television his credits include Holby City, Ddeg, Cei Bach, New Tricks and The Palace. His film credits include Abroad, Mr Nice and Eldra.

In Richard Bean's English version of Goldoni's classic Italian comedy, sex, food and money are high on the agenda. Fired from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall becomes minder to Roscoe Crabbe, a small time East End hood, now in Brighton to collect £6000 from his fiancee's dad. But Roscoe is really his sister Rachel posing as her own dead brother, who's been killed by her boyfriend Stanley Stubbers. Holed up at the Cricketers' Arms, the permanently ravenous Francis spots the chance of an extra meal ticket and takes a second job with one Stanley Stubbers, who is hiding from the police and waiting to be re-united with Rachel. To prevent discovery, Francis must keep his two guvnors apart. Simple.

Richard Bean's plays include England People Very Nice for the National The Heretic, Harvest (winner of the Critics' Circle Award for Best New Play), Honeymoon Suite, Under the Whaleback and Toast for the Royal Court and The Big Fellah for Out of Joint at the Lyric Hammersmith and on tour. He adapted David Mamet's House of Games and wrote a new version of The Hypochondriac for The Almeida Theatre. Last month Bean won the 2011 Evening Standard Award for Best Play for One Man, Two Guvnors and The Heretic.

Since he became Director of the National in April 2003, Nicholas Hytner has directed Henry V, His Dark Materials, The History Boys, Stuff Happens, Henry IV, Southwark Fair, The Alchemist, The Man of Mode, The Rose Tattoo (with Stephen Pimlott), Rafta, Rafta… , Much Ado About Nothing, Major Barbara, England People Very Nice, Phèdre, The Habit of Art, London Assurance, Hamlet and Collaborators.

More Articles by This Author...