Photo Flash: DUET FOR ONE in Rehearsal

Matthew Lloyd will direct Juliet Stevenson and Henry Goodman as Stephanie Abrahams and Dr Feldmann in Tom Kempinski's two-hander Duet for One runs at the Almeida from 22 January – 14 March 2009, with press night on 29 January.  Designs are by Lez Brotherston with lighting by Jason Taylor and sound by John Leonard.  Duet for One is sponsored by Pinsent Masons.

Celebrated concert violinist Stephanie Abrahams is forced to rethink her career and her life after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.  On the advice of her husband, a successful composer she consults psychiatrist Dr Feldmann, whose probing questions delve deep into her complex personality.  For the first time, Stephanie is forced to consider a future without music.

Kempinski's Duet for One received its world premiere at the Bush Theatre in 1980 with a cast comprising Frances de la Tour and David De Keyser.  The production then transferred to the Duke of York's Theatre where it played for almost a year prior to a Broadway run.  Subsequently Duet for One has played in 46 countries and has won many awards internationally.   In 1981 the play was filmed for television with its original cast and in1986 Duet for One was made into a film starring Julie Andrews and Max Von Sydow.

Henry Goodman returns to the Almeida to play Dr Feldmann, where he was last seen as Argan in Lindsay Posner's production of The Hypochondriac.  His other recent theatre credits include Teyve in Fiddler on the Roof for Sheffield Theatres and the Savoy Theatre, Performances for Wilton's Music Hall, The Exonerated for Riverside Studios, The Birthday Party at the Duchess and the title role in Richard III for the Royal Shakespeare Company.  For The National Theatre he played Shylock in Trevor Nunn's production of The Merchant of Venice, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, Roy Cohn in Angels in America and Philip Gellburg in Broken Glass.  For the Royal Shakespeare Company his work includes Volpone, The Comedy of Errors and They Shoot Horses, Don't They? In the West End his roles include Billy Flynn in Chicago, Freud in Hysteria and Eddie in Feelgood and on Broadway his work includes The Producers and Art.  His television and film work includes Damned United, Churchill, Colour Me Kubrick, Notting Hill, Mary Reilly, The Mayor of Casterbridge, Foyle's War and Cold Lazarus.

Multi award-winning actor Juliet Stevenson will make her Almeida debut as Stephanie Abrahams.  Stevenson was last on stage at The National Theatre as Arkadina in The Seagull.  Previously her theatre credits include Alice Trilogy and The Country for the Royal Court, We Happy Few at the Gielgud, Private Lives for The National Theatre and Beckett Shorts for the Royal Shakespeare Company.  Stevenson played Paulina in Ariel Dorfman's Death and the Maiden for which she won the Laurence Olivier Best Actress Award and Anna in the UK premiere of Langford Wilson's Burn This opposite John Malkovich.  On film she played opposite Alan Rickman, directed by Anthony Minghella, in Truly, Madly, Deeply for which she won the Evening Standard Film Award for Best Actress.  Her other film credits include Breaking and Entering, Being Julia, Mona Lisa Smile, Bend it Like Beckham and Drowning by Numbers. On television her credits include The Politician's Wife, Hear the Silence, Stanley, and most recently A Place of Execution.

In addition to Duet for One, playwright, Tom Kempinski's work includes Sell Out, Flashpoint, Separation - which was directed by Michael Attenborough during his time as the Artistic Director of Hampstead Theatre, The Beautiful Part of Myself, Dreyfuss, Mayakowksi and Addicted to Love.

Matthew Lloyd is Artistic Director of The Actors Centre.  Previously he was an Artistic Director at Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre where his productions included An Experiment with an Air-Pump and Waiting for Godot.  Lloyd was Associate Director at Hampstead Theatre where his work included The Fastest Clock in the Universe, Slavs! and the award-wining The Lucky Ones.  He has directed over twenty premieres of new plays for the Bush Theatre, as well as productions for the Theatre Upstairs and the Glasgow Citizens Theatre. 

Duet For One will be peformed at The Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street, Islington, London N1 1TA. To order tickets phone the box office at 020 7359 4404 (24 hour) or visit in person between the hours of 10.00 am - 7.30 pm (Monday - Saturday). Tickets may also be purchased online at www.almeida.co.uk. Ticket prices range from £6 - £29.50. Concessions are available.

The show is performed on the following schedule: Monday - Saturday at 7.30 pm and Saturday matinees at 3.00 pm. A sign language interpreted performance is on Tuesday 17 February at 7.30 pm. A captioned performance is on Saturday 28 February at 3.00 pm and Thursday 12 March at 7.30 pm. An audio described performance and touch tour is on Saturday 7 March at 3.00 pm.

Photo by Bridget Jones

 

Juliet Stevenson and Henry Goodman

Juliet Stevenson and Henry Goodman

Juliet Stevenson and Henry Goodman

Henry Goodman

Juliet Stevenson

Henry Goodman