Stephen Wight, GLEE Star Dianna Agron Set for World Premiere of McQUEEN, Beginning Tonight at St. James

Award-winning actor Stephen Wight takes on the title role of Lee McQueen and Dianna Agron will play Dahlia in the world premiere of James Phillips's play McQUEEN directed by John Caird, which will run at St. James Theatre from tonight 12 May, with press nights on Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 May. The play will also star Tracy-Ann Oberman as Isabella Blow, Laura Rees as Arabella, and David Shaw-Parker as John Hitchcock, along with Sophie Apollonia, Amber Doyle, George Hill, Eloise Hymas, Jordan Kennedy, Rachel Louisa Maybank and Carrie Willis.

Stephen Wight was named Outstanding Newcomer at the Evening Standard Awards for his performances in Michael Grandage's production of Don Juan in Soho and Samuel West's production of Dealer's Choice. Other theatre includes Nicholas Hytner's production of The Habit of Art at the National and Sean Foley's production of The Ladykillers in the West End. On television, he has played Simon in Bluestone 42 (BBC 3), Sam in The Paradise (BBC 1), Mitch in Threesome (Comedy Central), Fletcher in Sherlock and Charles in the BBC mini-series Fingersmith. His films include Wilderness, Highlander: The Source, Weekender with Jack O'Connell, Henry Lloyd-Hughes and Zawe Ashton and Ashes with Jim Sturgess and Ray Winstone.

Critically acclaimed actress Dianna Agron's breakthrough role was playing Quinn Fabray on the hit seriesGlee. Most recently, Agron was seen opposite Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer in the film The Family, directed by Luc Besson. This year, she will appear in several films, including the romantic comedyTumbledown opposite Jason Sudeikis and Rebecca Hall, Bare directed by Mark Polish, Zipper opposite Patrick Wilson, and the independent ensemble Conspiracy on Jekyll Island. McQUEEN will mark Agron's British stage debut.

Tracy-Ann Oberman played Chrissie in EastEnders, Yvonne Hartman in Doctor Who, Lizzie Clapham inMonroe, Aunty Val in Friday Night Dinner, Mrs Purchase in Toast of London and Diana in the film Filth starring James McAvoy and Jamie Bell. In theatre, she has acted with the Royal Shakespeare Company and at the National, including playing opposite Kenneth Branagh in Edmond.

Laura Rees's theatre credits include Ophelia in Ninagawa's Hamlet at the Barbican, Christopher Luscombe'sComedy of Errors, Lucy Bailey's Titus Andronicus and Kathryn Hunter's Pericles at Shakespeare's Globe, and Rupert Gould's Macbeth and Philip Franks's Twelfth Night at Chichester.

David Shaw-Parker began his career at the Royal Shakespeare Company, appearing in over 25 productions. His many other theatre credits include Trevor Nunn's productions of My Fair Lady at the National Theatre and in the West End and Acorn Antiques in the West End, and Lucy Bailey's production of Titus Andronicus last year at Shakespeare's Globe.

McQUEEN is a journey into the visionary imagination and dark dream world of Alexander McQueen, fashion's greatest contemporary artist. Set on a single London night, it is more than a bio-play. It is stepping into the fairy story landscape of McQueen's mind, the landscape seen in his immortal shows, where with a dress an urchin can become an Amazon, where beauty might just help us survive the night. A girl has watched McQueen's Mayfair house for eleven consecutive days. Tonight she climbs down from her watching tree and breaks into his house, to steal a dress, to become someone special. He catches her, but, instead of calling the police, they embark together on a journey through London and into his heart.

McQUEEN will be directed by John Caird, with production design by David Farley, choreography by Christopher Marney, video design by Tim Bird, lighting design by David Howe, sound design by John Leonard, casting by Jayne Collins CDG & Kate Plantin CDG.

McQUEEN will be produced at St. James Theatre by Robert Mackintosh, AMIR Ltd, Hilary Williams, Deborah Negri, with Julian Stoneman as executive producer, for and on behalf of McQ Productions Ltd.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

From 12 May 2015

St. James Theatre

12 Palace Street

London SW1E 5JA

Performances: Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm*, Thursdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm**

*7.00pm on Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 May

**No 2.30pm performances on Thursday 14 and Thursday 21 May

Ticket Prices: £25, £35, £55, £65

Box Office: 0844 264 2140

Website: www.mcqueentheplay.com

Facebook: facebook.com/McQueenThePlay

Twitter: @McQueenThePlay