TV: DEATHTRAP Opens in London

DEATHTRAP opened last night, Tuesday 7 September at the Noël Coward Theatre. Estelle Parsons, who won an Oscar for playing ‘Blanche' in the legendary 1967 film "Bonnie and Clyde", will make her West End stage debut starring as ‘Helga ten Dorp' in Ira Levin's thriller "DEATHTRAP", which will open at the Noël Coward Theatre in London on Tuesday 7 September. Simon Russell Beale will star as ‘Sydney Bruhl', Jonathan Groff as ‘Clifford Anderson' and Claire Skinner as ‘Myra Bruhl'; the cast also includes Terry Beaver.

Estelle Parsons has a long and distinguished theatre career, recently culminating in her ‘Best Actress' performance in "August: Osage County", both on Broadway and throughout North America; her many films include "Rachel, Rachel", "Watermelon Man" and "Dick Tracy". On television she is probably best-known for her performance as ‘The Mother' in "Rosanne".

Simon Russell Beale, currently starring in the National Theatre's sell-out production of Dion Boucicault's "London Assurance" directed by Nicholas Hytner, will play ‘Sidney Bruhl' and Estelle Parsons ‘Helga ten Dorp'. Jonathan Groff, award-winning Broadway musical star of "Spring Awakening" and new leading man of American television series "Glee", will star as ‘Clifford Anderson'. Claire Skinner, currently best-known for starring in the BBC sitcom "Outnumbered" and whose award-winning career includes seasons at the National Theatre and films such as "Bridget Jones's Diary", will play ‘Myra Bruhl'.

Prolific author and playwright Ira Levin, famous for the Roman Polanski film "Rosemary's Baby", is the author of "The Stepford Wives" and "The Boys From Brazil". This is the first London revival of his "DEATHTRAP" since the original 1978 production, when the play opened to rave reviews and smash-hit business, subsequently running for 2 ½ years at the Garrick Theatre. "DEATHTRAP was then filmed by Sidney Lumet, with Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve in the starring roles.

With design by Rob Howell, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and original music by Gary Yershon, "DEATHTRAP" will be directed by Matthew Warchus, whose more recent credits include "Art" and "God of Carnage", both by Yasmina Reza and both produced by David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers. "DEATHTRAP" will also be produced by David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers.

"DEATHTRAP" will preview from 21 August and open on Tuesday 7 September at the Noël Coward Theatre. Performance times will be Mondays-Saturdays at 7.30pm, with Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 3.00pm. Tickets, priced from £19.50 - £49.50, with preview tickets priced from £15.00 - £35.00, with no booking fee whatsoever, are available from the Noël Coward Theatre Box Office on 0844 482 5140. For more information, visit www.deathtraptheplay.com.