Alison Steadman to Lead Rose Theatre's HERE; Cast Announced

Rose Theatre Kingston today announced the full cast for its revival of Michael Frayn's Here for a limited run, Thursday 19 April – Saturday 12 May, starring Alison Steadman, Zawe Ashton and Alex Beckett.

Here is where everything happens. Here and now – in the space around us that we can see and touch. For Phil and Cath, in this one small studio flat, as they begin to construct their life together. For them the whole past history of the universe has led up to this moment, and its whole future history will be determined by what they decide together. Here. Now.

But how to decide anything, when the other person keeps disagreeing? And when the woman downstairs keeps dumping the left-over remains of her own life on you...?

Making her Rose Theatre debut Alison Steadman plays Pat - the woman downstairs. Alison is one of the UK's best-loved and most prolific actresses, recently enjoying a West End run in Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit as the improbable clairvoyant Madame Arcati. Also on stage she created the role of the monstrous Beverly in Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party and starred in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, for which she won an Olivier Award. Her films include 'Shirley Valentine' and Mike Leigh's 'Life Is Sweet' and 'Topsy Turvy'. Television work includes 'Fat Friends', 'The Singing Detective', 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Gavin & Stacey'.

Zawe Ashton, the character Vod from Channel 4 comedy 'Fresh Meat' takes on the role of Cath. Other credits include television series 'Misfits' and the films 'Dreams of a Life' and 'St Trinians 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold' as well as the title role in Headlong Theatre's Salome which toured to Guildford.

Phil will be played by Alex Beckett, last seen in BBC4's 'Twenty Twelve'.

Here is directed by Lisa Spirling, whose recent directing credits include Hundreds and Thousands (Soho Theatre Upstairs), Terminal Four Play (Theatre503, Latitude Festival), Cotton Wool (Theatre503), and Idiots of Ants (Pleasance, Edinburgh and on tour).

Set and costume is by Polly Sullivan.

Tickets for Here (19 Apr – 12 May) are available from the Rose Theatre Kingston box office; 08444 821 556 (bkg fee) www.rosetheatrekingston.org (bkg fee).

Photo credit: Fatimah Namdar.