Casting Announced for Chichester Festival Theatre's THE COUNTRY GIRLS

THE COUNTRY GIRLS by Edna O'Brien will run at Chichester's Minerva Theatre from 9 June - 8 July, with a press night on 1 June, directed by Lisa Blair. The full company is: Romayne Andrews, Rachel Atkins, Tom Canton, Chris Garner, Colm Gormley, Genevieve Hulme-Beaman (as Baba), Melanie McHugh, Keshini Misha, Grace Molony (as Kate), Bailey Patrick, Valery Schatz (as Mr Gentleman) and JADE YOURELL.

The 1950s. Rural Ireland. Kate and Baba are best friends who long to escape their traditional families and convent school. When they finally rebel and make a break for it, their lives burst open.

As they forge new identities in Dublin, the childhood friends must discover if it is possible to grow up without growing apart.

Edna O'Brien's novel The Country Girls was controversially banned in Ireland on publication in 1960. From her much-loved book, she has created a new free-flowing play which is a frank, lyrical and wrenching exploration of young women, the loss of innocence and the tenacity of love and hope.

Edna O'Brien's novels also include The Lonely Girl, Girls in Their Married Bliss and The Little Red Chairs; non-fiction includes her memoir Country Girl.

Grace Molony makes her professional theatre debut as Kate, while Genevieve Hulme-Beaman, whose theatre work includes The Seagull at Dublin's Gaiety Theatre and The Taming of the Shrew at Shakespeare's Globe, plays Baba.

Director Lisa Blair makes her debut at Chichester; her recent productions include Mike Bartlett's Contractions at Sheffield Crucible and Faust X2 at the Watermill, Newbury.

The Country Girls will be designed by Richard Kent, with lighting by Lizzie Powell, music by Isobel Waller-Bridge and sound by Christopher Shutt.

The Country Girls is sponsored by University of Chichester.

EVENTS

Play Power Saturday 17 June, 11am, Minerva Theatre

University of Chichester Professor Simon Barker leads a panel discussion around censorship of theatre in 1950s Ireland, breaking the silence on sexual and social matters during the repressive post-war period. Tickets £5.

Lunch with Edna O'Brien Tuesday 20 June, 12 noon, The Brasserie

Novelist, poet and playwright Edna O'Brien talks about her award-winning career, and gives an insight into adapting her definitive coming-of-age book The Country Girls for the stage. Tickets £30 (includes two-course lunch with wine and coffee).

Pre-Show Talk with Lisa Blair Tuesday 13 June, 6pm

Free but booking essential.

Post-Show Talk Monday 3 July

Stay after the performance to ask questions, meet company members and discover more. Free.

cft.org.uk

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