Casting Announced for UK and Ireland Tour of NOISES OFF

Casting is announced for the UK tour of Michael Frayn's multi-award-winning backstage comedy Noises Off. Following its acclaimed run at The Old Vic and then at the Novello Theatre in the West End, Noises Off will tour theatres across the UK and Ireland from 27 March 2013.

Noises Off is the highest grossing show in the history of The Old Vic Theatre Company, breaking weekly box office records during its run at The Old Vic. The show became the first Old Vic Theatre Company production to transfer into the West End, with performances at the Novello Theatre, and will now also be the first to embark on a major UK tour.

Winner of both Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Comedy, Noises Off serves up a riotous double bill - a play within a play. Hurtling along at breakneck speed it follows the backstage antics of a touring theatre company as they stumble their way through rehearsals to a shambolic first night and a final disastrous performance. Directed by Lindsay Posner, the UK tour stars David Bark-Jones, Maureen Beattie, Simon Bubb, Danielle Flett, Geoffrey Freshwater, Neil Pearson, Thomasin Rand and Sasha Waddell.

Michael Frayn has written sixteen plays, including Copenhagen, Afterlife, Benefactors, Donkeys' Years, and Democracy. He has also translated for the theatre, mostly Chekhov and other plays from the Russian, and adapted Chekhov's first, untitled play as Wild Honey. He has written a number of screenplays, including Clockwise, starring John Cleese. His eleven novels include The Tin Men, Towards the End of the Morning, Headlong, Spies, and most recently Skios. He has also published various collections of articles, including Collected Columns, Stage Directions, and Travels with a Typewriter; two works of philosophy, Constructions and The Human Touch; and a memoir, My Father's Fortune.

Lindsay Posner was Associate Director at The Royal Court Theatre from 1987 to 1992 where his production of Death and The Maiden won two Olivier Awards. His other theatre credits include Butley starring Dominic West (Duchess Theatre), An Ideal Husband starring Samantha Bond and Rachel Stirling (Vaudeville Theatre), Fool For Love starring Juliette Lewis (Apollo Theatre), Arthur Miller's A View From The Bridge starring Ken Stott (Duke of York's Theatre, nominated for four Olivier Awards), Carousel (Savoy Theatre), Fiddler on The Roof (Sheffield and Savoy Theatres), House of Games, Tom and Viv, The Hypochondriac, Romance (Almeida), A Life in the Theatre (Apollo Theatre), the world premiere of Power by Nick Dear and Tartuffe (National), Twelfth Night, Volpone, The Taming of the Shrew and The Rivals (RSC), Abigail's Party (Menier Chocolate Factory) and most recently Uncle Vanya, starring Ken Stott, Anna Friel, Samuel West and Laura Carmichael, currently being performed at the Vaudeville Theatre. His production of Terence Rattigan's The Winslow Boy will open at The Old Vic on 19 March 2013.

David Bark-Jones plays Gary Lejeune who plays Roger Tramplemain. David has worked extensively on screen, his film credits include roles in Guy Richie's RocknRolla and The Da Vinci Code, and on television he has appeared in BBC's Pride and Prejudice, New Tricks, Young James Herriott and in Channel 4's drama The Pillars of the Earth. On stage David played Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre), for which he received the 2010 BroadwayWorld.com award for Best West End Leading Actor. Other recent theatre credits include The Village Bike (Sheffield Crucible), The Forest (National) and Dealer's Choice (National and Vaudeville Theatre).

Maureen Beattie plays Dotty Otley who plays Mrs Clackett, the Brent's housekeeper. Maureen's screen credits include Lewis, Vera, Taggart, Casualty and Channel 4's Twelfth Night. She has performed extensively with the Royal Shakespeare Company in productions that include Titus Andronicus and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (playing the White Witch) and Michael Boyd's The History Plays. Most recently she appeared in Enquirer at The National Theatre of Scotland and is currently starring in No Quarter at the Royal Court.

Simon Bubb plays Tim Allgood, the Stage Manager. Simon was in the original London cast of War Horse and has appeared in several other productions at The National Theatre, including St Joan, The Habit of Art and King James Bible. Danielle Flett plays Assistant Stage Manager, Poppy Norton-Taylor. Danielle recently played Emily in the Royal Court production of Vera Vera Vera which also ran at the Theatre Local Peckham. Her other recent theatre work includes the role of Susan in Burnt Oak (Leicester Square Theatre).

Geoffrey Freshwater plays Selsdon Mowbray who plays the Burglar. Geoffrey's many television credits include Foyle's War, Law & Order and Channel 4's drama The Government Inspector. He has also recently appeared in the film Invisible Women directed by Ralph Fiennes. His extensive theatre work includes Old Money (Hampstead Theatre), Filumena (Almeida) and several productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company including As You Like It, King Lear and Anthony and Cleopatra.

Neil Pearson plays the director of 'Nothing On', Lloyd Dallas. Neil is perhaps best known for his roles in the television series' Drop the Dead Donkey, Between the Lines and Monroe, as well as the films Bridget Jones' Diary and Bridget Jones' Diary: Edge of Reason. Stage credits include Arcadia (Duke of York's Theatre), Sir Peter Hall's touring productions of Uncle Vanya, Old Times and Mind Milly for Me, and Kevin Spacey's production of Cloaca at The Old Vic.

Thomasin Rand plays the part of Brooke Ashton who plays the part of Vicki. Thomasin's recent television credits include, The Bletchley Circle and Midsummer Murders for ITV, and BBC's dramas Call the Midwife and Sherlock: Scandal in Belgravia. Her theatre credits include The Country Girl directed by Rufus Norris (Apollo Theatre) and Loves Labours Lost at Shakespeare's Globe.

Sasha Waddell plays BeLinda Blair who plays Flavia Brent. On screen Sacha played the role of Lady Glorvina in the BBC drama Parades End, she has also recently appeared in Midsummer Murders, A Touch of Cloth and Holby City. Her theatre credits include Mollie Rallston in The Mousetrap (St Martin's Theatre), The Seagull and Eight Women (Southwark Playhouse) and The Village Bike at The Royal Court Upstairs.

Noises Off is produced on tour by The Old Vic Theatre Company and Old Vic Productions.

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