Hamish Glen to Bring THE SISTERHOOD to Coventry

Coventry's Belgrade Theatre is banishing the winter blues with a brand new production of Molière's rarely performed romantic comedy, The Sisterhood, which will be directed by Artistic Director Hamish Glen and runs from Sat 30 Jan - Sat 20 Feb 2016 in B2.

Relocated in time from the 17th century to Paris, France during the late 1980s, The Sisterhood is acclaimed playwright and translator, Ranjit Bolt's hilariously-observed adaptation of Molière's classic satire, Les Femmes Savantes, which was first performed at the New End Theatre, Hampstead in 1987 starring Lesley Joseph and Clive Swift.

Henriette just wants to marry the man she loves. Is that too much to ask? It certainly is for her intellectual mother, aunt and sister - the "learned ladies", who can't bear to see Henriette throw her life away. They have a different man in mind for her; a self-proclaimed genius of poetry and the arts.

However, her put-upon father will be pushed around no more! He's determined to support Henriette in her choice of husband, and so the battle lines are drawn...

The Belgrade Theatre has a strong tradition of producing plays that explore the theme of marriage, from Trevor Nunn's production of Ingmar Bergman's Scenes from a Marriage starring Iain Glen and Imogen Stubbs in 2007 to Ibsen's A Doll's House and most recently, Laurie Slade's adaptation of Strindberg's The Father (2012) and Nikolai Gogol's comedy Marriage in 2013.

Director Hamish Glen said, 'My productions of Molière's The Hypochondriac and The Miser hopefully gave audiences a glimpse of how accessible and relevant these 17th Century comedies can still be today. Molière helped create the style of comedy which is built on one-liners, stand-up, slapstick and set pieces and which has become the foundations for almost all modern day comic routines.

This updated translation of Moliére's original 17th Century comedy takes us to 1980s France and into a stylish salon in downtown Paris. Unusually for a Moliére comedy, it is the women who are the butt of the jokes rather than the male characters in this piece, as the play pokes fun at the pretensions of these pseudo-intellectual ladies, and proves that a little learning can be a dangerous thing.'

Playing the role of matriarch and head of the household Philaminte is Julia Watson, whose most recent theatre credits include The Deep Blue Sea (Watford Palace Theatre), The Seagull, My Family & Other Animals and Amy's View (Nottingham Playhouse). Julia has also worked extensively for the National Theatre, most recently in Wild Honey, Mayor Barbara and She Stoops To Conquer. She will be joined by Joanna Roth in the role of Belise, whose theatre credits include Phaedra's Love (Arcola Theatre), The Devil is an ass (RSC) and Romeo and Juliet (Lyric Hammersmith).

Taking up the role of beleaguered husband Chrysale is Peter Temple who has most recently performed at the New Vic Theatre in Where Have I Been All My Life and Far From The Madding Crowd. Peter also has extensive experience in TV and radio and was most recently heard in the BBC Radio 4 drama, This Sporting Life and the comedy series History Re-tweeted.

Playing the roles of sisters Henriette and Armande are Vanessa Schofield (The Winter's Tale, Northern Broadsides) and Katherine Manners (The Rubenstein Kiss, Nottingham Playhouse and Life of Galileo (Birmingham REP/RSC). Making a welcome return to the venue in the role of Trissotin this January is Paul Trussell who previously played Oddsoxsky in the 2013 Belgrade Theatre production of Nikolai Gogol's Marriage. He will be joined by Joshua Miles (Romeo and Juliet & The History Boys, Sheffield Theatres) in the role of Clitandre.

Completing the cast are Paul Hamilton as Ariste (A Life of Galileo, Boris Godunov, The Tempest, The RSC), Valentine Hanson (The Tempest, Orange Tree Theatre) as Vadius and Miriam Edwardes as Martine, who was last seen at the Belgrade Theatre in December 2015 playing Denise in the Belgrade Theatre's alternative B2 Xmas comedy, Vampomime.

Design is by Libby Watson, whose previous Belgrade theatre credits include Marriage, Stars In The Morning Sky, Babylone and Propaganda Swing. Lighting design is by Mike Robertson. The set and costumes for the show are created by Belgrade Production Services.

Tickets for The Sisterhood are available now from the box office on 024 7655 3055 priced from £12 - £27 or via www.belgrade.co.uk where cheaper tickets are available.

For tickets, call the Belgrade Theatre Box Office on 024 7655 3055 or visit the website www.belgrade.co.uk where cheaper tickets are available.

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