Michael Feast and Sheila Reid to Lead GHOST FROM A PEFECT PLACE at Arcola Theatre this Autumn

Michael Feast and Sheila Reid are to head the cast of the 20th anniversary production of Philip Ridley's contemporary classic Ghost From A Perfect Place, a scorchingly dark comedy, where a monster from the past meets the monsters of the present.

Ghost From a Perfect Place runs at Arcola Theatre from Thursday 11 September - Saturday 11 October. Press night is Monday 15 September at 7.30pm

Michael Feast's long and distinguished stage career includes The Tempest (with John Gielgud as Prospero), No Man's Land at the National Theatre and in the West End with John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson, American Buffalo, Murder in the Cathedral, The Possessed, Carousel and Sexual Perversity in Chicago. He was Macduff in Rupert Goold's acclaimed production of Macbeth in the West End and on Broadway.

Sheila Reid has become a household name since 2007 playing Madge in the hit ITV comedy Benidorm, but she has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in theatre, film and TV. Her many National Theatre roles include The Crucible and Three Sisters, directed by Laurence Olivier, The Way of The World, Othello, Hedda Gabler and the Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd. She was Jack's Mother in Sondheim's Into the Woods at the Donmar Warehouse and Queen Margaret in Richard III at the RSC. Her West End credits include Steaming, The Importance of Being Earnest and Martin Guerre.

The rest of the cast are Florence Hall as Rio Sparks, Rachel Redford (MIss Kerosene), Scarlett Brookes (Miss Sulpher).

Back in the swinging sixties, Travis Flood led a gang that terrorised East London. Now, after an absence of many years, he returns to find his old turf in the clutches of a new kind of gang...with a new kind of leader. Rio, ruler of a vicious gang of girls, instantly captivates Travis with her haunting beauty. But when their paths cross, a shocking story begins to emerge - one that shatters both their distorted memories.

Twenty years after its explosive sold-out premiere at Hampstead Theatre - where it was denounced as "pornographic" by The Guardian's Michael Billington and hailed by The Spectator as "a masterpiece", Ghost From A Perfect Place is having its first major revival, directed by Russell Bolam, following his critically-acclaimed production of Ridley's Shivered at Southwark Playhouse.

Ghost From A Perfect Place explores London's explosive gang culture with a particular focus on the experiences of young women. The production has collaborated with several leading organisations dealing with gang violence in London to create a series of initiatives to accompany the performances. These include affordable ticket schemes, post-show discussions and Q & As, therapeutic workshops and an education pack and playtext.

Director Russell Bolam,Designer Anthony Lamble, Lighting Designer Malcolm Rippeth, Sound Designer Richard Hammarton, Movement Director Jack Murphy, Producer Sarah Stribley.

Director Russell Bolam's 2012 production of Philip Ridley's Shivered was nominated for the Whatsonstage Best Off-West End Production Award, OFFIE nominated for Best New Play, OFFIE long-listed for Best Production, Best Director and Best Actor (also Evening Standard Outstanding Newcomer). Russell also directed The Merry Wives of Windsor at Ivan Vazov, and new translations of Chekov's Three Sisters and The Seagull by Anya Reiss at Southwark Playhouse.

Philip Ridley was born in the East End of London where he still lives and works. As well as three books for adults and the highly acclaimed screenplay for the The Krays feature film (winner of The Evening Standard Best Film of the Year Award), he has written 10 stage plays: The Pitchfork Disney, the multi-award-winning The Fastest Clock in the Universe, Ghost from a Perfect Place, Vincent River, the controversial Mercury Fur, Leaves of Glass, Piranha Heights, Tender Napalm, Shivered and Dark Vanilla Jungle (winner of a Fringe First at the Edinburgh

Festival); plus a further five plays for young people: Karamazoo, Fairytaleheart, Moonfleece, Sparkleshark and Brokenville. Philip has won both the Evening Standard's Most Promising Newcomer to British Film and Most Promising Playwright Awards. The only person ever to receive both prizes.

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