Paddy Glynn and Geoffrey Aymer to Star in DRIVING MISS DAISY at Canal Cafe Theatre

Casting is announced for the first production in the year-long collaboration between the award-winning Canal Café Theatre and Russell Lucas, America: Past. Present. Future, a celebration of American theatre kicking off with Alfred Uhry's classic work Driving Miss Daisy.

Set against a backdrop of major social change from '48 to '73, Driving Miss Daisy tells of the tender relationship between Jewish widow, Daisy Werthan and her African-American driver Hoke Colburn. Both outsiders in an ever-changing America, Daisy, Hoke and Daisy's son Boolie, are together for over 25 years observing life, learning tolerance and enduring change.

This fresh production of Driving Miss Daisy, staged in traverse takes the play back to its intimate routes - the Canal Café Theatre's 60 seat auditorium being a similar size to the theatre where the play received its premiere.

Directed by Russell Lucas, who previously collaborated with the Canal Café Theatre on the UK premiere of The Fat Man's Wife by Tennessee Williams. He has also collaborated with Sh!t Theatre, Heather Uprichard (Shunt Collective), Martin Malcolm, Sam Wills (The Boy With Tape on his Face), Sarah-Louise Young (Julie Madly Deeply) Linda Marlowe and Matthew Floyd Jones of Frisky and Mannish.

Building on their previous collaboration on the UK Premiere of The Fat Man's Wife by Tennessee Williams, The Canal Café Theatre and Russell Lucas announce a series of productions celebrating American theatre in a season that will run for 12 months.

On the production, director Russell Lucas said: "We are turning the Canal Café Theatre into a 'tramersive' auditorium for Driving Miss Daisy, where upon the audience will be right up close to the production and its story; coupled by a live acoustic guitar soundtrack by April Roots, this promises to be a truly individual presentation of Alfred Uhry's classic. We are living in very conflicted times and Driving Miss Daisy is as relevant as it ever was as it addresses our differences, discusses our similarities, but most importantly celebrates the subtleties and power of kinship.''

In the roles of Miss Daisy and Hoke Colburn are Paddy Glynn and Geoffrey Aymer with David Nicolle as Boolie Werthan.

Paddy Glynn (Miss Daisy) has appeared in many stage and film roles including Aida in Rikki Beadle-Blair's film Metrosexuality, as well as roles in Follies at the Royal Festival Hall, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Lyric Theatre.

Geoffrey Aymer (Hoke Colburn) has appeared in productions for the National Theatre, Royal Court, Shakespeare's Globe as well as being a writer himself with plays including Anansi and The Magic Mirror for Talawa Theatre and Hackney Empire and has also written material for a number of comedy shows including the Canal Café Theatre's NewsRevue.

David Nicolle (Boolie Werthan) has appeared in films Band of Brothers, Nine Lives and Hiroshima he played the lead in the West End production of The Graduate as well as productions at the Mercury Colchester, Liverpool Playhouse, Birmingham Rep and Sheffield Theatres.

Joining them onstage will be April Roots, a flamenco guitarist, to provide a live soundrack for the play. April has been playing guitar from a young age in both London and Madrird, in recent years she has dedicated to expanding her experience playing at venues like the Silver Bullet and Passing Clouds and developing her own artistic projects. She has also collaborated with Chris Jagger and Twink (Pretty Things) among other artists in London.

IF YOU GO:

Canal Café Theatre and Russell Lucas Present
Driving Miss Daisy
Written by Alfred Uhry Directed by Russell Lucas
Part of The American Season

Press Night: Thu 20 Oct, 7pm
Tue 18 Oct - Sat 5 Nov
Tue 18 Oct - Fri 4 Nov, 7pm; Sat 5 Nov, 3pm; no show Sun, Mon
£12 - £15 (includes membership fee, subject to booking fee when paying by card)

Booking information:
Canal Café Theatre
canalcafetheatre.com 020 7289 6045

American: Past. Present. Future. is a year-long collaboration between director Russell Lucas and the Canal Café Theatre, in spring 2017 the season continues with the UK premiere of Theresa Rebeck's The Understudy before the premiere of a brand new anonymously commissioned play in autumn 2017. Synopsis submissions for the commission open on 5 November - the final night of Driving Miss Daisy and the play announced at the final performance of The Understudy in March 2017.

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