Royal Bath Theatre Announces Casting for The 2013 Season

Further casting has been announced for the four new in-house productions which will make up the 2013 Summer Season Theatre Royal Bath.

The season begins on Wednesday 12 June with Noel Coward's Relative Values, directed by Trevor Nunn. It will be followed by Candida by Bernard Shaw, directed by Simon Godwin, King Lear directed by Lucy Bailey and starring David Haig, and Feydeau's A Little Hotel on the Side, adapted by John Mortimer and directed by Lindsay Posner and Cal McCrystal.

There is consternation at Marshwood House when the young Earl announces he is to marry a Hollywood film actress.... but the family is well and truly flummoxed when it comes to light that the starlet's sister is none other than Moxie, the Earl's mother's maid. In an attempt to cope with this deeply embarrassing situation, Moxie is dressed up in her ladyship's cast-offs as the family endeavours to pass her off as one of their own.

As previously announced, Patricia Hodge and Caroline Quentin play the roles of Felicity and Moxie respectively with Rory Bremner making his theatre debut in the role of Crestwell. Katherine Kingsley, who was Olivier Award nominated for her role as Lina Lamont in the acclaimed musical Singin' In The Rain at Chichester Festival Theatre / Palace Theatre, will play Miranda Frayle. She recently appeared in The 24 Hour Musicals at The Old Vic. BenMansfield will play Don Lucas. His theatre credits include One Man, Two Guvnors at Theatre Royal Haymarket andHenry IV (Parts 1 & 2) at Theatre Royal Bath. He was also the lead in Series 3 & 4 of 'Primeval' on ITV.

Also in the cast are Timothy Kightley (The Kitchen, Royal Court; Arcadia, National Theatre; Nicholas Nickleby, Aldwych Theatre, Broadway, Los Angeles), Amanda Boxer (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, West Yorkshire Playhouse; Long Voyage Home, Old Vic Tunnels; The Painter, Arcola) Steven Pacey (Charley's Aunt, Menier Chocolate Factory;Spamalot, UK Tour; Le Cage Aux Folles, West End) and Sam Hoare (Adventure Story, Chichester; Double Falsehood, Union).

Designer is Stephen Brimson-Lewis, Lighting Designer Tim Mitchell, Sound Designer Fergus O'Hare and Music Consultant Steven Edis.

CANDIDA by Bernard Shaw

Wednesday 3 July - Saturday 20 July

Directed by Simon Godwin

In this exuberant romantic comedy, Shaw's own favourite, questions of love and loyalty are explored in a brilliant fusion of wit, passion and politics.

Charity Wakefield plays the title role. Charity is currently appearing in These Shining Lives at the Park Theatre and recent credits include No Naughty Bits at Hampstead Theatre and The Cherry Orchard at the National. Frank Dillanemakes his professional stage debut in the role of Eugene Marchbanks. Frank played Tom Riddle in 'Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince' and 'Harry Potter and The Dealthy Hollows'.

David Troughton plays Mr Burgess. He's appeared in films Twelfth Night, Madam Bovary, A Very Polish Practice and on TV in The Cafe for Sky1 (series regular), New Tricks (Series Lead) and All The King's Men. Theatre credits includeMy City at the Almeida, Inherit The Wind at the Old Vic and Playing With Fire at The National.

Also in the cast are Jamie Parker (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, West Yorkshire Playhouse; Henry V, Globe Theatre, History Boys West End and on film); Edwin Thomas (History Boys, Crucible; Way of the World, Wilton's Music Hall) and Jo Herbert (The Canterbury Tales, Relative Values and The Misanthrope at RADA).

Designer Mike Britton, Lighting Designer Oliver Fenwick, Sound Designer Nick Manning and Composer Stuart Earl.

Press Night: Wednesday 10 July, 7pm

KING LEAR by William Shakespeare

Thursday 25 July - Saturday 10 August

Directed by Lucy Bailey; designed by William Dudley

Following ecstatic reviews for his towering performance as George III in The Madness of George III in 2011, David Haig returns to Bath to take on the greatest role in Shakespeare's canon.

David will be joined by Aislin McGuckin as Goneril (Lady Macbeth in Macbeth and The Homecoming, RSC; Duchess of Malfi and Volpine, Greenwich Theatre; Dial M for Murder, West Yorkshire Playhouse and tour); Fiona Glascott as Regan (Huis Clos, Trafalgar Studios, Kingdom Of Earth, Print Room; Flea In Her Ear, The Old Vic); and Fiona Buttonas Cordelia (Heartbreak House, Chichester; The Girl in the Yellow Dress, Theatre 503; An Ideal Husband, Vaudeville;Posh, Royal Court and on TV 'Foyle's War', 'Pramface', 'Cardinal Burns' and 'Lip Service').

Paul Shelley will play Gloucester (Moonlight, Donmar Warehouse; As You Like It, Rose Theatre Kingston; Voyage Around My Father, Salisbury Playhouse).

William Postlethwaite will play Edgar (Longing, Hampstead Theatre; Cinderella and the Midnight Princess, Rose Theatre Kingston; Fireface, Young Vic); Samuel Edward-Cook as Edmund (Boys, High Tide/Headlong/Soho Theatre,Henry IV (Parts 1 & 2) at RADA and 'Land Girls' on TV) and Simon Darwen as Oswald (Sour Lips, Oval House;Constellations, Duke of York's; Love, Love, Love, Drum Theatre Plymouth).

Also in the cast are Simon Gregor (To Kill A Mockingbird, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre; The Taming of The Shrew, RSC; Uncle Vanya, Belgrade Theatre Ltd); David Ganly (Drum Belly, The Abbey Theatre; Cinderella, Lyric Hammersmith; Macbeth, Crucible Theatre, Sheffield); Alister Cameron (The Judas Kiss, Tour & West End; The Conspirators, The Orange Tree; Comedy of Errors, The New Shakespeare Co.)

The production is designed by William Dudley, whose awards include the 2002 Critics' Circle Best Designer for The Coast of Utopia and the 2004 Olivier Award for Best Set Design for Hitchcock Blonde. Lighting Designer is Oliver Fenwick.

Press Night: Wednesday 31 July, 7pm

A LITTLE HOTEL ON THE SIDE by Georges Feydeau and Maurice Désvallières

Thursday 15 August - Saturday 31 August
Translated by John Mortimer

Directed by Lindsay Posner and Cal McCrystal; Designed by Michael Taylor

This side-splitting work from the supreme master of traditional farce contains all the classic ingredients - thwarted passion, spiralling panic and a seedy hotel where the corridors see more action than the beds. Fresh from directingRelatively Speaking in the West End, award-winning director Lindsay Posner's recent productions include Noises Offat the Old Vic and Abigail's Party. Cal McCrystal is no stranger to farce, he was the physical comedy director for One Man, Two Guvnors and Sacha Baron Cohen's 'The Dictator'.

Richard McCabe will play Monsieur Pinglet. Royal Shakespeare Company veteran Richard recently won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of former Prime Minister Harold Wilson in The Audience in the West End. Other recent credits include Ben Power's A Tender Thing at the RSC, Bingo at the Young Vic opposite Patrick Stewart and Yes, Prime Minister at both the Apollo and Gielgud Theatres.

Press Night: Wednesday 21 August, 7pm

For further information please contact Peter Leone/ Andrew Greer at Arthur Leone PR on 020 7836 7660/ andrew@arthurleone.com

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