Sarah Hadland Stars in Michael Wynne's CANVAS Premiere in Chichester, May 18-June 16

Sarah Hadland and Dean Lennox Kelly feature among the ensemble cast of a new comedy by award-winning playwright Michael Wynne in which three couples attempt to get away from the stresses and dilemmas of modern life on a camping trip. CANVAS, directed by Angus Jackson, plays tonight, 18 May– 16 June at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester.

Canvas is a razor-sharp comedy which shines an incisive, witty light on middle-class preoccupations with parenting, the environment and mod cons. Three couples in search of a rural idyll find themselves in adjacent tents in the Welsh countryside. Justine and Alan need to get away from it all, but are reluctant to explain what they're escaping from. Bridget and Rory are seasoned campers with domestic issues. Alistair and Amanda seem to live upwardly mobile lives in which everything is under control, but is everything what it seems?

Sarah Hadland plays Bridget. She is perhaps best known through her role in the award-winning BBC comedy Miranda, in which she plays the best friend of the central character. Her theatre credits include Décor Without Production (Royal Court Theatre), The Vegemite Tales (Riverside Studios) and the West End production of Grease. Radio credits include That Mitchell & Webb Sound and Miranda Hart's Joke Shop.

Dean Lennox Kelly plays Alan. He has numerous screen credits, including Kev Ball in the popular Channel 4 comedy drama series Shameless, the role of William Shakespeare in Doctor Who, Married, Single, Other, Sorted and Cranford. Theatre credits include This Happy Breed (Theatre Royal Bath) and Oh! What a Lovely War for The National Theatre.

Hattie Ladbury plays Amanda. She has just finished The Seven Year Itch for Salisbury Playhouse. Other theatre credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth and Lady Be Good (all for the Open Air Theatre Regent's Park), After Mrs Rochester (UK tour and West End) and Tess of the D'Urbervilles (RSC).

Elliot Levey plays Rory. His recent theatre credits include the West End production of Much Ado About Nothing alongside Catherine Tate and David Tennant, Danton's Death, The Habit of Art, All's Well That Ends Well, England People Very Nice, Henry IV Parts I & II and His Dark Materials (all for The National Theatre) and The Comedy of Errors (RSC).

Oliver Milburn plays Alistair. His theatre credits include Lulu (Almeida Theatre), The Day I Stood Still and John Gabriel Borkman (both for The National Theatre). His screen credits include the television drama series' Mistresses and Scott and Bailey.

Lucy Montgomery plays Justine. Her television credits include Bellamy's People, Tittybangbang, The IT Crowd and The Armstrong and Miller Show. Theatre credits include the West End production of Jerusalem and Lucy Montgomery Live. Radio credits include Lucy Montgomery's Variety Pack and Down the Line.

Lisa Palfrey plays Bronwyn. Her theatre credits include Ingredient X and Under the Blue Sky (both for The Royal Court Theatre), Festen (The Almeida Theatre and West End), The Iceman Cometh (The Almeida Theatre), Cardiff East and Under Milk Wood (both for The National Theatre). Screen credits include the Welsh soap opera Pobol y Cwm and the film Maybe Baby.

Canvas is Michael Wynne's first play for Chichester. His last play Priory (Royal Court Theatre) won the 2010 Olivier Award for Best Comedy. Other work includes The People are Friendly and The Knocky, (both also for The Royal Court Theatre), Sell Out and Dirty Wonderland (Frantic Assembly). Screen credits include the BAFTA and Evening Standard Award winning film My Summer of Love and the television drama Lapland.

Angus Jackson is Associate Director at Chichester where his credits include The Browning Version (which transfers to the West End from 19 April), Bingo, Wallenstein, Funny Girl, The Waltz of The Toreadors, The Father and Carousel. Other theatre credits include Elmina's Kitchen, Fix Up, Rocket to the Moon and The Power of Yes for The National Theatre.

Design is by Jonathan Fensom whose theatre credits include Journey's End (West End, Broadway and UK tour), The Globe Mysteries, Hamlet, Henry IV Parts I & II, King Lear and Love's Labour's Lost (all for Shakespeare's Globe), Six Degrees of Separation and National Anthems (both for The Old Vic), Citizenship and Chatroom (both for The National Theatre), Smaller (UK tour and West End) and The Sugar Syndrome (The Royal Court Theatre). He was Associate Designer for Disney's The Lion King, which premiered on Broadway and has subsequently opened worldwide.

Lighting design is by Mark Howland whose credits include Electra (Young Vic), Yerma, Wittenberg and Vanya (Gate Theatre), The Kreutzer Sonata (Gate Theatre and New York) and The Taming of the Shrew (Watermill Theatre and The Old Vic).

The composer is Grant Olding whose previous Chichester credit is Wallenstein. Other theatre credits include Travelling Light, England People Very Nice, The Man of Mode, The Alchemist and Southwark Fair (all for The National Theatre), Broken Glass (Tricycle Theatre and West End), the West End production of Breakfast at Tiffany's and One Man, Two Guvnors (National Theatre, West End and Broadway).

Sound design is by Gareth Fry whose Chichester credits include The Father, The Scarlet Letter and The Accrington Pals. Other recent theatre credits include the Helpmann and Olivier Award winning production Black Watch and The Missing (both for National Theatre Scotland), The Master and Margarita (Complicité), Truth and Reconciliation, Wastwater and Chicken Soup with Barley (all for The Royal Court Theatre), A Woman Killed with Kindness and Beauty and the Beast (both for The National Theatre).

Canvas is sponsored by Pridewatch Events and Graylingwell Park.

Canvas runs from 18 May – 16 June at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester, evenings 7.45pm, matinees 2.30pm. Tickets £23.50 Previews/Press Night, £29.50 Evenings/Matinees. To book online, visit cft.org.uk or contact the Box Office on 01243 781312.

Playwright Michael Wynne introduces Canvas, in conversation with director Angus Jackson in a free pre-show talk. This event is on Tuesday 22 May, 6.00pm, Steven Pimlott Building. Please reserve tickets through the Box Office on 01243 781312.

After Words – a post-show talk with some of the Canvas cast and creative team – is on Thursday 14 June.

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