BEAUTIFUL THING Enters Final Two Weeks at Arts Theatre; Heads Out on Tour May 25

The brand new 20th anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey's classic play, Beautiful Thing, which opened to rave reviews and huge critical and public acclaim, will finish at the Arts Theatre on 25 May before a short UK tour visiting Liverpool, Leeds and Brighton. Directed by Nikolai Foster, and designed by Colin Richmond, the production stars SurAnne Jones as 'Sandra', Zaraah Abrahams as 'Leah', Oliver Farnworth as 'Tony and introducing Jake Davies as 'Jamie' and Danny-Boy Hatchard, making his professional debut as 'Ste'.

The producers invite audiences to come and 'Bring Your Loved One' - individuals can bring their own 'Sandra', 'Jamie', 'Ste', 'Leah' or 'Tony' to the 3pm performances on 9, 16 or 23 May - and they will receive one free ticket. Patrons should quote LOVED1 at the Arts Theatre box office or enter the code online when booking.

Beautiful Thing is a glorious urban love story between two young men set on an inner city housing estate. It tells the story of teenager Jamie's relationship with classmate and neighbour Ste. Together the two boys find comedy, warmth and the music of Mama Cass through their loud-mouthed next door neighbour Leah. The play exquisitely depicts what it is to be sixteen, in the first flush of love, and full of optimism.

Jonathan Harvey wrote Beautiful Thing when he was just 24. It premiered at the Bush Theatre in 1993 and sold out its five-week run before transferring to the Donmar Warehouse, and then the Duke of York's, eventually winning its author an Olivier Award nomination and the John Whiting Award. A screen adaptation of the play was released in 1996 by Channel 4 films, which went on to be a cult hit. Jonathan is a regular writer for Coronation Street and wrote the TV hit series Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, as well as the best-selling 2012 novel All She Wants. His plays include Canary and Corrie!

Over its 20 year history play has featured in the careers of many famous actors including Jonny Lee Miller, Hugh Bonneville, Philip Glennister, Andrew Garfield, and Rhys Ifans, and has been produced over 25 times worldwide, with international dates in China, France, Canada, Australia and Holland.

The production is produced by Tom O'Connell for QNQ Ltd, who recently co-produced Blake Harrison's West End debut in Step 9 of 12 (Trafalgar Studios). Casting is by Kay Magson CDG, lighting design by David Plater and sound design by George Dennis.

The Arts Theatre is located at 6-7 Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7JB. Nearest tube Leicester Square. For more about the show, visit www.BeautThing.com. For tickets, call the Box Office: 0207 836 8463. Performance schedule: Monday - Saturday at 8.00pm; Matinees Thursday and Saturday at 3.00pm; Press night - 17 April. Tickets from £20.00 - £35.00 top price (£45.00 premium).

UK tour - 2013 dates

28 May - 1 June Liverpool Playhouse

Box office: 0151 709 4776 http://www.everymanplayhouse.com/

3 June - 8 June West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

Box office: 0113 213 7700 http://www.wyp.org.uk/

10 June - 15 June Brighton Theatre Royal

Box office: 0844 871 7627 www.atgtickets/brighton

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