Michael Frayn's NOISES OFF Launches UK Tour, Directed by Lindsay Posner, Tonight

Chris Larkin joins David Bark-Jones, Maureen Beattie, Simon Bubb, Danielle Flett, Geoffrey Freshwater, Neil Pearson, Thomasin Rand and Sasha Waddell in the UK tour of Michael Frayn's multi- award-winning backstage comedy Noises Off, directed by Lindsay Posner. Following its acclaimed run at The Old Vic and then at the Novello Theatre in the West End, Noises Off will tour theatres across the UK and Ireland from tonight, 27 March 2013. New dates have also been confirmed, which include Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre, Cardiff's Wales Millennium Centre, Glasgow King's Theatre and the Wycombe Swan.

Noises Off is the highest grossing show in the history of The Old Vic Theatre Company, breaking weekly box office records during its run at The Old Vic. The show became the first Old Vic Theatre Company production to transfer into the West End, with performances at the Novello Theatre, and will now also be the first to embark on a major UK tour.

Winner of both Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Comedy, Noises Off serves up a riotous double bill - a play within a play. Hurtling along at breakneck speed it follows the backstage antics of a touring theatre company as they stumble their way through rehearsals to a shambolic first night and a final disastrous performance.

Michael Frayn has written sixteen plays, including Copenhagen, Afterlife, Benefactors, Donkeys' Years, and Democracy. He has also translated for the theatre, mostly Chekhov and other plays from the Russian, and adapted Chekhov's first, untitled play as Wild Honey. He has written a number of screenplays, including Clockwise, starring John Cleese. His eleven novels include The Tin Men, Towards the End of the Morning, Headlong, Spies, and most recently Skios. He has also published various collections of articles, including Collected Columns, Stage Directions, and Travels with a Typewriter; two works of philosophy, Constructions and The Human Touch; and a memoir, My Father's Fortune.

Lindsay Posner was Associate Director at The Royal Court Theatre from 1987 to 1992 where his production of Death and the Maiden won two Olivier Awards. His other theatre credits include Butley starring Dominic West (Duchess Theatre), An Ideal Husband starring Samantha Bond and Rachael Stirling (Vaudeville Theatre), Fool for Love starring Juliette Lewis (Apollo Theatre), Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge starring Ken Stott (Duke of York's Theatre, nominated for four Olivier Awards), Carousel (Savoy Theatre), Fiddler on the Roof (Sheffield and Savoy Theatres), House of Games, Tom and Viv, The Hypochondriac, Romance (Almeida), A Life in the Theatre (Apollo Theatre), the world premiere of Power by Nick Dear and Tartuffe (National), Twelfth Night, Volpone, The Taming of the Shrew and The Rivals (RSC), Abigail's Party (Menier Chocolate Factory) and recently Uncle Vanya, starring Ken Stott, Anna Friel, Samuel West and Laura Carmichael at the Vaudeville Theatre. His production of Terence Rattigan's The Winslow Boy is currently playing at The Old Vic.

David Bark-Jones plays Gary Lejeune who plays Roger Tramplemain. David has worked extensively on screen; his film credits include roles in Guy Richie's RocknRolla and The Da Vinci Code, and on television he has appeared in BBC's Pride and Prejudice, New Tricks, Young James Herriott and in Channel 4's drama The Pillars of the Earth. On stage David played Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre), for which he received the 2010 BroadwayWorld.com award for Best West End Leading Actor. Other recent theatre credits include The Village Bike (Sheffield Crucible), The Forest (National) and Dealer's Choice (National and Vaudeville Theatre).

Maureen Beattie plays Dotty Otley who plays Mrs Clackett, the Brent's housekeeper. Maureen's screen credits include Lewis, Vera, Taggart, Casualty and Channel 4's Twelfth Night. She has performed extensively with the Royal Shakespeare Company in productions that include Titus Andronicus and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (playing the White Witch) and Michael Boyd's The History Plays. Most recently she appeared in Enquirer at The National Theatre of Scotland and No Quarter at the Royal Court.

Simon Bubb plays Tim Allgood, the Stage Manager. Simon was in the original London cast of War Horse and has appeared in several other productions at The National Theatre, including St Joan, The Habit of Art and King James Bible.

Danielle Flett plays Assistant Stage Manager, Poppy Norton-Taylor. Danielle recently played Emily in the Royal Court production of Vera Vera Vera which also ran at the Theatre Local Peckham. Her other recent theatre work includes the role of Susan in Burnt Oak (Leicester Square Theatre).

Geoffrey Freshwater plays Selsdon Mowbray who plays the Burglar. Geoffrey's many television credits include Foyle's War, Law & Order and Channel 4's drama The Government Inspector. He has also recently appeared in the film Invisible Women directed by Ralph Fiennes. His extensive theatre work includes Old Money (Hampstead Theatre), Filumena (Almeida) and several productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company including As You Like It, King Lear and Antony and Cleopatra.

Chris Larkin plays Frederick Fellowes who plays Phillip Bent. Chris can currently be seen as Bernard in the new series of Yes, Prime Minister on Gold. Other screen credits include Master and Commander, Valkyrie, Tea with Mussolini, Dr. Who and Hitler: The Rise of Evil. He has also worked extensively in theatre, having appeared in His Dark Materials (National), Yes, Prime Minister (West End/UK Tour), A Midsummer Night's Dream and Much Ado About Nothing (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre) and When We Are Married (Chichester Festival Theatre/Savoy).

Neil Pearson plays the director of 'Nothing On', Lloyd Dallas. Neil is perhaps best known for his roles in the television series' Drop the Dead Donkey, Between the Lines and Monroe, as well as the films Bridget Jones' Diary and Bridget Jones' Diary: Edge of Reason. Stage credits include Arcadia (Duke of York's Theatre), Sir Peter Hall's touring productions of Uncle Vanya, Old Times and Mind Milly for Me, and Kevin Spacey's production of Cloaca at The Old Vic.

Thomasin Rand plays the part of Brooke Ashton who plays the part of Vicki. Thomasin's recent television credits include The Bletchley Circle and Midsummer Murders for ITV, and BBC's dramas Call the Midwife and Sherlock: Scandal in Belgravia. Her theatre credits include The Country Girl directed by Rufus Norris (ApolloTheatre) and Love's Labour's Lost at Shakespeare's Globe.

Sasha Waddell plays BeLinda Blair who plays Flavia Brent. On screen Sasha played the role of Lady Glorvina in the BBC drama Parades End, she has also recently appeared in Midsummer Murders, A Touch of Cloth and Holby City. Her theatre credits include Mollie Rallston in The Mousetrap (St Martin's Theatre), The Seagull and Eight Women (Southwark Playhouse) and The Village Bike at The Royal Court Upstairs.

Noises Off is produced on tour by The Old Vic Theatre Company and Old Vic Productions.

TOUR INFORMATION

Theatre Royal Bath: Wednesday 27 March - Saturday 6 April

www.theatreroyal.org.uk / 01225 448844
Cambridge Arts Theatre: Monday 8 April - Saturday 13 April

www.cambridgeartstheatre.com / 01223 503333
Eastbourne Congress Theatre: Tuesday 16 April - Saturday 20 April

www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk / 01323 412000
Theatre Royal Newcastle upon Tyne: Monday 22 April - Saturday 27 April

www.theatreroyal.co.uk / 08448 11 21 21
Theatre Royal, Nottingham: Monday 29 April - Saturday 4 May

www.trch.co.uk / 0115 989 5555
His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen: Monday 6 May - Saturday 11 May

www.boxofficeaberdeen.com / 01224 641122
Sheffield Lyceum: Monday 13 May - Saturday 18 May

www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk / 0114 249 6000
Theatre Royal Norwich: Monday 20 May - Saturday 25 May

www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk / 01603 63 00 00
King's Theatre, Glasgow: Monday 27 May - Saturday 1 June

www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre / 0844 871 7648 King's Theatre, Edinburgh: Tuesday 4 June - Saturday 8 June

www.edtheatres.com / 0131 529 6000

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff: Tuesday 11 June - Saturday 15 June
www.wmc.org.uk / 029 2063 6464

The Lowry, Salford: Monday 17 June - Saturday 22 June
www.thelowry.com / 0843 208 6000

New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham: Monday 24 June - Saturday 29 June www.alexandratheatre.org.uk / 0844 871 3011

Belfast Grand Opera House: Monday 1 July - Saturday 6 July
www.goh.co.uk / 028 9024 1919

Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin: Monday 8 July - Saturday 13 July www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie / 0818 719 377

Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe: Tuesday 16 July - Saturday 20 July
www.wycombeswan.co.uk / 01494 512000

The Grand Theatre & Opera House, Leeds: Tuesday 23 July - Saturday 27 July www.leedsgrandtheatre.com / 0844 848 2700