Niamh Bracken, Denis Conway, and More Will Lead The World Premiere Of CHASING BONO At Soho Theatre

Final casting is announced for the world premiere of CHASING BONO, a new play by Ian La Frenais and Dick Clement based on I Was Bono's Doppelganger by Neil McCormick, a wise and witty memoir which recounted his friendship and rivalry with his school friend and Superstar Bono.

CHASING BONO, a rock n' roll fable about the pursuit of fame and coming to terms with failed ambition, runs at Soho Theatre from Thursday 6 December 2018 - Saturday 19 January 2019.

Press nights: Tuesday 11, Wednesday 12 & Thursday 13 December (also gala night)
Reviews are under embargo to midnight, Thursday 13 December

1970s Dublin. Friends Neil McCormick and Paul Hewson share the same ambition: to form bands and become global superstars. Paul changed his name to 'Bono' and his band became U2. Neil's band never got off the ground.

1987. Dublin gangster Danny Machin wants a fair and balanced account written of his life whilst now-writer Neil is wondering where his went so wrong. Danny sees an opportunity and kidnaps him. Neil becomes Danny's biographer. Danny becomes Neil's shrink, probing the reasons for his succession of disastrous decisions.

Cast : Niamh Bracken (Gwen in Sunny Afternoon, West End), Denis Conway (last seen in the West End in The Lieutenant of Inishmore opposite Aidan Turner), Ciarán Dowd (Irish comedian, actor and writer and winner of the 2018 Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer), Farzana Dua Elahe (best known as Parveen Abbasi in EastEnders), Donal Finn (winner of the Sir Alec Guinness Award 2018, making his professional debut), Niall McNamee (First Light, Chichester Festival Theatre), Shane O'Regan (Private Peaceful - Irish Times theatre awards nomination Best Actor, 2017).

Directed by BAFTA nominated, award-winning British theatre and television director, and Soho Theatre Artistic Associate Director Gordon Anderson (The Catherine Tate Show, The Inbetweeners, Shameless, Fresh Meat, Lovesick). Designer Max Dorey, Lighting Designer Christopher Nairne, Casting Director Orla O'Connor. Produced by Sally Humphreys Productions and Covent Garden Productions.