Niamh Cusack and Patrick Baladi to Star in CHRISTMAS EVE at Ustinov Studio

Theatre Royal Bath announces full casting for Christmas Eve, which today begins rehearsals. Niamh Cusack will play philosophy professor Judith and Patrick Baladi will play police officer Thomas. The new thriller is the latest play from multi-award-winning writer Daniel Kehlmann and will be directed by Laurence Boswell, in a translation by Christopher Hampton.

The production will run at the Ustinov Studio from Thursday 19 October to Saturday 18 November, with opening night for press on Wednesday 25 October.

On Christmas Eve 2017, a philosophy professor is on her way to celebrate Christmas when she is bundled into police headquarters and an interrogation room. Opposite her the senior officer is cynical, smart and relentless. Played out in real time, two powerful antagonists are pitted head to head against each other. Both think they are saving their country but only one of them will win.

Niamh Cusack (Judith) has recently been seen on screen in feature films including The Ghoul and Testament of Youth. Television credits include Rebellion (RTE / Netflix), The Best of Men (BBC) and The Hollow Crown (BBC). Her extensive theatre work includes The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (National Theatre and West End), Playboy of the Western World, Cause Celebre and Dancing at Lughnasa (The Old Vic), The Enchantment, His Dark Materials (National Theatre) and Breathing Corpses (Royal Court).

Patrick Baladi (Thomas) is known for his television roles which include Neil Godwin in The Office, Stephen Holmes in Marcella, Michael Jackson in Stella and Jimmy Lakewell in Line of Duty. Theatre credits include Loyalty (Hampstead Theatre), Albert Speer, Battle Royal (National Theatre) and Camino Real (RSC).

Daniel Kehlmann is a German-language author whose novel Measuring the World, sold three million copies in Germany alone and has been translated into more than 40 languages.

Christopher Hampton previously translated Florian Zeller's play The Father for the Ustinov Studio, launching its international success. He won an Academy Award for the adaptation of his own play, Dangerous Liaisons.

Laurence Boswell is an Olivier Award winner, Artistic Director of the Ustinov Studio and an Associate Artist of the RSC. His recent productions include The Mentor, A Midsummer Night's Dream in the Theatre Royal's Main House, and Trouble in Mind, The Mother, Intimate Apparel and The Spanish Golden Age Season in the Ustinov Studio.

Christmas Eve is the first play in the Ustinov Studio's season of International UK Premieres. It will be followed by Will Eno's The Open House, directed by Michael Boyd, which will run from Thursday 23 November to Saturday 23 December.

IF YOU GO:

Christmas Eve
By Daniel Kehlmann
In a translation by Christopher Hampton
Directed by Laurence Boswell
Dates: Thursday 19 October - Saturday 18 November
Press Night: Wednesday 25 October, 7pm*
Performance schedule: Mon - Sat 7.45pm, Matinees Thu & Sat 2.30pm
At Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath, Sawclose, Bath, BA1 1ET
Tickets: £22.50 / £17.50 discounts (Preview Perfs and Mondays, all seats £15)
Box Office: 01225 448844
Info: www.theatreroyal.org.uk
Facebook: TheatreRoyalBath | Twitter: @TheatreRBath

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