Northern Broadsides and York Theatre Royal Revive J.B. Priestley's WHEN WE ARE MARRIED

Northern Broadsides and York Theatre Royal will be joining forces in September to stage J.B.Priestley's much loved and rarely toured classic comedy WHEN WE ARE MARRIED. Directed by and featuring Northern Broadsides artistic director Barrie Rutter, the production will open at York Theatre Royal from the 9-24 September and then go on a national tour until 10 December 2016.

Cleckleywyke, a town in the West Riding, 1908.The Helliwells, the Parkers and the Soppitts are highly respected pillars of their community ... but not for much longer. Married on the same day in the same chapel, they gather to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. The celebrations are short lived when they discover the vicar wasn't licensed and they are actually not married. In fact, they have been living in sin for 25 years.

First performed in 1938, J.B.Priestley's heartily entertaining northern comedy plays right into the hands of the acclaimed Northern Broadsides - a company celebrated by audiences for its charisma, vitality and relish of language.

Northern Broadsides and York Theatre Royal previously worked together on Blake Morrison's acclaimed The Man with Two Gaffers in York in 2006.

Barrie Rutter's directing credits include Northern Broadsides recent production of The Merry Wives, the award winning An August Bank Holiday Lark, We Are Three Sisters andOthello featuring Lenny Henry in the lead role. Last year he was awarded an OBE for services to drama.

Barrie Rutter said about the forthcoming production: "When We Are Married is the quintessential Yorkshire comedy with an absurd plot overflowing with authentic attitudes of the day; fun for the cast as well as the audience. Having wanted to stage this classic comedy for many years and also have the opportunity to once again co-produce with York Theatre Royal, especially in its beautifully refurbished building, makes for a goodly double."

The production will be designed by Jessica Worrall (She Stoops to Conquer, Northern Broadsides) with lighting by Tim Skelly (We are Three Sisters, Northern Broadsides). Casting will be announced in the coming weeks.

After opening in York, When We Are Married will tour to Hull, Bury St Edmunds, Kingston, Leeds, Scarborough, Cheltenham, Newcastle under Lyme, Liverpool and Halifax.

The national press night will be on Wednesday 14 September at 7.30pm and Thursday 15 September at 2pm at York Theatre Royal.

Tickets for performances at York Theatre Royal are currently on sale with other venues on sale in the coming weeks.

York Theatre Royal Box Office 01904 623568 or www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

Tickets: £29-10

NATIONAL TOUR DATES

27 Sep-1 Oct at 7.30pm (Mat: 1st Sep at 2pm) - Hull Truck Theatre

4-8 Oct at 7.30pm (Mat: 5th at 2pm & 8th Oct at 3pm) Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds

11-15 Oct at 7.30pm (Mat: 13th & 15th Oct at 2.30pm) - Rose Theatre, Kingston

18-22 Oct at 7.30pm (Mat: 20th at 1.30pm & 22nd Oct at 2pm) - West Yorkshire Playhouse

25-29 Oct at 7.30pm (Mat: 27th at 1.30pm & 29th Oct at 2.30pm) - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough

1-5 Nov at 7.45pm (Mat: 3rd & 5th Nov at 2pm) - Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham

8-12 Nov at 7.30pm (Mat: 10 & 12 Nov at 2.15pm) New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme

22-26 Nov at 7.30pm & 23 Nov at 5.30pm (Mat: 17th at 1.30pm & 19 Nov at 2pm)Liverpool Playhouse

29 Nov-10 Dec at 7.30pm (3rd & 10h at 2.30pm and 4th Dec at 4pm) Viaduct Theatre, Halifax

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