Photo Flash: Nick Dear's THE DARK EARTH AND THE LIGHT SKY Opens at The Almeida

Richard Eyre directs the world premiere of Nick Dear's The Dark Earth and the Light Sky at The Almeida Theatre. Running until the 12 January 2013, with press night tonight, 15 November 2012. Designs are by Bob Crowley with lighting by Peter Mumford and sound by John Leonard. The cast is Pip Carter (Edward Thomas), Pandora Colin (Eleanor), Ifan Huw Dafydd (Philip Thomas), Shaun Dooley (Robert Frost), Hattie Morahan (Helen Thomas) and Dan Poole(Bott/Major Lushington). Get a first look at the cast onstage in the photos below!

Deep in the Hampshire countryside Edward Thomas scrapes a living; disaffected husband, exhausted father and tormented writer. Then in 1913 he meets American poet Robert Frost and everything changes. As their friendship blossoms Edward writes, emerging from his cocoon of self-doubt into one of the most influential poets of the twentieth century. On the verge of success he makes the drastic decision to enlist, confounding his friends and family. The Dark Earth and the Light Sky delves into the life of this enigmatic and complex character in an era of change and destruction.

Pip Carter (Edward Thomas) was most recently seen in Posh at the Duke of York's Theatre. His other theatre credits include The Cherry Orchard, The White Guard, Gethsemane and Never So Good all for The National Theatre, Tiger Country for Hampstead Theatre and Joseph K for the Gate Theatre. His television credits include Henry IV Parts I & II, Neverland, Christopher and His Kind as well as the series John Adams and Party Animals. His film credits include That Syncing Feeling, The Eagle of the Ninth, Robin Hood and The Devil's Wedding.

Pandora Colin (Eleanor) returns to the Almeida where she was recently seen in The House of Bernarda Alba. Previously her theatre credits include After The Dance, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour and Women of Troy for The National Theatre. Her television credits include Black Books, Coupling and Hotel Babylon. Her film credits include Run, Fat Boy Run, A Bunch of Amateurs and Max.

Ifan Huw Dafydd 's (Philip Thomas) recent credits include As You Like It, Blackthorn, Desire Lines and Festen all for Theatre Clwyd. His extensive television credits include Gavin and Stacey, Sherlock and Martha Jac A Sianco, for which he won the Welsh BAFTA for Best Actor. His film credits include Seasons of Mist, Abraham's Point and I Know What You Know.

Shaun Dooley (Robert Frost) is best known for his work in television where his recent credits include Benidorm, Great Expectations, The Borrowers, Hustle, Inspector George Gently, and Misfits for E4. His theatre credits include The White Devil for the Lyric Hammersmith, Making Noise Quietly for Oxford Stage Company and Brassed Off for Sheffield Theatres and The National Theatre. His film credits include The Woman in Black, The Awakening and Eden Lake.

Hattie Morahan (Helen) was most recently seen in A Doll's House at the Young Vic. Her other theatre credits include Plenty at the Sheffield Crucible, The Real Thing at the Old Vic, Time and the Conways at the National and The Family Reunion at the Donmar. On television her credits include Eternal Law, Lewis, Lark Rise to Candleford and four seasons of the BBC's Outnumbered. Morahan will appear in the forthcoming films Summer in February and Having You as well as The Golden Compass.

Dan Poole (Bott/Major Lushington)'s theatre credits include Jerusalem at the Royal Court, The Man Outside for Theatre Royal Haymarket and Permission to Play at The Globe Theatre. His television credits include Flat White, Katy Brand's Big Ass Show and The Commuter. His film credits include One Day Some Years Ago, Batman Begins, A Kind of Hush and Kung Fu Flid.

Playwright Nick Dear's adaptation of Frankenstein premiered at The National Theatre last year, directed by Danny Boyle. Previously the National has presented his adaptations of Gorky's Summerfolk and Moliere's Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme as well as his play Power. For the Royal Shakespeare Company Dear's credits include The Art of Success, Zenobia and Pure Science. His Opera libretti include The Palace in the Sky for Hackney Empire and Siren Song for the Almeida. Dear's screenplays include Jane Austen's Persuasion, for which he received a BAFTA, The Gambler and Byron.

Richard Eyre was Director of The National Theatre from 1988 - 1997. His more recent work as a Director for the stage includes the award-winning production of Arthur Miller's The Crucible on Broadway, the world premières of Nicholas Wright's Vincent in Brixton and The Reporter both for The National Theatre, Noel Coward's Private Lives on Broadway and the musical Mary Poppins. Previously for the Almeida Eyre directed David Hare's The Judas Kiss - his first production after leaving The National Theatre - The Novice and Hedda Gabler. For television his credits include Changing Stages - a BBC Series on the history of theatre in the 20th century which he co-wrote with Nicholas Wright and presented, and the BAFTA award-winning Tumbledown. Eyre recently directed the critically-acclaimed Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 for the BBC's 2012 Shakespeare Season. His film credits include Iris, Stage Beauty, Notes on a Scandal and The Other Man.

Almeida Theatre is located at Almeida Street, Islington, London, N1 1TA. Box Office phone 020 7359 4404 (10am – 7.30pm), online at www.almeida.co.uk or in person 10.00am – 7.30pm, Monday - Saturday. For performance schedule, pricing and more information, go to the website (above).

Photo Credit: Nobby Clark

Hattie Morahan (Helen Thomas)

Pandora Colin (Eleanor), Hattie Morahan (Helen), Shaun Dooley (Robert) and Pip Carter (Edward)

Pip Carter (Edward Thomas) and Hattie Morahan (Helen Thomas)

Pip Carter (Edward Thomas) and Ifan Huw Dafydd (Philip Thomas)

Pip Carter (Edward Thomas) and Shaun Dooley (Robert Frost)

Pip Carter (Edward Thomas) and Shaun Dooley (Robert Frost)