Photo Flash: 'The Sea' Debuts at Haymarket

Eileen Atkins and David Haig lead the cast in Edward Bond's black and riotous comedy, The Sea, the second production in Jonathan Kent's Haymarket Season.  The Sea began January 17 and runs through April 19.  Designs are by Paul Brown, with lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Paul Groothuis - Kent's long term and regular collaborators who join him for the season.

"A wild storm shakes a small East Anglian seaside village and sets off a series of events that changes the lives of all its residents.  Set in the high Edwardian world of 1907, The Sea is a fascinating blend of wild farce, high comedy, biting social satire and bleak poetic tragedy," explain press notes.

The full cast is Sarah Annis (Rachel), Eileen Atkins (Mrs Rafi), John Branwell (Carter), David Burke (Evens),  William Chubb (Vicar), Mariah Gale (Rose), Selina Griffiths (Mafanwy Price), David Haig (Hatch), Harry Lloyd (Willy Carson), Emma Noakes (Jilly), Russell Tovey (Hollarcut), Philippa Urquhart (Davis), Jem Wall (Thompson) and Marcia Warren (Jessica Tilehouse).

Edward Bond's The Sea received its world premiere at the Royal Court Theatre in 1973 directed by William Gaskill, starring Corale Brown and Ian Holm.  His other plays include the award-winning Saved, Early Morning, Bingo, The Fool and The Pope's Wedding.  Bond's screenplays include Tony Richardson's Laughter in the Dark and Nicolas Roeg's Walkabout.  He collaborated on the English dialogue for Michaelangelo's Blow-Up and co-authored Days of Fury, directed by Antonio Calenda.  The last major revival of a Bond play was Jonathan Kent's production of Lear, presented at Sheffield Theatres in 2005 starring Ian McDiarmid.

Theatre Royal Haymarket is located at Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4HT.  Call the box office at 0870 4000 626 or visit www.trh.co.uk. Performances are Monday – Saturday at 7.30PM; Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. The Sea (£20.00 - £47.50) plus concessions

Photos Sasha Gusov

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