Richard Bean's Snooker Play THE NAP, with Jack O'Connell, Extends at the Crucible

As announced today by Artistic Director Daniel Evans, the world première of Richard Bean's THE NAP - directed by Sheffield's Associate Director Richard Wilson - will extend its run by one week to the 2 April due to popular demand.

'...put your hands together for Sheffield's very own, born down the Eccy Road, in S11, he's in heaven, he's in the second round, he's in his own town, not wearing a dressing gown, he's the son of his folks, it's Dylan Spokes!'

Dylan isn't your typical snooker player. He's a vegetarian, for starters. This is the biggest week of his life and everybody wants a piece of him - his ex-con Dad, local gangster Waxy Chuff and the snooker corruption squad. A world première from Richard Bean, the award-winning writer of One Man, Two Guvnors, THE NAP is a laugh out loud comedy thriller about love, honour and not getting snookered.

In 2011 Richard Bean became the first writer to win the Evening Standard Award for Best Play for two plays, The Heretic and One Man, Two Guvnors. He also received the 2011 Critics' Circle Award for Best Play and 2012 WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Comedy, both for One Man, Two Guvnors. The New York production of One Man, Two Guvnors was awarded the 2012 Outer Critics' Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Play. His recent credits include Great Britain (National Theatre), Made in Dagenham: The Musical (Adelphi Theatre) and Pitcairn (Chichester Minerva Theatre / Shakespeare's Globe). Bean's other work includes Under the Whaleback (George Devine Award), The Heretic, Honeymoon Suite (Pearson Play of the Year), Harvest (Critic's Circle Best New Play), The House of Games, a new version of The Hypochondriac, The Big Fellah, England People Very Nice, The Mentalists, The English Game, Up on Roof,Pub Quiz is Life, In the Club, The God Botherers and Mr England.

Mark Addy plays Bobby. His theatre work includes Collaborators, Fram and Wild Oats (National Theatre),Donkey's Years (Comedy Theatre), Mail Order Bride (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Passion Killers, April in Paris, The Office Party, Up and Under (Hull Truck Theatre Company), One Over the Eight (Stephen Joseph Theatre), Julius Caesar, Fantastiks, Much Ado About Nothing (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre). For television, his work includes Game of Thrones, The Thin Blue Line and Atlantis; and for film, Robin Hood,Around the World in 80 Days, A Knight's Tale, The Flintstones, The Full Monty and The Last Yellow.

Chris Brailsford returns to the Crucible to play Seth - he previously appeared in An Enemy of the Peopleand Brothers Together. His theatre credits include Vulcan's View (Vulcan Productions), Wizard of Oz (Wales Millennium Centre). For television, his work includes Major Potter, The Syndicate, Walter, Moving On,Inspector George Gently, Prisoner's Wives and Place of Execution; and for film, Feesia, Jack the Giant Killerand Red Riding.

Esther Coles plays Stella. Her theatre work includes Matchbox Theatre (Hampstead Theatre) and TheKitchen Sink (Hull Truck Theatre Company). Her television credits include Code of a Killer, House of Fools, Great Night Out, The Syndicate, Whose Baby and Shameless.

Dermot Crowley plays Danny. His theatre credits include The Cripple of Inishmaan (US & Irish Tour), House of Games (Almeida Theatre), Breakfast at Tiffany's (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Two Men of Florence(Huntington Theatre Boston), A Christmas Carol (Princeton Theatre), Translations (Broadway), Stuff Happens, Scenes from the Big Picture (National Theatre), Calico (West End), The Weir (West End/Dublin/Broadway), and Dealer's Choice (Manhattan Theatre Club). For television, his work includesLuther, Hunted, Murder in Suburbia and Father Ted; and for film, Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie, The Best Offer, Babel, Son of the Pink Panther, Little Dorrit, Octopussy, Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi.

Louise Gold plays Waxy. Her theatre credits include Gypsy (Savoy Theatre & Chichester Festival Theatre),The Importance of Being Earnest (Theatre Royal Windsor), Pippin (Menier Chocolate Factory), Oliver!(Cameron Mackintosh), Next Door's Baby (Orange Tree Theatre), The Good Person of Szechwan (Young Vic productions), Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Palladium Theatre), The Water Babies (Chichester), Noises Off (Piccadilly Theatre). Her television credits include Furchester Hotel, That Puppet Gameshow, Scoop, The Alan Clark Diaries, 'Allo 'Allo, and Spitting Image; and for film,Muppets Most Wanted and Muppet Treasure Island.

Youssef Kerkour returns to the Crucible in the role of Mohammad - he previously appeared in Plenty. His other theatre credits include Harvey (Birmingham Rep/UK Tour/Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Henry IV parts 1 and 2, Richard II, Life of Galileo, Boris Godunov, The Orphan of Zhao, Written on the Heart, Measure for Measure, The Heresy of Love (all RSC), As You Like It (Manchester Royal Exchange), The Big Fellah (Ireland & UK tour), Plenty (Crucible), Mother Courage (Royal National Theatre). For television his work includes Identity, The Path to 9/11; and for film, Hummingbird, Side by Side, 360, The Discipline and American Tale.

Ralf Little plays Tony. His theatre credits include On the Ceiling (Garrick), Sixty-Six Books (Bush Theatre),Notes on Falling Leaves and Presence (Royal Court) and Love on the Dole (National Theatre). For television, his work includes Lewis, The Interceptor, Our Zoo, The Cafe, Death in Paradise, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and The Royle Family; and for film, Nativity 3: Dude, Where's my Donkey?!; Underdogs, Get Lucky and Powder.

Jack O'Connell plays Dylan. His theatre work includes Scarborough (Royal Court) and The Spiderman, The Musicians and Just (NT Shell Connections). For television, his work includes Skins, United, The Runaway, Dive and Wuthering Heights; and for film, Tulip Fever, Unbroken (BAFTA EE Rising Star Award, Chopard Trophy Award winner at the Cannes Film Festival), '71 (Most Promising Performer Chicago Film Critics),Starred Up (Best Actor Dublin International Film Festival), 300: Rise of an Empire, Liability, Private Peaceful, Tower Block, Weekender, Wayfaring Stranger, Eden Lake, Black Dog and This is England.

Rochenda Sandall plays Eleanor. Her stage work includes Pomona (National Theatre/Manchester Royal Exchange), Little Malcolm and his Struggle Against the Eunuchs (Southwark Playhouse), Coriolanus(Donmar Warehouse), Scenes from an Execution (National Theatre) and Thursday (English Touring Theatre/Adelaide Festival).

The cast will be joined by professional snooker player John Astley, who earned the Rookie of the Year award after some impressive performances during his debut season on the main tour in 2013/14.

Associate Director of Sheffield Theatres Richard Wilson directs. For the company, his work includes Blasted(as part of the Sarah Kane Season), Love Your Soldiers, Straight, Lungs (as part of Roundabout - co-production with Paines Plough), That Face and The Pride. He recently made his Sheffield Theatres acting debut with Krapp's Last Tape. A multi award-winning actor, his many other directing credits include extensive work for the Royal Court, including Rainbow Kiss, The Woman Before, Under the Whaleback, A Day in the Dull Armour/Grafitti, Where Do We Live, Nightingale and Chase, I Just Stopped By to See the Man and Mr Kolpert. His other credits include East Coast Chicken Supper (Traverse Theatre), Primo(National Theatre/South Africa/Hampstead and Broadway), Playing the Victim (Sheffield Theatres/Traverse/Royal Court/tour), as well as work for the West End, Chichester, Manchester Royal Exchange, Lyric Hammersmith and the Bush.

For tickets and more information, visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.

To post a comment, you must register and login.