Rogers, Wright, Canavan, Kearns Join THE 39 STEPS

I say, chaps!?There's a new cast taking over at the Criterion Theatre in the multi award-winning "The 39 Steps", the West End's longest-running comedy.

Laura Rogers, who will play the roles of Annabella Schmidt, Pamela and Margaret, is the cat's miaow, and Rufus Wright - the new Hannay - is a top chap!

Spiffing Dermot Canavan and Sean Kearns are Man 1 & 2, taking on every other character. The cast changes on Monday January 31.

Between them, the 4 actors play more than 139 roles in 100 minutes of fast-paced fun and thrilling action.

An hilarious whodunnit, adapted by Patrick Barlow and directed by Maria Aitken, "The 39 Steps" continues to set new records. In 2010 Patrick Barlow was named the most produced playwright in the USA?with 26 productions of the show.

Blissfully funny, "The 39 Steps" follows the incredible adventures of dashingly handsome hero Richard Hannay - complete with stiff-upper-lip, British gung-ho and pencil moustache - as he goes on the run from police accused of a dastardly murder, dodges double-crossing secret agents, and, of course, becomes entangled with several devastatingly beautiful women.

The multi award-winning production contains every single legendary scene from the classic 1935 Hitchcock movie thriller - including the chase on The Flying Scotsman train, the escape on the Forth Bridge, the first theatrical bi-plane crash ever staged and the sensational death-defying finale in the London Palladium, as well as the memorable and controversial 'stockings and suspenders' scene. Now in its fifth year, the show opened on 14 September 2006. It played three years in New York and has had productions staged in more than 28 countries.

Laura Rogers is best known as series regular Sheena Williams in the TV drama "Bad?Girls"?and also starred in the spin-off West?End production "Bad Girls The Musical" at the Garrick Theatre. She played Katherine Jenkins' sister in the recent "Dr Who"?Christmas Special and was Lady Macbeth at The Globe Theatre in 2010.

Rufus Wright's previous West End roles include "Frost/Nixon", "Mary Stuart" and "Journey's?End". On TV he was recently seen in "The?Thick of It" and "Miranda".

Dermot Canavan was last in the West End in "Hairspray", where he covered both the roles of Edna and Wilbur Turnblad for the entire two-year run at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

Sean Kearns joins the cast straight from playing Widow Twanky at Liverpool Empire. He played several seasons with the Royal Shakespare Company and was in "Henry IV?Parts 1 and 2" and "Bedlam" at The Globe Theatre in 2010.

"The 39 Steps" has designs by Peter McKintosh, lighting design is by Ian Scott, sound design by Mic Pool, and movement by Toby Sedgwick."The 39 Steps" is presented by Edward Snape for Fiery Angel Ltd and Tricycle London Productions Ltd in association with the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

LISTINGS?INFO
The 39 Steps
Criterion Theatre
Piccadilly Circus
London
SW1

Performance

Schedule:
Evenings:
Monday - Saturday
at 8.00pm

Matinees:
Wednesday at 3.00pm
Saturday at 4.00pm

Box Office:
0844 8471778
www.love39steps.com

Tickets:
Tickets: £12.50 - £55.00
plus concessions

Groups:
Best available seats £19.50
valid Mon- Fri evenings
and Tues & Sat matinees