Rupert Young Leads Cast of George Bernard Shaw's THE PHILANDERER at Orange Tree Theatre

Casting has been announced for George Bernard Shaw's THE PHILANDERER at the Orange Tree Theatre. Rupert Young (High Society at the Old Vic, Sir Leon in BBC's Merlin) plays Leonard Charteris, the philanderer of the title. He's joined by Helen Bradbury, Joe Idris-Roberts, Michael Lumsden, Dorothea Myer-Bennett, Christopher Staines, Mark Tandy and Paksie Vernon.

Paul Miller's revival of Shaw's early comedy, which hasn't been seen in London for a generation, follows his successful production of Shaw's Widowers' Houses. The Philanderer is Shaw at his wittiest, with marital arrangements, divorce laws and medical ethics all featuring in this brilliantly funny story of four young people's clumsy attempts at making their lives make sense.

A man in love with two women. But what do the women really want from him? A disgraced doctor falls in love with one of them - and then with the other. In the ensuing power struggle, the new feminism is up against the old machismo. In the end, will it be the law that has the last word on their chance of happiness?

The play runs May 12-June 25, with press night on May 16. Design is by Simon Daw, lighting designer Mark Doubleday, sound designer and composer Isobel Waller-Bridge, and costume supervisor Clio Alphas. For more information and to book tickets, call 020 8940 3633 or visit www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk

Paul Miller is Artistic Director of the Orange Tree, where he has directed Terence Rattigan's French Without Tears, Doris Lessing's Each His Own Wilderness, Bernard Shaw's Widowers' Houses and The Widowing of Mrs Holroyd by DH Lawrence. Between 2009 and 2014 he was an Associate Director at Sheffield Theatres, where his productions included Wonderful Tennessee by Brian Friel, The Winter's Tale, The Daughter-in-Law by DH Lawrence, Democracy by Michael Frayn (which transferred to the Old Vic), Hamlet with John Simm and True West by Sam Shepard.

For the National Theatre he has directed The History Boys (revival for the West End and UK tour), Baby Girl by Roy Williams, DNA by Dennis Kelly, The Miracle by Lin Coghlan, The Enchantment by Victoria Benedictsson, Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads by Roy Williams in the Cottesloe, and The Associate by Simon Bent in The Loft. Other work includes the Olivier Award-nominated Elling with John Simm, adapted by Simon Bent at the Bush and Trafalgar Studios.

Rupert Young (Leonard Charteris)'s theatre includes CK Dexter Haven in High Society (Old Vic), Tonight at 8.30 (Nuffield Theatre and tour), Bobby in Company (Southwark Playhouse), and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare's Globe). TV includes Sir Leon in five series of Merlin and The White Queen (BBC). Film includes Dirty Filthy Love.

Helen Bradbury's (Grace Tranfield) work in theatre includes The Cocktail Party (The Print Room); Versailles (Donmar Warehouse); My Generation (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Our Country's Good and Top Girls (Out of Joint); The Last Duchess (Hampstead). TV includes Bloody Queens, The Dresser, The Outcast, The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, Lucan, Sherlock, The Paradise and The Borgias.

Michael Lumsden (Colonel Craven)'s theatre includes Middlemarch, Mary Broome, The Years Between and Mary Goes First (Orange Tree); Killjoy and Last Confessions of a Scallywag (Mill at Sonning); Entertaining Angels (Chichester/UK tour). Radio includes playing The Archers regular Alistair Lloyd.

Dorothea Myer-Bennett (Julia Craven)'s theatre includes The Merchant of Venice and Pericles (Shakespeare's Globe); Richard III and Uncle Vanya (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Arcadia, As You Like It, King Lear, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Cherry Orchard, The Comedy of Errors and The Misanthrope (Tobacco Factory, Bristol). Film includes The Honourable Rebel, The Orchard and The Payback.

Christopher Staines (Dr Paramore)'s theatre includes The Great Gatsby (Arts Theatre); Playing for Time (Sheffield Crucible); Our Town (Almeida); Duck, Death and the Tulip (Orange Tree); and Doctor Faustus (Rose Theatre, Bankside).

Mark Tandy (Cuthbertson)' theatre includes Eldorado (Arcola); Lot and His God (The Print Room); Racing Demon (Sheffield Crucible); Mrs Warren's Profession (Theatre Royal Bath/West End); The Years Between (Orange Tree); The Voysey Inheritance and Luther (National Theatre); and Richard II (The Old Vic). TV includes The Crown, Silent Witness, The Hollow Crown: Henry IV, Silkm Garrow's Law, Shackleton and Longitude.

Paksie Vernon (Sylvia Craven) Theatre includes Threads (Stellar Quines); Three Sisters (Collisions Festival); Little Sure Shot, James and the Giant Peach and The Jungle Book (West Yorkshire Playhouse); The Changeling (Oran Mor). TV includes Eve and Shetland.

Joe Idris-Roberts (Page/Spedding) recently graduated from RADA.

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