Sheffield Theatres Announces Full Casts for WAITING FOR GODOT and World Premiere of THE NAP

With the critically acclaimed Show Boat currently running in the Crucible, and Partus and A Raisin in the Sun in rehearsals, Sheffield Theatres' Artistic Director Daniel Evans announces the full casts for the forthcoming productions of Waiting For Godot and the world première of Richard Bean's comedy thriller The Nap, both at the Crucible this spring.

Sheffield Theatres' Associate Director Charlotte Gwinner (The Distance, Crave, 4.48 Psychosis) opens the 2016 season with Beckett's masterpiece of modern theatre Waiting For Godot (Thu 4 - Sat 27 February). In her first production for the Crucible stage, Charlotte directs Richard Cordery, currently appearing as Sir Leicester Dedlock in BBC One's Dickensian, as Pozzo, Lorcan Cranitch, well-known to television audiences for his roles in Hornblower, Spooks, Shackleton and as DS Jimmy Beck in ITV's Cracker, plays Vladimir. Bob Goody, who returns to the Crucible having previously appeared in The Country Wife, plays Lucky and Jeff Rawle, familiar to audiences from Drop The Dead Donkey, Hollyoaks and as Amos Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,plays Estragon. The Boy will be played by young local actors Toby Allwood and William Oxley.

Samuel Beckett's most famous play is a masterpiece of modern theatre that follows two friends as they await the arrival of a mysterious character. They wait. And wait. And wait. As time passes, the men muse on their friendship, their favourite jokes and what it all means until their patience begins to wane. And then they spy something coming towards them on the horizon...

Joining the previously announced BAFTA Rising Star winner Jack O'Connell, who plays up and coming snooker player Dylan Spokes in Richard Wilson's production of The Nap and making their Sheffield Theatres debuts are Mark Addy and Ralf Little. Well known for his starring roles in the iconic film The Full Monty and the hugely successful Game of Thrones, Mark plays Dylan's wheeler dealer Dad, Bobby Spokes, with Ralf Little, star of The Royle Family and Lewis, as his cocky manager Tony DanLino. Also appearing are Chris Brailsford, who returns to Sheffield having previously appeared in An Enemy of the People, Esther Coles (The Syndicate, Shameless), Louise Gold (Gypsy, Oliver! Mary Poppins), Dermot Crowley (Luther), Youssef Kerkour, also familiar to Sheffield audiences from his role in Plenty (David Hare Season) and Rochenda Sandall (Pomona - National Theatre/Manchester Royal Exchange. They are joined by professional snooker player John Astley.

A world premiere 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, set at the World Snooker Championships.

Tickets for Waiting For Godot and The Nap are on sale now and can be purchased from Sheffield Theatres' Box Office in-person, by phone on 0114 249 6000 or online at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.

Waiting For Godot

Richard Cordery plays Pozzo. His theatre credits include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Farewell to Theatre, The Importance of Being Earnest (Rose Theatre Kingston), Where's My Seat (Bush Theatre), The Power of Yes (National Theatre), Spring Awakening (Lyric/Novello Theatre), Richard II, Richard III, Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3, Twelfth Night, Comedy of Errors, Macbeth, Hamlet, Merry Wives of Windsor, Coriolanus (RSC). His television work includes Dickensian,Whitechapel, Garrow's Law, Absolute Power, Love Hurts and Goodbye Mr Chips. For film, About Time and LES MISERABLES, and the upcoming Monochrome, Breaking the Bank and Madame Bovary.

Lorcan Cranitch plays Vladimir. His theatre work includes The Tempest (Abbey Theatre, Dublin), Damned for Despair (Gate Theatre), Ivanov (Donmar West End), A Whistle in The Dark, The Glory of Living (Royal Court), Red Roses for Me, The Mother, The Merchant of Venice, The Custom of the Country, Juno and the Paycock (all Citizens Theatre Glasgow), A Woman of No Importance, The Wicklow Wedding (both Gate Theatre Dublin), A World of our Own (Donmar Warehouse) and The Duchess of Malfi (National Theatre). His television work includes Hornblower, Spooks, Shackleton, Ballykissangel, Cracker and Rome; and for film, Rebel Heart, Dancing at Lughnasa, Night Train, The Magic Toyshop and Empire State.

Bob Goody returns to the Crucible in the role of Lucky - he previously appeared in The Country Wife. His theatre work includes Measure for Measure (Neuss Shakespeare Festival), Beatrice and Benedict (Opera Comique, Paris), The Little Match Girl(Theatre de la Ville, Paris), Chatsky (Almeida Theatre), Wind in the Willows (Old Vic), Darwin's Flood (Bush Theatre), A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist (Liverpool Playhouse), Ian Dury's Apples (Royal Court), Trial of Frankenstein (Plymouth Theatre Royal) and The Black Hole of Calcutta (National Theatre of Brent). His television credits include Cider with Rosie, Crusoe, Hotel Babylon, Bleak House and Smith and Goody; and for film, Mr Turner, Orbit Ever After (short), Back to the Gardenand The Borrowers.

Jeff Rawle plays Estragon. For theatre, his work includes High Society (Old Vic Company), Handbagged (West End/Tricycle Theatre), Cocktail Sticks, The Power of Yes, Fram, and Noises Off (National Theatre), Pornography (Traverse Theatre), King of Hearts (Out of Joint), Bottle Universe (Bush Theatre) and Way to Heaven (Royal Court). His television credits include Us and Them, An Adventure in Time and Space, Heading Out, A Beautiful Day, Hollyoaks (series regular), Doc Martin (series regular),I Saw Up, Fish and Drop the Dead Donkey (series regular); and for film, Trimming Pablo, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Black Ball, Awayday and Laughterhouse.

Associate Director of Sheffield Theatres Charlotte Gwinner directs. Her work for the company includes The Distance, Crave & 4.48 Psychosis as part of the Sarah Kane Season, and Benefactors as part of the Michael Frayn Season. She was 2013 recipient of The Quercus Award, working as Associate Director at Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, where she directed A View from the Bridge. Her other theatre work includes Our New Girl, The Knowledge, 50 Ways to Leave your Lover and Little Dolls (Bush Theatre), The Uncertainty Files (Paines Plough), Knives and Hens (Bath Theatre Royal), The Confederate (Trafalgar Studios), Men Should Weep (Oxford Stage Company/The Citizens Theatre), Riders to The Sea, The Shadow of the Glen, The Tinker's Wedding and Everything Must Go (Southwark Playhouse), The Blood of Others (Arcola Theatre), The Conservatory (Old Red Lion) and The Country of The Blind (Gate Theatre). Gwinner is also the Founder and Artistic Director of ANGLE, was previously Associate Director at the Bush and was Director on Attachment at The National Theatre Studio.

Samuel Beckett (1906 - 1989) was an Irish writer, dramatist and poet. He wrote in both English and French, and his principal works include Endgame, Happy Days and Waiting for Godot. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1969.

The Nap

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 Botherersand 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 andAtlantis; 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 People and 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 Killer and Red Riding

Esther Coles plays Stella. Her theatre work includes Matchbox Theatre (Hampstead Theatre) and The Kitchen 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 includes Luther, Hunted, Murder in Surburbia 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 and2, 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 Faceand 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.

Sheffield Theatres Listings:

Crucible Lyceum Studio 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA
Box Office 0114 249 6000 - Mon - Sat 10.00am to 8.00pm
A transaction fee of £1.50 (£1.00 online) applies to all bookings made at the Box Office (excluding cash).
On non-performance days the Box Office closes at 6.00pm.
sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Twitter: @crucibletheatre @SheffieldLyceum

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Waiting For Godot

By Samuel Beckett

Crucible Theatre

Thu 4 - Sat 27 February

Press Night Monday 8 February 7.00pm

Tickets from £17.00, concessions available

Cast

Pozzo Richard Cordery

Vladimir Lorcan Cranitch

Lucky Bob Goody

Estragon Jeff Rawle

The Boy Toby Allwood/ William Oxley

Creative Team

Director Charlotte Gwinner

Designer Simon Daw

Lighting Designer Mark Doubleday

Sound Designer Max Pappenheim

Movement Director Struan Leslie

Voice Coach Jeannette Nelson

Fight Director Bret Yount

Casting Director Charlotte Sutton

The Nap

By Richard Bean

Crucible Theatre

Thu 10 - Sat 26 March

Press Night Tuesday 15 March 7.00pm

Tickets from £18.00, concessions available

Cast

Bobby Spokes Mark Addy

Duncan Ferryman John Astley

Seth/Referee Chris Brailsford

Stella Esther Coles

Danny Killeen Dermot Crowley

Waxy Chuff Louise Gold

Mohammad Butt Youssef Kerkour

Tony DanLino/MC Ralf Little

Dylan Spokes Jack O'Connell

Eleanor Sargent Rochenda Sandall

Creative Team

Director Richard Wilson

Designer James Cotterill

Lighting Designer Johanna Town

Composer Olly Fox

Sound Designer Peter Rice

Casting Director Robert Sterne CDG

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