Tamsin Greig Replaces Sarah Lancashire in MGC and Headlong's LABOUR OF LOVE

MGC and Headlong today announce that Olivier Award-winning actress Tamsin Greig will now play Jean Whittaker opposite Martin Freeman as David Lyons in the world première of James Graham's Labour of Love. Greig has stepped into the role during rehearsals, as Sarah Lancashire has had to regretfully withdraw from the production on doctor's advice.

The full company, in Jeremy Herrin's production, is completed by Rachael Stirling (Elizabeth Lyons), Kwong Loke (Mr Shen), Dickon Tyrrell (Len Prior) and Susan Wokoma (Margot Midler).

The production now opens on 3 October, with previews from 27 September, and runs until 2 December.

This razor-sharp political comedy reunites James Graham and director Jeremy Herrin following their previous collaboration on Headlong's This House, which was recently revived at the Garrick Theatre, following its earlier critically acclaimed run at the National Theatre.

MGC continue their commitment to offer over 20,000 tickets at £10 (including booking fee and restoration levy), which is 25% of the tickets for the entire run, across all levels of the auditorium. In addition, they will stage access performances - with both captioned and audio described performances.

Labour MP David Lyons cares about modernisation and "electability"... His constituency agent, Jean Whittaker cares about principles and her community. Set away from the Westminster bubble in the party's traditional northern heartlands, this is a clash of philosophy, culture and class against the backdrop of the Labour Party over 25 years, as it moves from Kinnock through Blair into Corbyn... and beyond?

Tamsin Greig plays Jean Whittaker. Her recent theatre credits include Twelfth Night, Gethsemane (National Theatre), The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism With a Key to The Scriptures (or iHo), Longing (Hampstead Theatre), for the RSC: Much Ado About Nothing (also Novello Theatre - Olivier and Critics' Circle Awards), King John; Jumpy (Royal Court Theatre and Duke of York's Theatre), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown - The Musical (Playhouse Theatre), Little Dog Laughed (Garrick Theatre) and God of Carnage (Gielgud Theatre). For television, her work includes Diana & I, Episodes, Friday Night Dinner, Inside No 9, The Guilty, White Heat, Going Postal, Emma, The Diary of Anne Frank, Love Soup, Green Wing, Doctor Who, The Lenny Henry Show, When I'm 64, Black Books, Jonathan Creek, Falling Apart, People Like Us and Happiness; and for film, Breaking the Bank, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Tamara Drewe, Stop the World, Cuckoo, Shaun of the Dead, Ready When You Are Mr McGill and Captain Eager and the Mark of Voth. She is also known on radio, as Debbie Aldridge in The Archers.

Set and costume design is by Lee Newby; with lighting design by Neil Austin, sound design by Paul Arditti, and video and projection design by Duncan McLean.

For more information, visit www.michaelgrandagecompany.com and www.headlong.co.uk.

IF YOU GO:

LABOUR OF LOVE

Noël Coward Theatre
St Martin's Lane, London WC2H 9LX

27 September - 2 December
Press performances: 3 October at 7.30pm
Performance times: Monday - Saturday at 7.30pm; Saturday matinees at 2.30pm (from 30 September); Wednesday matinees at 2.30pm (from 4 October)

Seat Prices: £10, £40, £67.50 (no booking fee when booked via DMT)
Day Seats: A limited number of tickets at £10 each available daily from 10.30am, to be purchased in person, from the Box Office. Maximum 2 tickets per person. Excludes certain performances.
Standing: £10 tickets available on the day once the performance is sold out
Groups - subject to availability. Tel for groups: 0844 482 5100 / Tel for schools: 0844 482 5165

Box Office: 0844 482 5141 (no booking fee)
Personal callers Mon-Sat 10am-curtain up (No booking fee)
Telephone Mon-Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 10am-8pm

Transport & Parking:
Tubes: Covent Garden, Leicester Sq, Charing Cross, Tottenham Court Road
Buses: Destination Leicester Sq.14, 19, 24, 29, 38, 176
Parking: Masterpark

For more information, visit www.labouroflovetheplay.co.uk.