Terry Johnson Directs ROOKERY NOOK At Mernier 4/16-6/20

Terry Johnson is to return to the Menier Chocolate Factory to direct Ben Travers' farce Rookery Nook. Previewing from 16 April with press night on 29 April, Rookery Nook runs until 20 June. Designs are by Tim Shortall with lighting by Jason Taylor. Casting for Rookery Nook will be announced shortly.

Newly married playboy Gerald Popkiss is on his way to Rookery Nook with his new wife Clara and his mother-in-law. Forced to travel on alone when his mother-in-law suddenly falls sick, Gerald arrives to find quite a commotion. A beautiful young girl has been thrown out of the house next door in nothing but her pink silk pyjamas and begs him to let her stay. Gerald must find the young girl some clothes and, until then, keep her hidden from his sister-in-law Gertrude, who lives nearby, and Rookery Nook's meddling maid, Mrs Leverett.

Multi award-winning playwright and director Terry Johnson most recently directed the Olivier Award winning La Cage aux Folles - a Menier Chocolate Factory production which has transferred to the Playhouse Theatre. His other theatre directing credits include Rain Man; One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest; Hitchcock Blonde; Cleo, Camping Emmanuelle and Dick; Entertaining Mr Sloane; The Graduate; Insignificance and Dead Funny.

Johnson is a Literary Associate at the Royal Court Theatre where he has directed Dumb Show by Joe Penhall and where he premiered his play Piano/Forte. He has worked with Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre, where he directed Stephen Jeffreys' The Libertine and Lost Land. Johnson has also written and directed for television, most recently the award-winning Not Only But Always for Channel 4.

As well as Rookery Nook, Ben Travers' many plays include The Bed before Yesterday, Plunder, A Cup of Kindness, Spotted Dick and Thark. In1996 Travers was the recipient of the Evening Standard Special Award for his work in the theatre. Travers' Rookery Nook was first performed at the Aldwych Theatre in 1926, and in 1970 it was filmed for the BBC with a cast including Irene Handl, Richard Briers and Arthur Lowe.

Laurence Olivier AWARD WINS

Yesterday, Sunday 8 March, at the 2009 Laurence Olivier Awards, The Menier Chocolate Factory was the recipient of two awards for its production of La Cage aux Folles. Terry Johnson's production won Best Musical Revival and Douglas Hodge won Best Actor in a Musical for his performance as Albin.

Under the direction of Artistic Director David Babani, and having recently celebrating its fifth birthday, the Menier Chocolate Factory, as well as producing in SE1 at its home theatre, has transferred six productions to the West End - Fully Committed, Sunday in the Park with George, Little Shop of Horrors, Dealer's Choice and, most recently, Maria Friedman Re-Arranged and La Cage aux Folles, which is currently playing at the Playhouse Theatre. Its seventh production to transfer to the West End is Trevor Nunn's production of A Little Night Music which will open at the Garrick Theatre on 28 March 2009. In April, the Menier Chocolate Factory will have five productions playing worldwide: Rookery Nook at the Menier, A Little Night Music and La Cage aux Folles in the West End, Little Shop of Horrors on tour in the UK and Sunday in the Park with George at the 5th Avenue Theater in Seattle.

As well as the theatre space, the multi award-winning Menier Chocolate Factory has a restaurant serving pre-theatre and a la carte menus.

Rookery Nook
Dates: 16 April - 20 June 2009
Press Night: 29 April 2009 at 8pm
Box Office: 0207 907 7060
Restaurant: 0207 407 4411

Tickets: Tues-Sat at 8pm & Sunday at 3pm £25, Saturday matinees £15 Concessions £20 Meal Deal (2 courses pre-theatre plus show) £24 (Saturday matinee), all other performances £34
£2 transaction fee on phone bookings
53 Southwark Street, London SE1 1RU
London Bridge Tube, Borough High Street exit
RV1 and 381 buses
On street parking after 6.30pm or all day Saturday & Sunday
Website: www.menierchocolatefactory.com
no booking fee for on-line bookings

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