'That Face' Opens in West End May 8, with Lindsay Duncan

Polly Stenham's multi award-winning play That Face, which was produced at the Royal Court Theatre to great critical acclaim last year, is to transfer to the Duke of York's Theatre with Lindsay Duncan and Matt Smith who originated the roles of mother and son, Martha and Henry, as well as Catherine Steadman and Julian Wadham. 

Directed by Jeremy Herrin and produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions, Tulchin/Bartner and Jamie Hendry, That Face previews from May 1 with press night on May 8 and is booking until July 5, 2008. Design is by Mike Britton with lighting by Natasha Chivers and sound by Emma Laxton.  Further casting will be announced shortly.

As a joint pricing initiative with the Royal Court, 100 best seats will be available for every performance at £25 bookable in advance.  

"That Face is a compelling portrayal of an affluent family in freefall. Mia is at boarding school. She has access to drugs. They are Martha's. Henry has dropped out of school.  He has access to alcohol.  From Martha.  Martha controls their lives.  Martha is their mother.  That Face is a powerful and darkly comic exploration of children who become parents to their parents," describe press notes.

Polly Stenham's first play, That Face, was written when she was just nineteen and received its world premiere in April last year at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs having been developed through the Royal Court's Young Writers Programme. Stenham went on to receive both the Evening Standard's Charles Wintour Award and Critics' Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright, as well as the TMA Award for Best Play.   The cast of That Face are nominated for this year's Laurence Olivier Award Outstanding Achievement in an Affliliate Theatre.  Recently Polly Stenham has received a substantial grant from the UK Film Council to adapt her play for the big screen.

Multi award-winning actor Lindsay Duncan will reprise her critically acclaimed performance as Martha.  Her extensive theatre credits include Private Lives which, after its run at the Albery Theatre, transferred to Broadway – for her performance as Amanda, she won the Olivier, Critics' Circle and Tony Awards for Best Actress.

Matt Smith reprises the role of Henry which he originated at the Royal Court and for which he was shortlisted for the Evening Standard's Milton Shulman Award for Best Newcomer.

Catherine Steadman's theatre credits include Babooshka for the Pleasance Theatre, The Glory of Living for Battersea Arts Centre and The Rubenstein Kiss for Oxford Playhouse.  

Julian Wadham is currently playing Don Pedro in Nicholas Hytner's production of Much Ado about Nothing at The National Theatre.  His extensive theatre credits include Our Country's Good and Serious Money for the Royal Court, Plenty for the Almeida at the Albery and the Olivier award-winning Another Country and When We are Married in the West End.

Polly Stenham's That Face begins performances May 1 at Duke of York's Theatre, St Martin's Lane, London WC2; officially opening May 8 at 7PM.

Show times are Monday-Saturday at 7:30PM; Matinees Wednesday and Saturdays at 2.30PM.

For tickets (£10 - £45 plus concessions) call the box office at 0208 544 7404. 100 best seats available for every performance at £25 bookable in advance (except press night, 8 May) or visit www.thatface.co.uk

Lindsay Duncan

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