World Premiere of Duncan Sheik and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's AMERICAN PSYCHO Begins Previews Tonight

Rupert Goold, The Almeida Theatre's Artistic Director, directs the World Premiere ofAmerican Psycho, a new musical thriller with book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik, based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis. It will run beginning tonight, 3 December 2013 to 25 January 2014 with Press Night on 12 December.

Matt Smith will take the part of Patrick Bateman alongside an ensemble cast which includes Ben Aldridge, Charlie Anson, Jonathan Bailey, Katie Brayben, Cassandra Compton, Holly Dale Spencer, Susannah Fielding, Simon Gregor, Holly James, Lucie Jones, Tom Kay, Gillian Kirkpatrick, Eugene McCoy and Hugh Skinner.

Set design is by Es Devlin, costume design is by Katrina Lindsay, with choreography byLynne Page, lighting by Jon Clark, musical direction from David Shrubsole, sound byPaul Arditti and video by Finn Ross.

American Psycho is an Almeida Theatre and Headlong co-production in association withDavid Johnson and Jesse Singer for Act 4 Entertainment by special arrangement with Edward R Pressman.

Wildly controversial on publication, American Psycho is now acknowledged as one of the great literary satires. In the narcissistic yuppie psychopath Patrick Bateman, writer Bret Easton Ellis created one of the most iconic antiheroes of the 20th century.

Matt Smith is in his fourth and final year playing Doctor Who in the cult BBC TV show. His performance as the youngest ever 'Doctor' has won him international acclaim and a BAFTA nomination. His last appearances will be the 50th anniversary episode in late November and the 2013 Christmas special. Theatre credits include That Face at the Royal Court and in the West End, On the Shore of the Wide World, Burn, Citizenship, Chatroomand The History Boys all at The National Theatre, Fresh Kills at the Royal Court andSwimming with Sharks in the West End. Matt is soon to appear opposite Christina Hendricks and Eva Mendes in the film How To Catch A Monster written and directed by Ryan Gosling. He made his directorial debut earlier this year with Cargese, a short film for Sky Arts, written by Simon Stephens.

Rupert Goold is Artistic Director of The Almeida Theatre. His association with the Almeida began in 2008 when he directed Stephen Adly Guirgis' The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, in a co-production with Headlong. Goold was Artistic Director of Headlong from 2005 until 2013. Headlong recently co-produced with the Almeida to present the world premiere of Lucy Kirkwood's Chimerica, directed by Lyndsey Turner which is currently playing in the West End. Goold's other work for Headlong includes The Effect, Decade, Earthquakes in London and ENRON. His other theatre credits include Macbeth at Chichester Festival Theatre, in the West End and on Broadway, The Merchant of Venice at the RSC and No Man's Land at The Gate and in the West End. He was Associate Director at the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2009 to 2012 and was Artistic Director of Northampton Theatres from 2002 to 2005. He has twice been the recipient of the Laurence Olivier, Critics' Circle and Evening Standard Awards for Best Director. For television he has directed Macbeth and Richard II for the BBC and Neal Street Productions, the latter of which was nominated for a BAFTA. This year he directed his first feature film True Storystarring James Franco and Jonah Hill for Plan B and Fox Searchlight in New York.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Access Audio Described performance by VocalEyes 11 January 2014 at 2.30pm, Touch Tour at 12.45pm
Captioned performance 10 January at 7.30pm and 18 January at 2.30pm2014 Address Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street, Islington, London, N1 1TA

Café Bar The Almeida Café Bar is open from 11.30am -11.00pm, Monday to Saturday

Box Office Phone 020 7359 4404 (10am - 7.30pm)
Online www.almeida.co.uk
In person 10am - 7.30pm, Monday - Saturday
Preview prices £8 - £26, concessions available
After Press Night price £10 - £45, concessions available
Day seats (2 per person) will go on sale at 11am on day of performance, in person from Box Office for all performances from 13 December
Islington First* (if you live or work in Islington) £20, check box office for dates
Under 30s* £16 for Monday performances
*Conditions apply - check website for details

Regular performances are Monday - Saturday at 7.30pm, Saturday matinees at 2.30pm.Weekday matinees are at 2.30pm on Wednesday 18 December, Monday 23 December,Monday 30 December, Thursday 2 January, Friday 3 January, Wednesday 8 January,Wednesday 15 January and Wednesday 22 January.

There are no performances on 24, 25, 26 December or 1 January.

Website www.almeida.co.uk/americanpsycho

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