PRESS RELEASE

REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE ANNOUNCE CASTING FOR AS YOU LIKE IT

• OLIVIA VINALL and EDWARD HOGG take the roles of Rosalind and Orlando • KEZIAH JOSEPH and BERUCE KHAN play Celia and Oliver • DANNY KIRRANE plays Touchstone with MAUREEN BEATTIE as Jaques • Directed by MAX WEBSTER, original music is by CHARLIE FINK

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre have today announced casting for As You Like It. Directed by Max Webster, the production plays 06 July – 28 July.

Olivia Vinall and Edward Hogg take the roles of Rosalind and Orlando, with Keziah Joseph and Beruce Khan in the roles of Celia and Oliver. Danny Kirrane plays Touchstone with Maureen Beattie as Jaques.

With original music by former ‘Noah and Whale’ frontman Charlie Fink, also joining the cast are Amy Booth-Steel (Audrey/Singer), Me’sha Bryan (Amiens/Singer), Joanne McGuinness (Phoebe/Singer), Jacade Simpson (Silvius/Singer), Jack Beale (Le Beau/Actor Musician) and Silas Wyatt-Barke (William/Actor Musician).

Completing the cast are: Simon Armstrong (Duke Fredrick/Duke Senior), Gary Lilburn (Adam/Martext), Kristian Phillips (Charles the Wrestler/Jaques De Boys) and John Stahl (Corin).

In the mythical Forest of Arden, a world of transformation where anything is possible and anything permissible, two young people discover what it really means to be in love. This warm, open-hearted production promises adventure, sibling rivalry, mistaken identity and romance – Shakespeare comedy as you like it. ______

Olivia Vinall (Rosalind) recently played the dual roles of Laura Fairlie and Anne Catherick in BBC1’s new adaptation of The Woman in White. Previous credits include The Chekhov Trilogy (Chichester Festival/National Theatre) in the roles of Nina (The Seagull), Sofya (Platonov) and Sasha (Ivanov); Hilary in The Hard Problem, Cordelia in King Lear, and Desdemona in Othello (National Theatre) and, on television, Maigret and Apple Tree Yard.

Edward Hogg (Orlando) recently appeared as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare’s Globe, where he has also appeared in The God of Soho, Measure for Measure, The Tempest and The Storm. Other credits include Our Class, The Pillowman (National Theatre); Pictures from an Exhibition, Our Country’s Good (Young Vic); Rock ‘n’ Roll (Royal Court/Duke of Yorks) and King Lear (RSC). Films include Once Upon a Time in Warsaw, Adult Life Skills, Mary Queen of Scots, The Comedian and White Lightnin’. Television credits include Harlots, Taboo, Indian Summers, and Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.

Keziah Joseph (Celia) recently played Mowgli in The Jungle Book (UK Tour). Previous theatre credits include Kanye the First (HighTide Tour) and Silver Lining (Rose Theatre, Kingston). Beruce Khan (Oliver) previously appeared at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in Henry V. Other recent credits include Feste in Twelfth Night and John Forster/Young Marley in A Christmas Carol (RSC); Hamlet (Shakespeare’s Globe International Tour); Romeo and Juliet, What You Will: Pop Up Shakespeare (Shakespeare’s Globe); The Madness of George III, The History Boys (UK Tour) and The Black Album (National Theatre).

Danny Kirrane (Touchstone) previously appeared in A Little Hotel on the Side (Theatre Royal Bath); Three Sisters (Young Vic); Boys, Romeo and Juliet (Headlong); The History Boys (National Theatre) and Jerusalem (Royal Court/Apollo/Broadway). Television credits include Poldark, Game of Thrones, Wasted, Doctor Thorne and New Blood, with film credits including Peterloo, directed by Mike Leigh, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Maureen Beattie (Jaques) has appeared extensively at the RSC, including The Histories, Titus Andronicus and Macbeth, and recently appeared in The Ferryman (Gielgud), Yerma (Young Vic) and Neaptide (National Theatre). She also appeared in The Cherry Orchard, and Max Webster’s production of The Winter’s Tale (Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh).

Simon Armstrong (Duke Fredrick/Duke Senior) has appeared in The Winter’s Tale, Pericles and Hamlet (Tour) for Shakespeare’s Globe, with television credits including Game of Thrones and The Hollow Crown. Gary Lilburn (Adam/Martext) has appeared in The Taming of the Shrew and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare’s Globe); The Cripple of Inishmaan (Michael Grandage Company); Calendar Girls (Chichester Festival/West End); The Weir (Royal Court) and in the film Philomena. Kristian Phillips (Charles the Wrestler/Jaques De Boys) appeared in Richard III (Almeida); as Lennie in Of Mice and Men (Birmingham Rep/UK Tour) and Season’s Greetings (Theatre Clwyd). John Stahl (Corin) has appeared regularly at the RSC, Shakespeare’s Globe and Traverse Theatre, and recently appeared in Max Webster’s production of The Winter’s Tale (Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh). Film credits include Mary Queen of Scots directed by Josie Rouke, and Victoria and Abdul.

Amy Booth-Steel (Audrey/Singer) appeared in Anita and Me (Birmingham Rep); Betty Blue Eyes (Mercury Theatre/West Yorkshire Playhouse) and The Light Princess and One Man Two Guvnors (National Theatre). Me’sha Bryan (Amiens/Singer) recently appeared as The Washing Machine in Caroline or Change (Chichester Festival/Hampstead), Joanne McGuinness (Phoebe/Singer) in Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour (National Theatre/Melbourne Festival) and Jacade Simpson (Silvius/Singer) in The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales). Jack Beale (Le Beau/Actor Musician) played the Guy in Once (Phoenix) and appeared in The Lorax (Old Vic); Spend, Spend, Spend (The Watermill) and Brief Encounter (UK Tour/Kneehigh). Silas Wyatt-Barke (William/Actor Musician) appeared in The Lorax (Old Vic); Forty Years On (Chichester Festival) and Sunny Afternoon (Harold Pinter). ______

As You Like It is directed by Max Webster, with design by Naomi Dawson. Movement direction is by Polly Bennett, original music composed by Charlie Fink, lighting design by Lee Curran, sound design by Gareth Fry, casting by Lotte Hines and musical direction and arrangements by Phil Bateman. The Season Associate Director (Voice & Text) is Barbara Houseman. ______

Other productions in the 2018 season at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre are Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie (until 15 June), Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw in a co-production with English National Opera (22 – 30 June), Dinosaur World Live for ages 3+ (14 August – 09 September) and the mean green monster musical, Little Shop of Horrors (03 August – 15 September). There’s MOREoutdoor on Sundays with The Guilty Feminist (15 July), Joe Lycett (22 July), Jimmy Carr (12 August), Simon Amstell (19 August), and The Luna Cinema presents screenings of Spice World (26 August), The Greatest Showman (02 September) and Alien (09 September). PRESS CONTACTS For production press enquiries: John Potter | E [email protected] | T 020 7520 9392 | M 07889 418863 James Travis-Lever | E [email protected] | M 07753 222 768 | T 020 7520 9392 Jo Allan | E [email protected] | M 07889 905 850 | T 020 7520 9392 ______

BOX OFFICE INFORMATION Box Office 0844 826 4242* | openairtheatre.com Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4NU

Social Media Twitter: @OpenAirTheatre / #OAT2018 #PeterPan / #TheTurnoftheScrew / #AsYouLikeIt / #DinosaurWorldLive / #LittleShopOfHorrors Facebook, Google+: RegentsParkOpenAirTheatre

*Lines open from 9am - 9pm. £1.50 per ticket telephone booking fee applies. Calls cost 7p per minute plus your telephone company’s access charge. A £1.50 per ticket booking fee applies for telephone and online bookings for Dinosaur World Live. ______

LISTINGS Peter Pan By J. M. Barrie Directed by Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel By arrangement with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity

Thursday 17 May – Friday 15 June First preview: 17 May Press Night: Thursday 24 May (7.45pm)

Performances: Tuesday – Sunday @ 7.45pm (gates 6.15pm) Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday @ 2.15pm (gates 12.45pm) No matinee 19 or 23 May; extra matinee on Thursday 14 June Regent’s Park Theatre and English National Opera ______

The Turn of the Screw Music by Benjamin Britten Libretto by Myfanwy Piper After a story by Henry James Directed by Timothy Sheader

Friday 22 June – 30 June First preview: 22 June Press Night: Monday 25 June (7.45pm)

Performances: Monday – Saturday @ 7.45pm (gates 6.15pm) Wednesday & Saturday @ 2.15pm (gates 12.45pm) No performance on Thursday 28 June; no matinee 23 June As You Like It By William Shakespeare Directed by Max Webster

Friday 06 July – Saturday 28 July First preview: 06 July Press Night: Wednesday 11 July (7.45pm)

Performances: Monday – Saturday @ 7.45pm (gates 6.15pm) Thursday & Saturday @ 2.15pm (gates 12.45pm) No matinee 07 July ______Dinosaur World Live Created by Derek Bond and Max Humphries

Tuesday 14 August – Sunday 09 September

Performances: Monday – Wednesday: 2.15pm (gates 1.45pm) Friday & Sunday: 10.30am (gates 10.00am) & 1.00pm (gates 12.30pm) Saturday: 10.30am (gates 10.00am) No performances 03 - 06 September; No 1pm performance on Sunday 02 September. ______Little Shop of Horrors Book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, Music by Alan Menken Based on the film by Roger Corman, Screenplay by Charles Griffith Directed by Maria Aberg

Friday 03 August – Saturday 15 September First preview: 03 August Press Night: Friday 10 August (7.45pm)

Performances: Monday – Saturday @ 7.45pm (gates 6.15pm) Thursday & Saturday @ 2.15pm (gates 12.45pm) No matinee 04 or 09 August ______

TICKETS

Peter Pan, The Turn of the Screw and As You Like It: £25 - £55

Little Shop of Horrors: £25 - £59

Dinosaur World Live: All tickets £16.50 (£15 ticket + £1.50 booking fee)

Season Ticket

Available when purchasing a ticket for all of the following productions in the same transaction: Peter Pan, The Turn of the Screw, As You Like It and Little Shop of Horrors.

Band A Season Ticket: £185 (saving of up to £39) Band B Season Ticket: £145 (saving of up to £38)

• No per-ticket online or telephone booking fee; a one-off £4.50 telephone transaction fee applies. • Cannot be combined with any other concession or discount. • All tickets must be booked in the same transaction and in the same price band.

Previews £2 off all prices during previews (excluding Dinosaur World Live).

Groups 10+ £5 off price bands A – C. Valid all performances, excluding Dinosaur World Live and excluding all Saturday Evening performances. A £4.50 transaction fee applies. This applies on top of the Preview and Early Bird Preview pricing. Call 0844 826 4242*, Monday – Friday, 9am – 9pm. *Calls cost 7ppm plus your telephone company’s usual access charge.

Senior Citizens Matinees £25 best available weekday matinees (cannot be combined with any other discount or concession).

Under18 Half Price Tickets on all performances excluding Saturday evenings and Dinosaur World Live.

A full performance schedule is available at www.openairtheatre.com/schedule

All information correct at the time of going to print. For latest information visit www.openairtheatre.com