IMAGE RELEASE – Tuesday 22 August 2017

IMAGES CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE

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Theatre Royal Bath presents

THE LADY IN THE VAN

• PRODUCTION PHOTOS RELEASED FOR THE THEATRE ROYAL BATH PRODUCTION OF THE LADY IN THE VAN. DOWNLOAD HERE

• FINAL PLAY DIRECTED BY JONATHAN CHURCH IN HIS INAUGURAL SUMMER SEASON AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

• STARRING SARA KESTELMAN, SAM ALEXANDER, WILLIAM GAUNT AND JAMES NORTHCOTE

Productions photos are today released for Theatre Royal Bath’s new adaptation of ’s The Lady in the Van, directed by Jonathan Church. Running until Saturday 2 September, it marks the fifth and final production completing Jonathan Church’s inaugural year as new Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Bath’s Summer Season.

Olivier Award-winner Sara Kestelman (Filthy Business, Copenhagen, Cabaret) stars as Bennett’s beloved character Miss Mary Shepherd. She is joined by Sam Alexander as Alan Bennett, William Gaunt as Underwood and James Northcote who will share the role of Alan Bennett. The full cast includes Emma Amos, Lia Burge, Paul Hickey, Gabrielle Lloyd, David Shaw Parker, Steve Simmonds and Cat Simmons.

In 1974, Miss Mary Shepherd, a homeless woman, temporarily moved her clapped out Bedford van into Alan Bennett’s front garden at Gloucester Crescent, Camden. She remained parked there for the next fifteen years.

Production design by Robert Innes Hopkins, lighting by Tim Mitchell, music by Matthew Scott and sound by Mike Walker.

Olivier Award-winner Henry Goodman can currently be seen in Alan Franks’ Looking at Lucian, at the Ustinov Studio until 2 September, as part of the 2017 summer programme of five plays. The season opened in June with David Hare’s Racing Demon, followed by Sand in the Sandwiches starring BAFTA-winner Edward Fox, and the UK premiere of Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest.

-ENDS-

For further information please contact The Corner Shop PR on 020 7831 7657 Francesca Hoare [email protected]

LISTINGS

THE LADY IN THE VAN By Alan Bennett Directed by Jonathan Church

Theatre Royal Bath, Sawclose, Bath, BA1 1ET

First performance Thursday 17 August Final performance Saturday 2 September Press performance Wednesday 23 August, 7pm Performance schedule Monday – Saturday, 7.30pm; Matinees Thursday & Saturday, 2.30pm (No matinee 17 August)

Box office details website www.theatreroyal.org.uk telephone 01225 448844

Prices from £15

Facebook: TheatreRoyalBath Twitter: @TheatreRBath

NOTES TO EDITORS

Jonathan Church succeeded Peter Hall as Artistic Director, who established the Theatre Royal Bath Summer Season in 2003 with his company’s annual residencies. Church was previously Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre, overseeing over 100 productions including Taken at Midnight, ENRON, Macbeth with Sir Patrick Stewart, Sweeney Todd and Gypsy. Following his departure from Chichester Festival Theatre, Jonathan Church set up his own independent production company, which he will continue to lead alongside his new position at Theatre Royal Bath.

Alan Bennett is a multi-award winning playwright with credits including The History Boys, Untold Stories, Talking Heads, The Madness of King George and Single Spies.