HAPGOOD
By Tom Stoppard
Directed by Rachel Kavanaugh
Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Friday 11 - Saturday 26 April
PRESS NIGHT: Tuesday 15 April 7.00pm
Josie Lawrence returns to the West Midlands to play the title role in Tom Stoppard’s cunning theatrical masterpiece, Hapgood this Spring. First produced in 1988, Rachel Kavanaugh revives Stoppard’s masterpiece at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from April 11 - 26.
Josie Lawrence plays the spymaster Hapgood in this gripping spy thriller. Vital information has been leaked to the Russians and Hapgood, along with her colleagues, is under pressure to expose the culprit. With only a former Russian spy and a suspected double-crossing member of her team in the frame, the mission looks set to be brought to a quick conclusion. But will Hapgood’s elaborate scheme to expose the traitor be a success, or is there more to it than meets the eye? With Stoppard’s trademark style and brilliant wordplay, Hapgood is guaranteed to keep audiences guessing to the very end.
Black Country actress and comedienne Josie Lawrence has played leading roles in Frozen (Birmingham Repertory Theatre / National Theatre), The King and I (London Palladium), Much Ado About Nothing (Royal Exchange), The Taming of the Shrew (RSC), Picasso’s Women (National Theatre) and Moll Flanders (Lyric Hammersmith). Born in Old Hill in the West Midlands Josie is also well known for her skill at comedy improvisation having been a member of the Comedy Store Players for 20 years plus many appearances in the BAFTA award-winning Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Tom Stoppard is one of the world’s greatest living dramatists. His previous work includes Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead, Arcadia, The Real Thing, and the Academy Award-winning screenplay Shakespeare in Love and most recently Rock ‘N’ Roll.
Director Rachel Kavanaugh has established herself as one of the leading female directors working in Britain today and became Artistic Director of Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 2006. Her large-scale productions include Uncle Vanya, The David Hare Trilogy, Arcadia, The Madness of King George III, Peter Pan and The Wizard of Oz.
The cast for Hapgood also includes: Ross Armstrong (Maggs), David Birrell (Ridley), Christopher Ettridge (Blair), John Hodgkinson (Kerner), Steve Toussaint (Wates) and Paul Westwood (Merryweather).
Hapgood will be designed by Colin Richmond whose previous work includes Bollywood Jane, Bad Girls and Twelfth Night (West Yorkshire Playhouse), ‘Low Dat (Birmingham Repertory Theatre) and Europe (Barbican). Lighting Design will be by Tim Mitchell, music by Cathy Jayes and sound by Dan Hoole. Following the run in Birmingham the production will open at West Yorkshire Playhouse (1 - 24 May).
Listings Information
Friday 11 - Saturday 26 April
Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Centenary Square, Broad Street Birmingham B1 2EP
Performance Times: 7.30pm Mon - Sat, apart from Tue 15 April at 7.00pm.
Matinees: 2.30pm on Sat 19 and Thu 24 April
After Dark post show discussion with the acting company - Wed 16 April
Spotlight pre-show talk - Thurs 17 April 6.30pm
Audio Description and Touch Tour - Wed 23 April 7.30pm
Captioned Performance - Thurs 24 April 7.30pm
Sign language interpreted performance - Tue 22 April 7.30pm
Tickets: £10 - £25 (Concessions available)
£5.99 tickets available Mon - Thurs for those aged 16 - 26 (subject to availability)
Box Office: 0121 236 4455
Online Booking: www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
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