Cast Announced for Richard Bean's The Heretic

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday 9 December 2010

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR RICHARD BEAN’S NEW PLAY THE HERETIC

The full cast has been announced for Richard Bean’s The Heretic at the Royal Court Theatre from 4 February, with a cast including James Fleet, Johnny Flynn, Adrian Hood, Juliet Stevenson, Leah Whitaker and Lydia Wilson.

Richard Bean’s new black comedy tackles the divisive issue of climate change, questioning what we think we know and whether the science really is settled.

“I’m a scientist. I don’t “believe” in anything.”

The study of climate science is the cool degree at the university where Dr Diane Cassell is a lead academic in Earth Sciences.

At odds with the orthodoxy over the cause of man-made climate change, she finds herself increasingly vilified and is forced to ask if the issue is becoming political as well as personal. Could the belief in anthropogenic global warming be the most attractive religion of the 21st century? What evidence do we need before deciding what to believe?

James Fleet plays Professor Kevin Maloney. His credits include The Observer at the National Theatre, Twelfth Night at the RSC and Cloud Nine at the Almeida. On screen, his credits include Little Dorrit, The Vicar of Dibley and Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Johnny Flynn plays Ben Shotter. His theatre credits include touring with the Propeller project. On film, he has appeared in Lotus Eaters and Crusade in Jeans. A singer/songwriter, who has had much recent success on the folk scene. His most recent album Been Listening has just been released.

Adrian Hood plays Geoff Tordoff. He last appeared at the Royal Court in Richard Bean’s Harvest. His other theatre credits include Richard Bean’s Pub Quiz is Life for Hull Truck, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice at the National Theatre and in the West End and has worked extensively with Hull Truck. His television credits include All the Quiet on the Preston Front.

Juliet Stevenson plays Dr Diane Cassell. Her credits at the Royal Court include Alice Trilogy, The Country, Death and the Maiden for which she won the Laurence Olivier Best Actress Award and Other Worlds. Previously her theatre credits include Duet for One at the Almeida, The Seagull at the National, Burn This at Hampstead and in the West End. On film she appeared in And When Did You Last See Your Father?, Being Julia, Bend it Like Beckham and in Truly, Madly, Deeply for which she won the Evening Standard Film Award for Best Actress.

Leah Whitaker plays Catherine Tickell. She last appeared at the Royal Court in Richard Bean’s Harvest and Ignition 2. Her previous credits include Counted for Look Left Look Right and Sky Scraper for Old Vic and Public Theater New York.

Lydia Wilson plays Phoebe. Her credits include Blasted at the Lyric Hammersmith, Pains of Youth at the National Theatre and House of Special Purpose at Chichester Festival Theatre. On television, she appeared in Any Human Heart.

Richard Bean’s last play at the Royal Court was Harvest in 2005. His previous plays at the Royal Court include Toast, Honeymoon Suite and Under the Whaleback. His recent work elsewhere includes The Big Fellah for Out of Joint at the Lyric Hammersmith, England People Very Nice at the National Theatre, The English Game on tour and In the Club at Hampstead Theatre.

Jeremy Herrin is Deputy Artistic Director of the Royal Court, where he is currently directing EV Crowe’s Kin. His previous productions have include Anya Reiss’s Spur of the Moment, Bola Agbaje’s Off the Endz, Michael Wynne’s The Priory, Polly Stenham’s plays Tusk Tusk and That Face, as well as the UK premiere of David Hare’s The Vertical Hour. He was formerly an Associate Director at Live Theatre Newcastle, where he specialised in directing new writing. His other credits include Marble (Abbey, Dublin), The Family Reunion (Donmar), Statement of Regret (NT), and the South African premiere of David Harrower’s Blackbird.

The production is designed by Peter McKintosh, with lighting by Paul Pyant and sound by Emma Laxton.

*The Heretic is in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court from
4 February – 19 March. Tickets £10 – £28 available online at www.royalcourttheatre.com or from the Box Office 0207 565 5000*

Listings Information:

The Heretic
By Richard Bean
Directed by Jeremy Herrin
Friday 4 February – Saturday 19 March 2011
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS
Monday – Saturday 7.30pm
Thursday matinees 2.30pm (from 17 February)
Saturday matinees 2.30pm (from 12 February)
Press night Thursday 10 February, 7pm
Post-show Talk Tuesday 1 March
Captioned Performance Wednesday 23 February 7.30pm
Audio described performance Saturday 19 March 2.30pm

Tickets £28, £20, £12
Mondays all seats £10
Concessions £5 off top two prices* (avail. in advance for all performances until 12 February inclusive and all matinees. For all other performances, available on a standby basis on the day)
25s and under £8*
School and HE Groups of 8+ 50% off top two prices (avail. Tuesday-Friday)
Groups of 6+ £5 off top price (avail. Tuesday-Friday)
Access £12 (plus a companion at the same rate)

• ID required, not bookable online. All discounts are subject to availability.

– ends – (09/12/10)

Notes to Editors:

For further information please contact Anna Evans in the Royal Court Press Office on
020 7565 5063 or e-mail annaevans@royalcourttheatre.com.

Cast:
James Fleet Professor Kevin Maloney
Johnny Flynn Johnny Flynn
Adrian Hood Geoff Tordoff
Juliet Stevenson Dr Diane Cassell
Leah Whitaker Catherine Tickell
Lydia Wilson Phoebe

Creative Team:
Director Jeremy Herrin
Designer Peter McKintosh
Lighting Designer Paul Pyant
Sound Designer Emma Laxton