Branagh, Brydon and Blakley in comedy The Painkiller

Kenneth Branagh, Rob Brydon, Claudie Blakley, Marcus Fraser, Mark Hadfield and Alex Macqueen make up the cast of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s new comedy The Painkiller. Directed and adapted by Sean Foley, The Painkiller will be the fifth production in the Plays at the Garrick season and will play from 5 March until 30 April 2016.

Foley directs his “dark, yet hilarious” adaptation of Francis Veber’s classic French farce, while Kenneth Branagh and Rob Brydon reprise the roles they played to great acclaim at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre inaugural season.

Foley said: “I'm delighted to have the chance to further develop this comedy with the remarkable double act of Kenneth Branagh and Rob Brydon, who, together with the brilliant Mark Hadfield, were a joy to direct in the first production. “I know that they are excited as I am to also be welcoming to our cast the extraordinary talents of Claudie Blakley, Marcus Fraser and Alex Macqueen, and we will all be working as hard as possible to bring this darkly hilarious farce to explosive life for London audiences.

Meanwhile, The Painkiller will be the professional debut for Bristol Old Vic Theatre School graduate Fraser, who plays the Policeman.

The Winter’s Tale, Harlequinade / All On Her Own, Red Velvet, The Painkiller, Romeo and Juliet and The Entertainer make up the inaugural seven-play season of work for the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company.

The Painkiller runs from the 5th March to 30th April 2016.

BOOK TICKETS FOR THE PLAYS AT THE GARRICK SEASON BY THE KENNETH BRANAGH THEATRE COMPANY