Simon Gethin Thomas

Cast announced for Mrs Orwell at Old Red Lion Theatre

News, Off West End
Casting announced for Mrs Orwell

Producers have announced casting for the world premiere of Proud Haddock’s production of Tony Cox’s play Mrs Orwell at the Old Red Lion Theatre. Mrs Orwell will run from 1 – 26 August 2017. University College Hospital, London, 1949. George Orwell is in the last chapter of his life with a severe case of Tuberculosis. He still believes he has at least three novels in him so to keep his morale up he promptly proposes to friend Sonia Brownell (played by Bonas), a 30 year old assistant magazine editor. When Sonia learns that she is his only hope, she must decide whether to succumb to the advances of Lucien Freud or enter a platonic marriage with one of the country’s most renowned writers. The production will explore the private side of one of the most public icons of the 20th century. This theme of public and private contrasts will be … Read more

Horniman’s Choice at The Finborough Theatre

News, Off West End
Hornimans Choice at the Finborough Theatre

The Finborough Theatre has announced that it will present Horniman’s Choice in September 2015 bringing together four one act plays from the ‘Manchester School’ of playwrights. “If Lancashire playwrights will send their plays to me I shall pledge myself to read them through. Let them not write as one dramatist does, about Countesses and Duchesses and society existing in imaginations, but about their friends and enemies – about real life.” – Annie Horniman These plays by Harold Brighouse, Stanley Houghton and Allan Monkhouse, were all originally championed by Annie Horniman, owner of the Gaiety Theatre, Manchester, the first repertory theatre in Britain. The four plays chosen are:- THE PRICE OF COAL by Harold Brighouse 1909. The mines. Collier Jack Tyldesley heads off at 5.30am for another day’s hard graft at the coalface. His lover, Mary Bradshaw, has promised to answer his marriage proposal when he returns home, but Jack’s mother … Read more