Blanche McIntyre is to direct Michael Frayn’s Noises Off, which she feels is “the greatest farce ever written”, for three theatres including Nottingham Playhouse.
Noises Off won both Olivier and Evening Standard awards for best comedy in 1982. It looks at a touring theatre company whose members try to hold together a shambolic production of a farce called Nothing On as personal relationships deteriorate and mishaps mount up.
McIntyre said, “Noises Off is one of the great classics of modern theatre. It’s one of my bucket list of plays and is one of the plays everyone wants to do before they die. It’s a brilliant comedy. Mostly it’s just a really good night and a really good time.
“I couldn’t be more excited to have the opportunity to direct it—it's something I've wanted to do for years. I'm thrilled to be working on it with the brilliant and daring producing theatres of Nottingham Playhouse, Northern Stage and Nuffield Southampton. It's a privilege to take this play to their different audiences.”
Rita Arya takes the role of Poppy Norton Taylor. She played the lead in Beauty and the Beast at the Polka Theatre, Wimbledon as well as appearing in Shared Experience and Nottingham Playhouse’s production of Polly Teale’s Mermaid, both in 2015.
Robin Bowerman, who takes the role of Selsdon Mowbray, played Pelham “Plum” Warner in Michael Pinchbeck’s The Ashes at Nottingham Playhouse in 2011. He was Dr MacFarlane in Harold Brighouse’s Hobson’s Choice at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2014 and played Bishop in the National Theatre tour of Alan Bennett’s People in 2013.
The cast also includes John Elkington, dame in several Nottingham Playhouse pantos, as Frederick Fellowes, Becci Gemmell as Belinda Blair, Brian Lonsdale as Tim Allgood, Carla Mendonça as Dotty, Sophia Nomvete as Brooke Ashton, Patrick Osborne as Garry and Orlando Wells as Lloyd Dallas.
Designer is Robert Innes Hopkins, lighting designer Jason Taylor and sound designer George Dennis.
Noises Off runs at Nottingham Playhouse from Saturday 9 until Saturday 30 April (press night Wednesday 13 April). It then transfers to Northern Stage, Newcastle from 11 until 28 May and Nuffield Theatre, Southampton from 1 until 25 June.