Charlotte Emmerson, Denis Conway and Joseph Marcell will lead an ensemble cast in the world première of Alone in Berlin, which will open in Northampton.
Emmerson plays Anna Quangel. She took the lead in Laurie Sansom's production of John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi at Northampton Royal and Derngate in 2010 and has taken major roles in productions of Chekhov plays directed by Peter Stein, Lucy Bailey and Trevor Nunn.
Conway (Otto) played Donny in Michael Grandage's production of Martin McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore at the Noël Coward Theatre, London in 2018.
Marcell is Inspector Escherich. He was last seen at Royal and Derngate playing Cardinal Pandulph in King John in 2015. He played the title role in King Lear at Shakespeare’s Globe in 2013.
The cast also includes Abiola Ogunbiyi, Jay Taylor, Julius D'Silva and Clive Mendus.
Alone in Berlin has been translated and adapted for the stage by Alistair Beaton from Hans Fallada's novel. It is regularly adapted for stage productions across Europe but this will be the first time it has been seen on a British stage.
Set in 1940, the play is a portrait of life in wartime Berlin and a study of how paranoia can warp a society gripped by the fear of the night-time knock on the door. It is based on true events and follows a couple who stand up to the brutal reality of the Nazi regime.
Alone in Berlin is a Northampton Royal and Derngate and York Theatre Royal co-production in association with Oxford Playhouse. It will be directed by James Dacre, artistic director of Royal and Derngate.
The production is designed by Jonathan Fensom with lighting design by Charles Balfour, sound design and composition by Donato Wharton and video design by Nina Dunn. Associate director is Sarah Stacey and fight direction is by R C Annie.
The production will feature illustrations by Jason Lutes from his graphic novel Berlin and songs by Orlando Gough, performed by cabaret singer Jessica Walker.
Alone in Berlin opens at Royal and Derngate from Saturday 8 until Saturday 29 February. Press night will be Wednesday 12 February. The play transfers to York Theatre Royal from Tuesday 3 until Saturday 21 March and Oxford Playhouse from Tuesday 24 until Saturday 28 March.