Last year's 20th anniversary production of Beautiful Thing, the housing estate–set love story between two young men, directed by Nikolai Foster is back to tour nationally.
After its 1993 sold-out première at the Bush Theatre, the play transferred to the West End, first to the Donmar Warehouse and then the Duke of York’s Theatre. Harvey, who went on to write for television including Gimme, Gimme, Gimme and Coronation Street, was Olivier Award nominated for Beautiful Thing.
Award winning Charlie Brooks leads the cast as Sandra joined by fellow EastEnders regular Thomas Law playing Ste.
Gerard McCarthy will star as Tony. McCarthy's stage credits include The Merry Wives Of Windsor at the Globe and Blue/Orange, but he is best known for Channel 4’s Hollyoaks.
Vanessa Babirye, recently seen in BBC television’s Our Girl and at the National Theatre in Romeo and Juliet, plays Leah, and Sam Jackson, whose television credits include roles in Skins and Drifters, will play Jamie.
Also joining the company will be Rob Ellis and Natalie Law.
Nikolai Foster, artistic director of Curve Leicester, directs this Nottingham Playhouse, Curve Leicester and Tom O’Connell for QNQ Ltd co-production. The producers of Beautiful Thing have partnered with Stonewall to raise money for the No Bystanders campaign.
Stephanie Sirr, Chief Executive of Nottingham Playhouse said, “we are proud to be co-producing Beautiful Thing, a wonderful moving, funny and uplifting love story. We’re also delighted to be working in partnership with Stonewall to support their campaign to combat homophobic bullying in schools.”
Beautiful Thing tours to:
- Marlowe Theatre Canterbury
- Birmingham Hippodrome Studio
- The Lowry, Salford
- Nottingham Playhouse
- Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
- Royal and Derngate Northampton
- Curve Studio, Leicester
- Swan Theatre, High Wycombe
- Cardiff New Theatre
- Theatre Royal Brighton
Tickets are not yet on sale at all venues.