A cast of well-known faces will appear in Northampton Royal and Derngate’s production of Willy Russell’s One for the Road which opens this week.
Con O'Neill, who takes the central role of Dennis, played Mickey in Russell’s long-running Blood Brothers.
He was also in the National Theatre production of Southwark Fair in 2006 and recently played record producer Joe Meek in both the West End play and film Telstar.
Taking the role of his wife Pauline is Michelle Butterly who plays Trudy in ITV’s Benidorm. On stage, she has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Shared Experience.
Nicola Stephenson, who plays Jane, had roles in Brookside, Clocking Off, Moving On and Lark Rise to Candleford. She also appeared in the New London Theatre production of War Horse.
Matthew Wait, who plays Roger, may be recognised as Luke Warren from Casualty.
The play finds Dennis, on the eve of his birthday, making a desperate attempt to ditch the trappings of his newly acquired middle-class life.
Imprisoned on phase two of a new housing estate and surrounded by Tupperware parties, Richard Clayderman fans and garden gnomes, Dennis yearns for his youth of road trips and music festivals as he ponders whether to make a break for freedom.
One for the Road takes to the Royal stage from Friday 1 February until Saturday 23 February.
It’s directed by Royal and Derngate’s Laurie Sansom—his last production before he leaves to head up the National Theatre of Scotland.