Stage: Gaslight

One of the greatest thrillers of all time, Gaslight, returns to UK theatres starring the celebrated stage and television actress Kara Tointon. Kara plays Bella Manningham, memorably portrayed by Oscar winner Ingrid Bergman in the classic 1944 film adaptation. Rupert Young of BBC 1’s Merlin joins Kara as husband Jack Manningham and the multi-talented Keith Allen is cast in the role of Detective Rough.

While Jack Manningham (Rupert Young) is on the town each evening his wife Bella (Kara Tointon) is home alone. She can’t explain the disappearance of familiar objects, the mysterious footsteps overhead or the ghostly flickering of living room gaslight – is she losing her mind? Does the terror exist in her imagination or are dark secrets living in her home? The surprise arrival of retired Detective Rough (Keith Allen) leads to a shocking discovery that will shake her respectable Victorian marriage to its core.

Gaslight is written by one of the 20th Century’s most renowned British writers, Patrick Hamilton whose works also include the chilling Rope successfully adapted for the screen by Alfred Hitchcock. In the tradition of heavyweight thrillers from Hitchcock, Christie or Priestley, Gaslight is a genre defining, all round elegant masterpiece.

Gaslight is a genre defining all round elegant masterpiece

Kara Tointon has received universal critical acclaim for her West End roles including Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion. Television credits include winning the 2013 series of BBC television’s Strictly Come Dancing; ITV’s hit costume drama Mr Selfridge and most recently portraying Maria in The Sound Of Music Live!
Rupert Young stars as Jack Mannigham and is best known for portraying Sir Leon in the BBC series Merlin. Keith Allen joins the cast as Detective Rough. His Theatre credits include: The Homecoming, Smack Family Robinson and Comedians. Television roles include: Bodyfarm, My Mad Fat Diary , Uncle, Robin Hood, Treasure Island and Death in Paradise. Film credits include: The Kingsman: The Golden Circle; Eddie the Eagle, Trainspotting and Shallow Grave.

Director Anthony Banks’ credits include Dennis Kelly’s DNA (National Tour); Bryony Lavery’s Cesario and More Light, Lucinda Coxon’s The Eternal Not and Michael Lesslie’s Prince of Denmark (National Theatre). Anthony was an associate director at the National Theatre until 2014 where he commissioned and developed one hundred new plays for NT Connections.

A tense and hugely satisfying evening of great British theatre, this new production of Gaslight is one not to be missed.

Gaslight will be produced by Ambassador Theatre Group and Smith and Brant Theatricals.

Theatre Royal Brighton, Monday 6 to Saturday 11 February 2017.
www.atgtickets.com/brighton
0844 871 7650 (bkg fees apply)