Stage: Plum Job

Brideshead star Anthony Andrews announced as star of new play at Chichester Festival 2012

Anthony Andrews has been confirmed to play Prime Minister Anthony Eden in the world premiere of Hugh Whitemore’s A Marvellous Year For Plums at Chichester Festival Theatre.

Directed by Philip Franks, A Marvellous Year For Plums is a sophisticated political thriller examining a flashpoint in British history that still resonates today – the Suez Crisis in 1956. As his health collapses, Prime Minister Anthony Eden faces the prospect of leading his country into war. Meanwhile his friends, colleagues and opponents deal with political and emotional crises’ of their own.

Andrews is best known for his role as Lord Sebastian Flyte in ITV’s drama series Brideshead Revisited, for which he received Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards, as well as an Emmy Award Nomination. His other screen credits include The King’s Speech, The Scarlet Pimpernel and Danger UXB. Theatre credits include West End productions of Ghosts, The Letter, My Fair Lady, The Woman in White and Bully Boy, a new play by Sandi Toksvig.

A Marvellous Year For Plums will mark Andrews’ debut in a Chichester Festival production. However, he worked at Chichester as an assistant stage manager and a stand-in producer in the early years of his career.

A Marvellous Year For Plums, Chichester Festival Theatre, Fri 11 May–Sat 2 June. Box office
01243 781312, www.cft.org.uk