Stage: School For Spies
Julian Mitchell’s fictionalised account of spy Guy Burgess’ school days sees a new staging at Brighton’s Theatre Royal
Set in the 1930s in an English public school, Julian Mitchell’s award-winning Another Country (Theatre Royal, Brighton, 7-12 July) is the fictionalised story of the youth of such people as spy Guy Burgess and Communist John Cornford.
Bennett (played by Rob Callender) and Judd (Will Attenborough) are outsiders, one coming to terms with his homosexuality, the other a committed Marxist. But the Establishment has its own way of dealing with rebels and when a scandal rocks the school, the young men have to confront their beliefs and make choices that will have an incredible impact on their lives.
Co-produced by Chichester Festival Theatre with Theatre Royal Bath Productions in association with Fiery Angel, Another Country is directed by Jeremy Herrin.
Herrin directed Uncle Vanya for Chichester during Festival 2012.
He also directed South Downs for Chichester’s Festival 2011, which transferred to the West End in 2012.
He is Associate Director of the Royal Court Theatre.
Mitchell is an English playwright, screenwriter and novelist whose theatre credits include After Aida. His screenplays include Arabesque, Wilde and Vincent and Theo.
Design is by Peter McKintosh, whose Chichester credits include Festival 2012’s Uncle Vanya, Love Story, The Scarlet Letter, Just So and Pal Joey.
Lighting is by Paul Pyant, who has worked at the Royal Court Theatre and the National Theatre, and sound is by Fergus O’Hare, who has worked at the National Theatre and The Old Vic.
Julian Wadham plays Vaughan Cunningham. His previous Chichester credits include The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Philanthropist and Cavalcade. Screen credits include The English Patient and The Madness of King George.
Another Country was an immediate hit, winning the Society of West End Theatre Awards Play of the Year in 1982 before being directed on the big screen by Marek Kanievska with Rupert Everett and Colin Firth taking the lead roles. It has continued to attract the finest talent with versions starring Kenneth Branagh and Daniel Day-Lewis Another Country is at the Theatre Royal, Brighton from 7-12 July.
To book, go to www.atgtickets.com or contact the Box Office on 0844 871 7627
