Dee Returns for Art's Eighth Cast Tonight

Comedian Jack Dee returns to the stage tonight, to the same production in which he made his theatrical debut in January of this year. Art director Matthew Warchus was so impressed with Dee's performance as 'Yvan', one of a trio of men in the play who struggle with the demands of friendship and fine art, that he invited Dee back to play another role.

Dee will now play 'Serge' in this the eighth cast of the mult-award-winning production which opened at Wyndham's Theatre 15 October 1996. Dee is joined by Larry Lamb as 'Marc' and Tim Healy as 'Yvan'. The actors take over from the all-American cast - George Wendt, Stacy Keach and David Dukes - which has been playing since 28 July.

Healy and Lamb are both well known for their television work in the UK. Healy was seen most recently starring in the BBC television series Heartburn Hotel and the ITV series The Grand. Lamb has just starred in Lynda La Plante's Supply and Demand. Other television work includes Our Friends in the North and the upcoming LWT series Blonde Bombshell about the life of Diana Dors. Lamb's new film, Place Vendome, in which he stars opposite Catherine Deneuve, is released shortly.

The London production of Art, written by Yasmina Reza and translated by Christopher Hampton, has long attracted top-notch actors for its three-month stints. The original cast starred Albert Finney, Tom Courtney and Ken Stott. Subsequent casts have featured the likes of Richard Griffiths, Henry Goodman, David Haig, Anton Lesser and Nigel Havers.

Earlier this year, the Broadway production of Art, also directed by Warchus, opened to critical acclaim with a cast featuring Alan Alda, Victor Garber and Alfred Molina. They have recently been succeeded by the all-British cast of Brian Cox, Henry Goodman and David Haig.

Art is the play with the most Laurence Olivier Award nominations ever, having received five in 1997. It won both the Evening Standard and Olivier Awards for Best Comedy. In New York, the play is breaking is breaking box office records and has already won the Tony and New York Critics Circle Awards for Best Play.

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