Gambon, Graves & Hodge Star in Caretaker

A major new revival of Harold Pinter's The Caretaker will open at the Comedy Theatre on 15 November 2000. Directed by Closer author Patrick Marber, the production will star Michael Gambon, Rupert Graves and Douglas Hodge.

In Pinter's classic play, two brothers (Graves and Hodge) indulge in a power game at the expense of a tramp called Davies (Gambon). The last major revival of The Caretaker, which was also seen at the Comedy Theatre, was in 1991 when Donald Pleasance, who originally played Davies in 1960, returned to the role.

A veteran stage actor, Gambon was one of the original members of the National Theatre Company under Laurence Olivier at the Old Vic. Recent stage appearances have included, in the West End, Cressida, Tom and Clem and Yasmina Reza's The Unexpected Man, and in Dublin, Juno and the Paycock. His television credits include Dennis Potter's The Singing Detective, for which he won many awards, and on film, he has recently appeared in Dancing at Lughnasa, Sleepy Hollow and The Insider.

Douglas Hodge is considered one of the country's foremost Pinter actors. Since 1993, he has appeared in major productions of the author's The Collection, The Lover, Betrayal, Moonlight and No Man's Land. Rupert Graves recent stage credits include Patrick Marber's Closer on Broadway and Hurlyburly in the West End. His film credits include Mrs Dalloway, Different for Girls, Intimate Relations, The Madness of King George and A Room with a View.

Marber's directorial credits include his own plays, Dealer's Choice and the multi award-winning Closer, as well as 1953, Blue Remembered Hills and the 1998 Royal Court production of David Mamet's The Old Neighbourhood.

The Comedy Theatre has a long association with Pinter. In addition to the last revival of The Caretaker, it has in the past decade housed productions of The Homecoming, The Hothouse, Moonlight and No Man's Land. Some Pinter fans have suggested that the theatre should be renamed in honour of the playwright, who celebrates his 70th birthday in October 2000.

The Donmar Warehouse production of Passion Play, currently playing at the Comedy, finishes its run on 26 August. It is followed by a limited run of The Mystery of Charles Dickens , starring Simon Callow.

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