Gambon Returns to West End with Almeida

Michael Gambon returns to the West End next month in the world premiere of Nicholas Wright's Cressida, directed by Nicholas Hytner. The Almeida production opens at the Albery on 4 April 2000, following previews from 24 March, and continues until 10 June.

Gambon plays John Shank, actor, talent scout and trainer of boy players at the Globe Theatre in the seedy backstage world of 1630s London. Shank is in trouble. Up to his eyes in debt, his only hope of escaping destitution is an unpromising 14-year-old would-be, Stephen Hammerton. Can he train Stephen to be the new star of the London stage?

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, Tom and Clem and Yasmina Reza's The Unexpected Man, and in Dublin, Juno and the Paycock at the Peacock Theatre. His television credits include Dennis Potter's The Singing Detective, for which he won many awards, and on film, recent credits include Dancing at Lughnasa, Sleepy Hollow and The Insider.

Gambon is joined in the cast by Daniel Brocklebank, Charles Kay, Michael Legge and Malcolm Sinclair.

Nicholas Wright's plays include Treetops, The Gorky Brigade, The Custom of the Country and Mrs Klein. In 1998, the Almeida presented his version of Pirandello's Naked which starred Juliette Binoche and transferred to the West End.

Nicholas Hytner's many productions for the RNT, RSC and in the West End have included The Madness of George III, Carousel, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Miss Saigon, The Importance of Being Earnest and Alan Bennett's The Lady in the Van, starring Dame Maggie Smith, which continues at the Queen's Theatre.

Cressida is designed by Bob Crowley, with lighting by Paul Pyant, music by Richard Sisson and sound by Fergus O'Hare.

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