Dillane & Ehle Reprise Real Thing in West End

The Donmar Warehouse's acclaimed revival of Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing transfers to the West End for nine weeks only prior to a Broadway run. David Leveaux's production, which premiered at the Donmar in June 1999, will open at the Albery Theatre on 13 January and continue until 18 March 2000.

The original cast, including stars Stephen Dillane and Jennifer Ehle, reprise their roles in Stoppard's 1982 comedy about love, marriage and adultery. In shifting perspectives, couples founder and reform, and joy and passion are acutely countered by pain and deception.

Dillane's credits include, on film, Welcome to Sarajevo and, on stage, Endgame at the Donmar. Ehle is best known for her film features such as the recently released This Year's Love and her television roles in serials such as BBC1's Pride and Prejudice, for which she won a BAFTA award for Best Actress in 1996. On stage, she is currently appearing in the National's production of Summerfolk. Dillane and Ehle are re-joined by Sarah Woodward and Nigel Lindsay.

The Real Thing is directed by Donmar associate director Leveaux. His other productions for the Donmar include the 1996 musical Nine and the 1997 Olivier award-winning production of Electra, starring Zoe Wanamaker, which also transferred to Broadway. Design is by Vicky Mortimer, with lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by John A Leonard.

Tom Stoppard won an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award for his screenplay of the film Shakespeare in Love. His more recent theatre work includes Arcadia (Evening Standard Award for Best Play, 1993), Indian Ink (1995) and The Invention of Love (Evening Standard Award for Best Play, 1997).

Ronald Harwood's Quartet, starting Donald Sinden, Alec McCowen, Stephanie Cole and Angela Thorne, is currently playing at the Albery. It finishes its run on 8 January 2000.

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