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Attwell Replaces Jackson as Steadman's Husband

Philip Jackson, suffering from a bad case of the flu, has had to withdraw from the upcoming West End premiere of The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband. He has been replaced by Michael Attwell as Kenneth, husband to Alison Steadman and lover to Daisy Donovan, in the comedy which will now open at the New Ambassadors on 16 September 2002, following previews from 9 September.

Debbie Isitt's play was first seen in the early 1990s at the Royal Court and the Edinburgh Fringe. In it, Kenneth and Hilary have been married nearly 20 years but, as middle age encroaches, Kenneth finds himself in the arms of another woman. At first, Laura seems to represent everything that's missing from his life, with only one little problem... she can't cook. Mourning the loss of Sunday roasts and the comforts of a settled life, Kenneth readily accepts when Hilary invites him and Laura over for dinner.

Attwell (as Kenneth) appeared in the The Colour of Justice, the dramatisation of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, both on stage and on television. His other theatre credits include The Man Who Has All the Luck (Sheffield Crucible) and Sunday in the Park with George (National), while on television and film, he's appeared in Daniel Deronda, Border Café, Monsignor Renard and Tom and Viv.

Donovan (Laura), the comedian and TV "mockumentary maker" who fronts the eponymous Daisy Daisy, makes her West End debut in The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband. Her previous stage acting credits include Tom Stoppard's On the Razzle at last year's Chichester Festival.

Alison Steadman - the wife of Mike Leigh, who was immortalised with the original, televised production of his modern classic Abigail's Party, now being revived at Hampstead Theatre - plays wife Hilary. Her other recent West End credits include Entertaining Mr Sloane, The Memory of Water and The Provok'd Wife. Her recent film and television credits include Leigh's Topsy Turvy and ITV's Fat Friends.

The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband is directed by the author Debbie Isitt, who, with Mark Kilmurry, co-founded the acclaimed Snarling Beasties Theatre Company. It is produced by pantomime specialists Qdos Entertainment plc and Clear Channel Entertainment - their first major co-production in the West End.

- by Terri Paddock

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