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Matthew Kelly Stays on to Star in Mice & Men TourDate: 11 February 2003
Despite recent allegations of child sex abuse, producers have confirmed that TV presenter Matthew Kelly will lead the cast in a new national tour of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. The production opens its schedule tonight (11 February) at the Liverpool Playhouse before continuing until 17 May 2003 to 11 further venues.
Written in 1937, Steinbeck's classic novel, which he later adapted for the stage, is set in California during the Great Depression. It follows two displaced characters, Lennie and George, as they seek the ever-elusive American Dream.
Kelly (pictured), who plays gentle giant Lennie, is best known as a television presenter and most recently played Captain Hook in Birmingham Rep's Christmas production of Peter Pan. Kelly was arrested last month, following accusations of abuse dating from the 1970s. The star is due to answer bail at Guildford police station in Surrey on 12 March.
Meanwhile, he intends to honour his commitments for Of Mice and Men, in which he's joined by George Costigan (from TV's Linda Green and Holby City), who plays George.
The production is directed by Birmingham artistic director Jonathan Church and designed by Simon Higlett, with lighting by Tim Mitchell and music by John Tams. It originally played at Birmingham in November 2001 to sell out audiences. The new touring production is co-produced by Birmingham Rep in association with the Touring Consortium.
Following Liverpool, Of Mice and Men will visit Darlington, Blackpool, Edinburgh, Poole, Eastbourne, Malvern, Salford, Birmingham, Nottingham, Plymouth and Richmond.
- by Hannah Khalil
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