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Flemyng Launches Antarctica Expedition, 9 Oct

Jason Flemyng (pictured), star of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, is to appear in a major new play about the infamous Antarctic expedition of 1912. Entitled Antarctica and written by Canadian David Young, the production receives its British premiere on 9 October 2001 at the West End's Savoy Theatre, following previews from 25 September 2001.

Antarctica follows the trail of Victor Campbell's scientific team, who accompanied Captain Robert F Scott's ill-fated trek. Campbell and his crew, who went to study native penguin life, were stranded in an ice cave in a place they called "Inexpressible Island". With no winter clothing, only seven weeks of rations and six months away from the advent of spring, the men faced a fight for survival.

18 October 2001 will mark the 100th anniversary of Scott's departure for the Antarctic, and plenty of polar promotional activity is planned to coincide. An IMAX movie based on the events is due to open on the same day. The stage show itself is expected to feature some spectacular special effects and scenery. It has already been presented with different casts in Toronto and Germany.

Flemyng's co-stars for the show are Mark Bazeley, Eddie Marsan, Ronan Vibert, Stephen Boxer and Darrell D'Silva. Flemyng studied at the National Youth Theatre, and LAMDA, before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company. He screen credits include Red Violin, Snatch and the TV adaptation of Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Later this year, he will appear in Rock Star with Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Aniston and From Hell with Johnny Depp.

Bazeley trained at the Drama Centre in London, and later won the 1997 Ian Charleston Award for Best Classical Actor Under 30, for The Seagull (English Touring Theatre). He has also performed in The Real Thing (Donmar Warehouse), Julius Caesar (RSC) and The Soldiers (Glasgow Citizens). D'Silva also trained at the Drama Centre. His stage credits include Closer (Royal National Theatre), The Three Musketeers (Sheffield Crucible), Further Than the Furthest Thing (Glasgow and RNT) and several works for the RSC.

Boxer has played numerous parts for the RSC and RNT, with television roles including Grafters, Killer Net and Thatcher: The Final Days. Vibert's stage career has embraced War and Peace (RNT) and Peer Gynt (Barbican). His screen works include On the Black Hill, Shadow of the Vampire and The Scarlet Pimpernel. Marsan has featured in the National Theatre's recent productions of Chips with Everything and The Homecoming.

The playwright David Young was born in Ontario in 1946. His other stage works include Fire, Love Is Strange and Clout. Antarctica started life as Inexpressible Island, which was premiered in 1997. The renamed version is also directed by Richard Rose, the founding artistic director of Toronto's Necessary Angel Theatre, with set and costume design from Rae Smith. Lighting is courtesy of Bruno Poet, sound by Christopher Shutt and the production is presented by Joseph Winogradoff.

- by Gareth Thompson

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