Julia Hills in The Glass Menagerie
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Cheltenham Everyman stages first in-house production in 15 years

The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, is to stage Tennessee Williams’ classic play The Glass Menagerie, marking the venue's first professional in-house production in more than 15 years.

Cheltenham’s historic theatre has been a repertory theatre for more than 30 years, and stopped producing its own shows in the 1990s. However, staff at The Everyman hope that The Glass Menagerie will be the first of regular in-house productions.

The Glass Menagerie will run from 13 June to 16 June and will star prominent RSC actress Julia Hills. Hills, who recently starred in the UK tour of Calendar Girls and may be remembered for her role as Rona in the 1990s TV comedy 2Point4 Children, will play faded Southern belle Amanda Wingfield.

Abandoned by her husband and left destitute, Amanda struggles to raise two children whilst yearning for her glorious past as a feted society girl. Set in St Louis, Missouri during the American depression of the 1930s, The Glass Menagerie is thought to be a semi-autobiographical play about Williams’ own childhood, and is frequently named as one of the greatest plays of the 20th century.

Directed by Everyman’s creative director Paul Milton the cast also includes Hasan Dixon and Emmy Sainsbury as Tom and Laura Wingfield, and Robert Fawsitt as Jim, a shoe warehouse worker and love interest of Laura.

Everyman chief executive Geoffrey Rowe has spoken enthusiastically about the upcoming production: “The highlight of the Summer season for me has to be The Glass Menagerie. Not only is it a fine play but it is the first time in at least 15 years that the theatre has mounted its own production and if it is successful we will do it again. It’s an exciting venture and a marvellous play.”

- by Stephanie Soh

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