Leanne Best in the Playhouse's prev production - Streetcar
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McGuinness’s Match Box at Liverpool Playhouse Studio, 14 June

Celebrated playwright Frank McGuinness’s new play, The Match Box, arrives in Liverpool next month. Award winning actor and director Lia Williams will direct Leanne Best in the role of Sal at the Playhouse Studio.

The Match Box is the story of one woman’s journey through forgiveness, revenge and redemption, after a family tragedy has far reaching consequences for everyone involved. This intense drama shines the spotlight on Sal as she looks back at the circumstances that have led her to leave England for the small island of Valentia on the coast of County Kerry.

Gemma Bodinetz, Artistic Director of the Everyman and Playhouse, said: “The Playhouse studio was re-opened to provide an intimate environment for world class theatre. We are thrilled that it will launch this coruscating world premiere by one of the world’s greatest writers. Directed by one of our most lauded and respected actresses and performed by one of Liverpool’s most astonishing performers this should be an unforgettable and historic addition to its repertoire.”

Frank McGuinness is one of Ireland’s foremost playwrights and poets whose extraordinary oeuvre includes The Factory Girls, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, Dolly West's Kitchen and Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme. He has also adapted many classic texts including A Doll’s House for which he was nominated for a Tony Award and Oedipus at the National Theatre in 2008. The Match Box will be his first new work since Greta Garbo Came to Donegal at the Tricycle Theatre in 2010.

Lia Williams is one of the country’s most revered actresses whose formidable stage career includes Tony and Olivier nominations for her performance in Skylight. She has also received a Bafta nomination for her performance in the BBC’s May 33. She has directed several short films including The Stronger, written by Frank McGuinness, which was nominated for a Bafta for Best Short Film. The Match Box marks her stage directorial debut.

A graduate of LIPA, Leanne Best has established herself as a regular and recognisable face in Liverpool. Her stage credits include A Streetcar Named Desire, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui and The Hypochondriac (Liverpool Playhouse) and The May Queen and Unprotected (Liverpool Everyman) as well as the national tour of Corrie!

The Match Box is designed by Colin Richmond, with Lighting by Charlie Lucas and sound design and composition is by [Giles Perring. The play runs at the Liverpool Playhouse from 14 June - 7 July and booking opens today.

- by Glenn Meads

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