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.
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
