Theatre News

Calf & Plowman join Chancellor & Stephens in Chichester Private Lives

Full casting has been announced for the forthcoming Chichester Festival revival of Noel Coward’s popular comedy Private Lives, which runs in the Minerva Theatre from 28 September to 27 October 2012 (previews from 21 September).

As previously announced, Jonathan Kent’s production, which brings Chichester’s 50th anniversary season to a close, will star Anna Chancellor and Toby Stephens as divorcees Amanda and Elyot, who meet while on honeymoon with their new spouses.

They’ll be joined in the cast by Anthony Calf as Victor, Anna-Louise Plowman as Sibyl and Maggie McCarthy as The Maid.

Calf’s Chichester credits include Festival 2011’s The Deep Blue Sea and Wallenstein (Festival 09). Other credits include the West End production of Death and the Maiden, The White Guard, The Power of Yes, Gethsemane, Never So Good, The False Servant and The Madness of George III (all for the National Theatre).

Plowman’s theatre credits include Three Tall Women (Oxford Playhouse), 5 Women Wearing the Same Dress (Vital Theatre Company NYC), A Celtic Journey (Barbican) and Desire Caught by the Tail (Landor Theatre).

McCarthy appeared at Chichester earlier this year in Uncle Vanya, while her other theatre credits include Design for Living (The Old Vic), Major Barbara, Much Ado About Nothing and The Rose Tattoo (all for the National Theatre).

The production is designed by Anthony Ward, whose Chichester credits include Festival 2011’s Sweeney Todd (currently running in the West End), She Loves Me, ENRON (which subsequently transferred to the Royal Court Theatre, West End, Broadway and tour) and Macbeth.

Anna Chancellor recently starred in Festival 2011’s South Downs and The Browning Version (which transferred to the West End’s Comedy Theatre), while Toby Stephens makes his Chichester Festival debut with Private Lives.