Ayckbourn’s Julia Haunts Riverside Studios in May

Alan Ayckbourn’s Haunting Julia will receive its London première at Riverside Studios from 27 May (previews from 25 May), directed by Coronation Street regular Andrew Hall.

The play, first published in 1994, is part of Ayckbourn’s Things That Go Bump in the Night trilogy, along with Snake in the Grass (currently being produced at The Print Room in Notting Hill) and Life and Beth.

The action centres on a father’s quest to find the truth behind the death of his daughter, a musical prodigy, 12 years previously.

The production, which was first seen at the Lichfield Garrick Theatre last year, features All Creatures Great and Small star Christopher Timothy, alongside Richard O’Callaghan, Dominic Hecht and Louise Kempton.

Director Andrew Hall’s credits include Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at Trafalgar Studios in 2009 with Matthew Kelly and Tracey Childs. He has also directed The Entertainer and Ayckbourn’s Table Manners. Alongside his directing work, he is currently playing Mark Selby in ITV’s Coronation Street.

The production is one of a number of recent and upcoming Off-West End Ayckbourn revivals. Later this month, Les Dennis stars in the London premiere of Drowning on Dry Land, which runs at the Jermyn Street Theatre from 24 February to 19 March  (previews from 22 February).

Haunting Julia, which is produced by Andrew Hall and Tracey Childs for Hall & Childs Ltd in association with the Garrick Theatre Lichfield, runs until 2 July 2011.