Cast confirmed for regional premiere of Till the Stars Come Down

The full company for the regional premiere of Beth Steel’s Till the Stars Come Down has been revealed.

The Olivier Award-nominated play will be staged at Nottingham Playhouse this September.

Examining family dynamics during a wedding in a former mining town, Steel’s play first premiered at the National’s Dorfman Theatre in early 2024 before transferring to the West End.

Set to star in the Nottingham production are Joe Alessi, who plays Uncle Pete, Leah Brotherhead as Maggie, AK Golding as Sylvia, the hopeful bride, Graeme Hawley as John, Ivan Ivashkin as the groom, Marek, Emma Pallant as Hazel, Sadie Shimmin as the outspoken aunt, and Howard Ward as Tony, the patriarch of the family.

Ellie Daley, Anya Marshall and Amelia Yates will play the children Leanne and Sarah.

Caroline Steinbeis directs and is joined on the creative team by designer Oli Townsend, lighting designer Johanna Town, sound designer and composer Oliver Vibrans, movement director Ewa Emini, fight director and intimacy coordinator RC-Annie, voice and dialect coach Kate Godfrey and casting director Helena Palmer.

Steinbeis said that one of the greatest joys of the job is working with actors and shared her excitement about the company, adding: “We have some of the finest actors working today, but what has struck me most is their generosity, commitment and willingness to throw themselves wholeheartedly into the process. They are the beating heart of this production, which we’re creating especially for Nottingham Playhouse.”

The director added that Steel, who is originally from the East Midlands, “has written a story that is both deeply personal and universally recognisable,” concluding: “To bring this home to Nottingham feels like a celebration. I have a feeling this is going to be a very special production – a joyful, moving and fitting homecoming for one of the city’s most remarkable writers.”

Nottingham Playhouse’s artistic director Adam Penford added: “It feels like Beth’s brilliant play is finally coming home – to the county in which it’s set! It was a hit at the National Theatre and in the West End, and has been produced all over the world, so we are thrilled to have its regional premiere at Nottingham Playhouse. I’m also delighted to be welcoming, and welcoming back, so many actors from the East Midlands. With Caroline directing and a fabulous cast, it’ll be a great evening’s entertainment.”