The production, which opens on 29 January 2013 (previews from from 23 January 2013) at Wyndham’s Theatre, is directed by former National Theatre artistic director Richard Eyre and designed by Tim Hatley.
It arrives in the West End following previews at the Theatre Royal Brighton (8–12 January) and the Theatre Royal Bath (14-19 January).
Quartermaine’s Terms takes place over a period of two years in the 1960s in the staffroom at a Cambridge school for teaching English to foreigners. It deals with the interrelationship between seven teachers at the school in particular that between St John (pronounced ‘Sinjon’) Quartermaine and the others.
St John (Atkinson) is a kind-hearted and agreeable person always willing to listen to the other teacher’s woes, but is pretty hopeless as a teacher himself. The appointment of a new Principal casts doubt on Quartermain’s future.
Conleth Hill, whose West End credits include The Producers and Stones in His Pockets will play Henry Windscape; Will Keen, recently seen in Huis Clos at Trafalgar Studios, plays Derek Meadle; Felicity Montagu, best known for starring opposite Steve Coogan in I’m Alan Partridge, plays Melanie Garth; and Malcolm Sinclair, whose myriad stage credits include The Doctor’s Dilemma and The Habit of Art at the National Theatre, plays Eddie Loomis.
The production marks Mr Bean and Blackadder star Rowan Atkinson‘s first appearance in a play for almost 25 years (although he played Fagin in Oliver! in the West End in 2009).
