Hampstead’s Chariots of Fire confirms West End transfer, 22 Jun

As previously tipped by Whatsonstage.com, Mike Bartlett‘s stage adaptation of Chariots of Fire will transfer to the West End’s Gielgud Theatre from 22 June 2012. The production is initially booking until 10 November 2012.

The transfer comes shortly after the end of the play’s Hampstead Theatre run from 22 May (previews from 9 May) to 16 June 2012.

Billed as “one of the most thrilling Olympic stories,” Chariots of Fire centres on two great athletes – Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams (played on the big screen by Ian Charleson and Ben Cross) – outsiders who overcame prejudice and personal strife to compete in the 1924 Paris Olympics.

Colin Welland’s 1981 film was directed by Hugh Hudson and won Academy Awards for Best Costume Design, Original Score, Screenplay and Best Picture. It went on to win the BAFTA award for Best Film and a further two awards at the Cannes Film Festival.

The cast for Chariots of Fire is led by Jack Lowden as Liddell and James McArdle as Abrahams.

They are joined in the cast by Simon Williams as Master of Caius, Nickolas Grace as Master Of Trinity as well as Joe Bannister (Frank), Antonia Bernath (Florence Mackenzie), Natasha Broomfield (Jennie Liddell), Gareth Charlton David Newman (Prince of Wales), Matthew Pearson (Sandy McGrath), Simon Slater (Mr Liddell/Foster), Savannah Stevenson (Sybil Gordon), Paul Tinto (Secretary of the Gilbert & Sullivan Society), Tam Williams (Lord Andrew Lindsay), Mark Edel-Hunt (Aubrey Montague) and Nicholas Woodeson (Sam Mussabini).

Also in the cast are Sam Archer, Henry Davis, Lloyd Everitt, Daniel Fraser and Leemore Marrett Jr.

The Hampstead Theatre has transferred two productions to the West End during Edward Hall‘s two years as artistic director. Mike Leigh returned to his 1979 play Ecstasy, which had premiered at the Hampstead, and transferred the production to the West End’s Duchess Theatre for a limited 50-performance season in April last year.

The theatre also transferred Morgan Lloyd Malcolm’s first full-length play Belongings to Trafalgar Studios 2 for a limited season following a run at the Hampstead’s Michael Frayn Space at Hampstead Downstairs in June 2011.

Chariots of Fire is directed by Hampstead Theatre artistic director Edward Hall. The production is designed by Miriam Buether (who worked on Bartlett’s Earthquakes in London) and will also feature the music of the legendary Vangelis score with additional live music and arrangements by Tony Award winning composer Jason Carr.

Costumes are by Michael Howells with lighting by Rick Fisher, choreography by Scott Ambler and sound by Paul Groothuis.

West End transfer is produced by Hugh Hudson, Barbara Broccoli, Michael G Wilson and Michael Rose Limited.