© Dan Wooller
Also in the cast are Richard Beanland, Sarah-Jayne Butler, Claire Cartwright, Andrew Jarvis, Mary Keegan, Joanna Wake and John Wark.
Produced by Snapdragon Productions, Thark has been newly adapted by prolific actor/writer Clive Francis and runs in the 200-seat main house from 23 August to 22 September 2013 (previews from 21 August).
Thark, which premiered in 1927, has become one of Travers’ best loved ‘Aldwych Farces’. The first London revival was in 1965 with Peter Cushing and Alex McCowen as Hector Benbow and Ronny Gamble. The play was later revived at the Lyric Hammersmith in 1989, with Dinsdale Landen and Griff Rhys Jones.
The play centres on Sir Hector Benbow (Culkin), whose secret liaison with shop girl Cherry (Barker), is scuppered by his wife’s early arrival home. What’s more, there are reports that Thark – the family home – is haunted.
Hector, his plucky nephew Ronny (Dutton), and the rest of the family set out to the house to prove the rumours wrong. But Thark promises to live up to its spine-chilling reputation.
Snapdragon Productions is led by producer Sarah Loader and artistic director Eleanor Rhode (who directs Thark). Last year the company won a Stage One bursary for emerging producers.
The Park Theatre is situated in Finsbury Park and opened its doors in May this year. Read our interview with artistic director Jez Bond.
