Rufus Hound cast in new One Man, Two Guvnors tour

Comedian Rufus Hound will become the third actor to play Francis Henshall in One Man, Two Guvnors when he leads the cast of the award-winning play’s new national tour later this year.

The role was created in the National Theatre production by Whatsonstage.com and Tony Award-winner James Corden. Corden transferred the show to the West End (and subsequently Broadway), with his understudy Owain Arthur taking it to its second West End home the Haymarket, where it continues.

The production will mark Rufus Hound’s second professional theatre role following his current turn in Utopia at Soho Theatre.

Speaking to Whatsonstage.com about his casting recently, Hound said: “It’s a phenomenal show. I’m kind of pals with James (Corden) and he got me tickets for it and I spent the whole show thinking ‘god that looks like fun, that would be so much fun to do’. And then I went and auditioned for Nick Hytner, and got a phone call the next day.”

Hound, 33, is best known for his appearances on TV quizzes including Celebrity Juice, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and 8 Out of 10 Cats. His film credits include forthcoming comedy The Wedding Video.

One Man, Two Guvnors, Richard Bean‘s 1960s Brighton-set re-working of Goldoni’s classic A Servant of Two Masters, won Bean the Best New Comedy prize at this year’s
Whatsonstage.com Awards and has also been recognised with Critics’
Circle and Evening Standard gongs as well as an Olivier Award
nomination.

The new national tour commences at the Curve in Leicester from 25 October-3 November 2012, and visits Newcastle Theatre Royal (6-10 November), Glasgow Theatre Royal (13-17 November), Belfast Grand Opera House (20-24 November), Blackpool Grand (27 November-1 December), Theatre Royal Norwich (4-8 December), Leeds Grand Theatre (11-15 December), Llandudno, Venue Cymru (2-5 January), Salford Lowry (8-19 January), Cardiff Millenium Centre (22-26 January) and Nottingham Theatre Royal (29 January-2 February).

Further casting for the tour is still to be announced, though the BBC reports that current cast member Jodie Prenger will join Hound for shows at the Lowry in Salford and her home town of Blackpool.