Shaw & Seagrove Reunite in Country Girl at Apollo

Martin Shaw and Jenny Seagrove, who starred together in TV’s Judge John Deed, will reunite on stage in a revival of Clifford Odets’ 1950 play The Country Girl. Following a tour launching from Windsor next month, the new production, directed by Rufus Norris, will transfer to the West End for a limited season from 11 October 2010 (previews from 6 October) at the Apollo Theatre, where it’s initially booking to 26 February 2011.

The production marks some other important reunions for Martin Shaw – he previously appeared in the same play (albeit in another part) at the same address in 1983 for the same producer Bill Kenwright, who has his first big West End hit with the previous production.

In The Country Girl, Frank Elgin (Shaw), once a great theatre star, is down on his luck, but when he’s offered a major role by hotshot director Bernie Dodd, he has the chance to make a major comeback. Will Frank regain his confidence and save his turbulent career? Will he be supported in his quest for a second chance by his long-suffering wife, Georgie (Seagrove)?

The Country Girl was made into an Oscar-winning film starring Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly in 1954. The play was revived on Broadway in 2008 with Morgan Freeman and Frances McDormand.

Shaw and Seagrove are joined in the cast by Mark Letheren as Bernie Dodd (the part played in 1983 by Shaw), Peter Harding, Nicholas Day, Luke Shaw and Thomasin Rand. The production is designed by Scott Pask, with lighting by Mark Howett and sound by Ben Harrison. It’s produced by Bill Kenwright Ltd.

Prior to London, The Country Girl opens at the Theatre Royal Windsor, where it runs from 20 to 31 July 2010, and then visits Leeds, Richmond, Shrewsbury, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Malvern, Birmingham, Bath and Brighton, where the tour concludes on 2 October.