Timothy West Leads Winslow at Kingston Rose

Timothy West (pictured) will lead the cast in Stephen Unwin‘s forthcoming revival of Terence Rattigan’s The Winslow Boy at the Rose Theatre, Kingston (15 May 2009, previews from 7 May), the first new production of the venue’s 2009 season (See News, 14 Feb 2009).

The Rose, which opened in January 2008, has faced many financial difficulties since its conception, leading to a £2.7 million bailout package being approved by Kingston Council earlier this year (See News, 6 Jan 2009). Sir Peter Hall, who acted as artistic director during the venue’s planning and development stages, has since handed the reins to English Touring Theatre founder Stephen Unwin.

First performed in 1946, The Winslow Boy is based on a true story and set during the turbulent years leading up to the First World War. Ronnie Winslow, a thirteen year old naval cadet, is falsely accused of theft. His father Arthur (West) and sister Catherine take matters into their own hands to prove his innocence and restore the honour of their family’s name.

West is joined by Claire Cox (Catherine), Diane Fletcher (Grace) and Adrian Lukis (Sir Robert Morton). The cast is completed by Rachel Edwards, Sarah Flind, Thomas Howes, Tom Jude, Roger May, John Sackville and Hugh Wyld.

Timothy West was last seen on the London stage in the Harold Pinter double-bill The Lover/ The Collection at the Comedy theatre last year (See News, 12 Dec 2007), with other recent stage credits including The Old Country at Trafalgar Studios and Coriolanus for the RSC.  His many television appearances have included Bleak House, Brass, Murder in Mind and Bedtime, while on film, he’s been seen in Iris, The Day of the Jackal, Joan of Arc and Ever After.

The Winslow Boy is at the Rose until 30 May, when it embarks on a national tour including stops in Cambridge (1-6 June), Guildford (8-13 June), Bath (15-20 June), Oxford (22-27 June), Malvern (29 June-4 July), Milton Keynes (6-11 July), Bromley (13-18 July) and Brighton (20-25 July).

– by Theo Bosanquet