Theatre News

Goodman-Hill Replaces Gatiss in Darker Shores

Mark Gatiss has had to withdraw from Hampstead Theatre’s forthcoming Christmas production, Darker Shores, due to the serious illness of a family member.

League of Gentlemen star Gatiss, who was due to play Professor Gabriel Stokes in Michael Punter’s Victorian ghost play, will be replaced by Tom Goodman-Hill, who recently finished in the Royal Court run of Lucy Prebble‘s award-winning Enron.

The first preview of Darker Shores (on 3 December) has been cancelled. The production will preview from 4 December and the press night remains unchanged on 7 December 2009.

Anthony Clark, artistic director of Hampstead Theatre and director of Darker Shores said: “Our thoughts are with Mark, who is currently with his family. We are very sad that his hard work and talent will not be seen on stage in this production. However, we are very fortunate to have Tom Goodman-Hill joining the cast at the eleventh hour. He joins us during technical rehearsals and we are confident that he will bring an equally special quality to the role.”

Darker Shores, which is billed as a “gripping and shadowy tale of suspense”, marks Anthony Clark‘s final production as artistic director of the Hampstead (See News, 30 Jun 2009), and runs until 16 January 2009 as part of the venue’s 50th anniversary season.

Goodman-Hill, whose other stage credits include Spamalot in the West End, joins Julian Rhind-Tutt, Pamela Miles and Vinette Robinson in the cast.