Almeida Theatre announces full casting for Michael Grandage’s THE LINE OF BEAUTY
Full casting has been announced for the world premiere of The Line of Beauty, adapted by Jack Holden from Alan Hollinghurst’s Booker Prize-winning novel, which plays at the Almeida Theatre from 21 October-29 November.
Tony Award winner Michael Grandage directs this captivating portrait of Thatcher’s Britain at its most decadent and divisive.
The cast includes Francesca Amewudah-Rivers (Romeo & Juliet, West End) as Rosemary Charles, Ellie Bamber (The Lady from the Sea, Donmar Warehouse) as Catherine Fedden, Doreene Blackstock (A Raisin in the Sun, Lyric Hammersmith) as Mrs Charles, Charles Edwards (Best of Enemies, Young Vic) as Gerald Fedden, Arty Froushan (Leopoldstadt, West End/Broadway) as Wani Ouradi, Claudia Harrison (Hamlet Hail to the Thief, RSC) as Rachel Fedden, Matt Mella (Checkpoint Chana, Finborough Theatre) as Pete/Ricky, Hannah Morrish (The Brightening Air, Old Vic) as Penny Kent/Sophie Tipper, Alistair Nwachukwu (Choir Boy, Bristol Old Vic) as Leo Charles, Robert Portal (The Boyfriend, Menier Chocolate Factory) as Badger, Leo Suter (Romeo and Juliet, Southwark Playhouse) as Toby Fedden, and Jasper Talbot (Inter Alia, National Theatre) as Nick Guest.
London. Summer, 1983.
Nick Guest moves into the grand Notting Hill home of his university friend Toby — and into the dazzling world of Toby’s father Gerald, a newly elected Tory MP, his elegant wife Rachel, and their troubled daughter Cat. From private gardens to country estates, glittering parties to political dinners, Nick is swept up in a world of money, power and privilege. A world that promises everything — and exacts a cost.
As he pursues beauty in all its forms — aesthetic, erotic, aspirational — Nick finds himself caught between the freedoms of desire and the rigid boundaries of class, sexuality and public image in a rapidly changing Britain.
The production has set and costume design by Christopher Oram, lighting by Howard Hudson, sound designer and composition by Adam Cork, movement and intimacy direction by Ben Wright, and casting by Sophie Holland CDG.