David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 2006 play Rabbit Hole receives its first major London revival care of husband-and-wife-led Front Foot Theatre, running at the Union Theatre from 12 April to 1 May 2022, with a press night on 14 April. Time to get booking!
Returning to the stage for the first time since their award-nominated 2017 production of Richard III, Front Foot Theatre is back with a tale of forgiveness charting the path from grief to its antidotes – love and hope.
Becca and Howie had the perfect life — a great marriage, a beautiful house, a wonderful family.
But when a life-shattering accident turns their world upside down the couple must answer tough questions about themselves, their relationship, and their places in the universe. As improbably funny as it is heartbreaking, filled with distinctive wit and grace, we witness family members surviving, battling and facing their own worst fears head-on.
David Lindsay-Abaire‘s Rabbit Hole premiered on Broadway in 2006, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and netting five Tony Award nominations and the award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for star Cynthia Nixon. The 2010 film adaptation starring Nicole Kidman received, amongst many other accolades, a Golden Globe nomination.
Rabbit Hole received its London premiere at Hampstead Theatre in 2016. Six years on, Front Foot’s revival is the first time it has been seen in London since.
In Front Foot’s production, the company’s husband-and-wife founders Kim Hardy and Julia Papp play grieving husband and wife Howie and Becca. They’re joined in the cast by Ty Glaser (Izzy), Emma Vansittart (Nat) and Max Pemberton (Jason).
Rabbit Hole is directed by Lawrence Carmichael and designed by Ethan Cheek, with lighting by Ryan Day. The producers are Helen Rose-Hampton and Joanna Buchta.
The run at the Union Theatre is presented in partnership with The Child Death Helpline charity. Julia Papp and Kim Hardy commented:
“We have joined forces with The Child Death Helpline based at Great Ormond Street Hospital to help raise awareness of the great things this charity does every day in providing support for bereaved families and children who have suffered loss. We are donating a percentage of our box office takings to their cause.”
What the critics say
Front Foot has received critical praise for their Offies-nominated productions of Proof and Richard III.
“The acting was absolutely superb” – Broke In The Big Smoke
“The show is breathtaking” – At Stage Door
“A superbly talented and strong cast in an excitingly intense, fresh and modern adaptation” – View From the Cheap Seat
“The company was spectacularly talented and united flawlessly to produce an honest and enthralling piece” – Theatress
Kim Hardy in Richard III in 2017
About Front Foot Theatre
Front Foot Theatre was founded by husband and wife team Kim Hardy and Julia Papp in 2013. Kim and Julia first worked together at a Chekhov workshop with the Salon Collective in 2011 which culminated in an evening of Chekhov scenes where they first played Konstantin and Nina from The Seagull.
They fell in love with the characters and waited for two years for an opportunity to work on the whole play, but that opportunity never came so they decided to take matters into their own hands. Thus Front Foot Theatre was developed. They produced The Seagull at the White Bear Theatre and Kim got an Ian Charles commendation for his role of Konstantin.
It all started 11 years ago when @KimHardyActor & @OrsolyaJulia first locked eyes. Here they are in the Seagull as Nina and Konstantin, Proof as Catherine and Hal, Richard III as Richard and Lady Anne and now we have Rabbit Hole coming up @TheUnionTheatre #anniversary pic.twitter.com/zypRmIgQi2
— Front Foot Theatre (@FrontFootT) March 16, 2022
After having a taste of the independence and creative freedom of producing their own show, they started to look for their next project, reading hundreds of plays, until they settled on Pulitzer Prize-winning David Auburn’s Proof which they put on in 2015 at the Chiswick Playhouse (then Tabard Theatre) playing Catherine and Hal. Proof was nominated for two Off West End Awards for Best Set Design (Michael Leopold) and Best Supporting Actress (Mary-Ann Cafferkey).
Front Foot Theatre
The company’s next stage production was a highly physical Richard III at The Cockpit Theatre in 2017. This was their first collaboration with director Lawrence Carmichael, which earned Kim an Off Westend Award nomination for Best Actor.
After Richard III, they took some time off from producing and welcomed a baby boy to their family in 2018 and a baby girl in 2021. They were planning their next production when Covid hit. In April 2022, they reunite with Lawrence Carmichael for Rabbit Hole at the Union Theatre.
