Jonathan Bailey has been cast as John alongside, as previously announced, Ben Batt as George and Lesley Nicol as George’s mother in Robert Hastie‘s major new production of Peter Gill‘s 2001 play The York Realist. The production opens at London’s Donmar Warehouse from 8 February to 24 March 2018, with a press night on 13 February, before transferring from 27 March to 7 April 2018 to Sheffield Crucible where Hastie is now artistic director.
‘I live here. I live here. You can’t see that, though. You can’t see it. This is where I live. Here.’
A cottage, 1960s Yorkshire. The York Mystery plays are in rehearsal. Farmhand George strains against his roots as a new world opens up to him. Peter Gill’s influential play about two young men in love is a touching reflection on the rival forces of family, class and longing.
The original English Touring Theatre production, directed by Gill himself, premiered at The Lowry in 2001, before transferring to Bristol Old Vic, the Royal Court and on to the West End with Lloyd Owen as George, Richard Coyle as John and Anne Reid and George’s mother.
Also in the cast of the new production are: Lucy Black, Brian Fletcher, Katie West and Matthew Wilson. The production is designed by Peter McKintosh, with lighting by Paul Pyant, sound by Emma Laxton and music by Richard Taylor.
Bio
Jonathan Bailey (John) makes his Donmar Warehouse debut in The York Realist. His theatre credits include King Lear (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Last Five Years (The Other Palace), American Psycho (Almeida Theatre), Othello (National Theatre), South Downs (Chichester Festival Theatre/West End), The Girl with the Pearl Earring (West End), Beautiful Thing (Sound Theatre), and King John (RSC). Television credits include Jack Ryan, W1A, Chewing Gum, Hooten and the Lady, Crashing, Broadchurch, Doctor Who, Some Girls, Me & Mrs Jones and Leonardo. Jonathan’s film credits include The Mercy, Testament of Youth, St. Trinians and Five Children and It.
