Nikolai Foster’s acclaimed anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s seminal comedy Beautiful Thing will return to the Arts Theatre this summer for a limited six week run.
Former EastEnders star Charlie Brooks will lead the cast of the modern classic from 3 June to 11 July alongside fellow EastEnders actor Thomas Law and Skins’ Sam Jackson as Ste and Jamie, the two teenagers at the centre of this touching love story.
Set on an inner city housing estate, Gimme Gimme Gimme writer Harvey’s story tells the tale of the burgeoning relationship between the two classmates and neighbours. Together the two boys find comedy, warmth and the music of Mama Cass through their loud-mouthed next door neighbour, Leah, along with Jamie’s mum, Sandra (Brooks) and her neo-hippy boyfriend, Tony.
Completing the cast are Hollyoaks star Gerard McCarthy, who boasts stage credits including Blue/Orange at the Ambassadors Theatre, and West End productions of Mamma Mia! and Saturday Night Fever, and Vanessa Babirye, who was most recently seen in Romeo And Juliet at the National Theatre.
Foster’s 20th anniversary production of Beautiful Thing returns to the Arts Theatre following its 2013 premiere. At the time, the director told Official London Theatre: “I’d like everybody and anybody to come and see the play because whether gay, straight or whatever it’s a play of our time and it’s about the world we live in. Without sounding cheesy or theatrical, I think it should challenge people but they should essentially come away feeling that life is better for having this play in the world.”
Speaking about its revival, Tom O’Connell, the show’s Executive Producer, commented: “Further to our award-winning West End season in 2013, the demand to bring Nikolai Foster’s sell-out production back to London has been overwhelming. I’m thrilled that it can return to the Arts Theatre, a perfect intimate space for our beautiful, intimate play.”
Beautiful Thing will arrive at the Leicester Square venue following the closure of its long-running it Ghost Stories on 15 March.