Niamh Cusack is to star opposite Anne-Marie Duff in Terence Rattigan’s Cause Célèbre at the Old Vic from 17 March.
London stage regular Cusack will play jury forewoman Edith Davenport in this drama based on the true story of Alma Rattenbury (Duff), who was put on trial in 1935 with her 18-year-old lover accused of violently killing her husband.
Rattigan’s final play, Cause Célèbre examines the role of passion, guilt and loyalty in 1930s English sensibilities through the eyes of these two women.
Cusack returns to the Old Vic following Dancing At Lughnasa in 2009. Her recent stage work also includes the Women, Power And Politics season at the Tricycle theatre, Andersen’s English at the Hampstead theatre and The Enchantment at the National Theatre. Cusack is also well-known for her role in television’s Heartbeat.
The cast of Cause Célèbre also includes Freddie Fox (A Flea In Her Ear at the Old Vic), Laurence Olivier Award-winner Jenny Galloway (Mamma Mia!, Rattigan’s After The Dance), Patrick Godfrey (The Crucible at the Regent’s Park Open Air theatre) and Nicholas Jones (Inherit The Wind at the Old Vic).
Cause Célèbre forms part of the 2011 celebrations for the centenary of Rattigan’s birth. The playwright, who died in 1977, was the author of works including The Browning Version, The Deep Blue Sea, After The Dance, Man And Boy, In Praise Of Love and Separate Tables. He also wrote numerous screenplays, including The Prince And The Showgirl, Goodbye Mr Chips and Brighton Rock.
This production for the Old Vic is directed by Thea Sharrock, who directed Rattigan’s After The Dance at the National Theatre last year.
Cause Célèbre opens to the press on 29 March and runs until 11 June.
CB