Samantha Bond and Owen Teale will join Olivier Award-winning actress Zoë Wanamaker in David Leveaux’s forthcoming revival of Peter Nichols’ Passion Play at the Duke of York’s theatre.
Playing from 1 May (press night 7 May) to 3 August, Passion Play tells the story of James and Eleanor, a married couple whose lives are turned upside down when James begins having an affair with their young friend Kate.
Arguably best known for her role as Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond films, Bond, who plays Eleanor’s alter ego Nell in Leveaux’s production, was last seen on the London stage in Sean Foley’s production of Joe Orton’s What The Butler Saw. While the actress’ other West End stage credits include An Ideal Husband, Arcadia and A Woman Of No Importance, she is also well known for her television appearances in British sitcom Outnumbered and ITV’s hit period drama Downton Abbey, in which she stars alongside the presenter of this year’s Olivier Awards with MasterCard Hugh Bonneville.
Currently appearing in Anna Wakulik’s drama A Time Of Reap at the Royal Court theatre, Tony Award-winning actor Teale (James) has previously appeared on stage in productions including The Country, also at the Royal Court theatre, Creditors at the Donmar Warehouse and A Doll’s House in the West End and on Broadway, for which he gained his prestigious accolade. His on screen credits include British police drama Line Of Duty and American fantasy series Game Of Thrones.
Joining the trio in Nichols’ tale of desire, intimacy and deception are Oliver Cotton, Annabel Scholey and Sian Thomas.
Last seen in Polly Findlay’s production of Antigone at the National Theatre, Scholey has appeared in productions including the Kevin Spacey-led Richard III at the Old Vic theatre and social farce The Rivals at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on stage, and supernatural drama Being Human and the BBC’s 2006 adaptation of Jane Eyre on screen.
Cotton, whose on screen credits include recent Victorian-set crime drama Ripper Street, has appeared on stage in productions including An Ideal Husband at the Lyric theatre, Benefactors at the Vaudeville theatre and The Homecoming at the Garrick theatre, while Olivier Award nominated actress Thomas’ theatre credits include Richard II at the Donmar Warehouse, Spring Awakening at the Lyric Hammersmith and in the West End, and The Way Of The World at the National Theatre.
Passion Play will open at the Duke of York’s theatre following Rupert Everett’s acclaimed performance in the West End transfer of The Judas Kiss, David Hare’s powerful play about Oscar Wilde’s fall from grace, which plays until 6 April.