Detail: Irish audiences will have their own opportunity to see the West End's longest-running comedy at the Olympia Theatre in May next year. The 39 Steps - adapted by Patrick Barlow and directed by Maria Aitken tours the UK and Ireland from 18 January to 5 June. This touring production kicks off at the Liverpool Playhouse where it will run as the theatres Christmas show from 3 December to 16 January. Now in its fourth year in the West End, The 39 Steps has racked up 28 productions internationally to date, including nearly 2 years on Broadway. The West End production continues its run at the Criterion Theatre.
The show will run at Dublin's Olympia Theatre from on Tue 25th, Wed 26th, Thu 27th, Fri 28th, Sat 29th May 2010 and Mon 31st, Tue 1st, Wed 2nd, Thu 3rd, Fri 4th, Sat 5th June 2010. Tickets priced from €31.00 euro are on sale now from Ticketmaster and usual outlets nationwide.
This blissfully funny show follows the incredible adventures of our handsome hero Richard Hannay, complete with stiff upper lip, British gung-ho and pencil moustache as he encounters dastardly murders, double-crossing secret agents, and, of course, devastatingly beautiful women. A cast of 4 fearless actors plays over 139 roles in 100 minutes of fast-paced fun and thrilling action.
Maria Aitken's multi award-winning production contains every single legendary scene from the 1935 classic Hitchcock movie thriller, including the chase on the Flying Scotsman, the escape on the Forth Bridge, the first theatrical bi-plane crash ever staged and the sensational death-defying finale in the London Palladium, as well as the 'stockings and suspenders scene', considered controversial at the time of the film's release.
Cast are Dugald Bruce-Lockhart as Hannay, Katherine Kingsley as Annabella/Margaret/Pamela, Dan Starkey as Man 1 and Richard Braine as Man 2.
Patrick Barlow commented on the production: We have four very skilled actors in the show and they need to be. Where else would they get the opportunity to run out on stage as an old lady, come off and then go back on minutes later as an underworld villain. And as director, Maria brings enormous wit and very funny visual ideas. This production has everything: comedy, thrills and romance.
Whether the show title is Die 39 Stufen (Germany), 39 Escalones (Spain) or 39 Basanak (Turkey), all these international productions are testament to the huge success of this production. Already there have been 28 productions around the world. Productions in Seoul, Tel Aviv and Italy are now in their second year. In the West End the production has won the Olivier and Whatsonstage Awards for Best Comedy and in the US the Broadway production won two Tony Awards and two Drama Desk Awards.
The 39 Steps is designed by Peter McKintosh, lighting design is by Ian Scott, sound design by Mic Pool, and movement by Toby Sedgwick. This UK tour production is re-directed by Hanna Berrigan. The 39 Steps is presented by Edward Snape for Fiery Angel Ltd and Tricycle London Productions Ltd in association with the West Yorkshire Playhouse. This production first opened in August 2006 at the Tricycle Theatre.