Brian Blessed, Stephen Daldry, Stephen Fry, Eddie Izzard, Clive Owen Set for Playing the Games

Additional casting and details has been announced for Playing the Games, a program of work at the Criterion Theatre which will celebrate both artistic and sporting talent and feature artists as well as Olympians, July 26-August 12.

As previously reported, highlights include Stephen Fry interviewing the 400 meter hurdle gold medalist Edwin Moses (August 6), which is part of the lunchtime series in which a leading arts personality interviews a world-renowned sporting legend or Olympian on the stage of the Criterion Theatre.

Additional events in this series include television presenter and columnist Rick Edwards interviewing athlete Kriss Akabusi (July 30); film and theatre director and Creative Executive Producer of Ceremonies for the London Olympic Games Stephen Daldry interviewing Haile Gebrseselassie (August 7); and actor Clive Owen interviewing Adrien Niyonshuti (August 10).

Brian Blessed, Stephen Fry and Eddie Izzard will take part in Sporting stories before bedtime (August 10), reading from a collection of literature’s funniest and most iconic sporting tales.

In addition, emerging British playwrights Serge Cartwright and Adam Brace have been commissioned to write new plays in response to the presence of the Olympic Games in London. Sam Hodges will direct the world premiere of Serge Cartwright’s After the Party, directed by Sam Hodges and featuring Sophie Cosson, David Fynn, Malcolm Hamilton, Kate Lamb and Richard Riddell; and Adam Brace’ s Taking Part, directed by Charlotte Gwinner and featuring Obi Abili and Paul Moriarty.

There will also be Paper Cinema: The Odyssey, featuring puppets, live cinema and a three piece band (August 12), as well as late-night performances by novelist Mark Watson (July 26), writer and actor Alan Davies (July 29), and comedian Stephen K Amos (July 31).

For more information and tickets for Playing the Games, click here.