Helen Baxendale Joins Slater in London’s Swimming With Sharks

British film and stage star Helen Baxendale, who played Emily on the hit American TV series Friends, will join star Christian Slater in Michael Lesslie’s world premiere stage adaptation of the cult 1994 film Swimming With Sharks, which begins a four-month run at the Vaudeville Theatre on October 5. The production, which will officially open on October 15, will be directed by Wilson Milam and designed by Dick Bird.

Slater will play Buddy Ackerman, one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, the mastermind of a top studio’s high-grossing, ultra violent horror slate — and the boss from hell. Baxendale plays sexy producer Dawn Lockyard. The cast will also feature Matt Smith, Elizabeth Croft, Arthur Darvill, Mark Edel-Hunt, Jonathan Newth, and Fanos Xenofos.

In related news, the Vaudeville’s next tenant after Sharks will be Peter Gill’s new revival of Oscar Wilde’s classic 1895 comedy The Importance of Being Earnest starring Penelope Keith as Lady Bracknell. The production, which will run January 22-April 26, will also star Harry Hadden-Paton, Daisy Haggard, Janet Henfrey, Maxwell Hutcheon, Rebecca Night, Roger Swaine, and Tim Wylton.

For more information, visit www.whatsonstage.com.