Jones Stars in Parlour Song; Atkins, Goodman, Staunton, et al. Set for Almeida Benefit

Amanda Drew, Toby Jones, and Andrew Lincoln will star in the European premiere of Jez Butterworth’s Parlour Song, to play the West End’s Almeida Theatre, March 19-May 9, with an opening on March 26. Ian Rickson will direct.

The play is about a married couple and their neighbor, and explores what happens when two ordinary people discover they hate who they have become, in a world where all is not what is seems. The production will feature designs by Jeremy Herbert, lighting by Peter Mumford, and music is by Stephen Warbeck.

Drew previously appeared at the Almeida in Enemies, A Chain Play, and is best known for playing Dr. May Wright in TV’s EastEnders. Jones won an Olivier for The Play What I Wrote, and will be seen in January in the National’s production of Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. He can currently be seen as Swifty Lazar in the film version of Frost/Nixon. Lincoln’s theatre credits include The Late Henry Moss, Free, Blue/Orange, and Hushabye Mountain, and his numerous television credits include This Life and Teachers.

In related news, Imelda Staunton will host the Almeida’s 2009 Fundraising Gala on February 8, which will feature Eileen Atkins, Henry Goodman, Nigel Lindsay, David Morrissey, Bill Paterson, and Clive Rowe.

For more information, call 020 7288 4936 or visit www.almeida .co.uk.