The Country Girl
By Clifford Odets
Directed by Rufus Norris
Monday 20th – Saturday 25th September
Starring Martin Shaw and Jenny Seagrove
PRIOR TO WEST END
Clifford Odets rocked the worlds of Broadway and Hollywood with this riveting backstage drama about a washed-up actor and his long-suffering wife whose marriage is put to the test when he gets a second chance at stardom.
Frank Elgin, a once-great theatre star, is thrown a lifeline to resurrect his dissipated career when he is offered a major role by hotshot director Bernie Dodd. But will Frank manage to hold his demons at bay long enough to regain his confidence? And is his wife, Georgie, his saviour or his foe?
Martin Shaw
Jenny Seagrove
In this searing emotional drama of love and redemption Martin Shaw and Jenny Seagrove, stars of the multi-award-winning BBC drama Judge John Deed, are reunited to appear on stage together for the very first time, in this prestigious prior to West End production. They take on the roles played by Morgan Freeman and Frances McDormand on Broadway in 2008, and by Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly in the Oscar-winning 1954 movie version, with direction by Rufus Norris, whose credits include the Critics’ Circle and Evening Standard Award-winning Festen and Olivier Award-winning production of Cabaret.
Martin Shaw’s most recent stage appearance was in the West End hit A Man for All Seasons: “Martin Shaw is magnificent” (Daily Express). His role in the iconic TV series The Professionals ensured his status as a British screen idol of the era, whilst more recently Martin is best known for starring in Inspector George Gently. He is joined by his co-star from Judge John Deed Jenny Seagrove, whose many starring screen roles include Emma Harte in A Woman of Substance, The Betrothed with Burt Lancaster and Don’t Go Breaking My Heart with Anthony Edwards. Jenny’s extensive theatre credits have seen her play lead roles in almost every West End playhouse. Her most recent West End performance was in Peter Hall’s critically-acclaimed production of Alan Ayckbourn’s Bedroom Farce, which followed her starring in the West End premiere of A Daughter’s A Daughter, described as: “the finest performance of her career” (Daily Telegraph). Bernie Dodd is played by Mark Letheren, whose numerous TV and theatre credits include lead roles in Wire in the Blood, Silent Witness and Cloud 9 at the Almeida Theatre.
Clifford Odets was amongst the most important American playwrights of the 1930s whose early plays, including Waiting For Lefty and Awake and Sing!, made him an overnight success all over the world.
| Mon–Fri Evening & Sat Matinee | £20.50 | £23.00 | £28.00 | £32.50 | £34.50 |
| Saturday Evening | £21.50 | £25.50 | £29.50 | £34.50 | £36.50 |
| Midweek Matinees | £16.00 | £21.00 | £26.00 | £28.00 | £30.00 |
Please note that, due to the staging of some productions, the Grand Circle may be restricted view
Performance Times
Monday – Wednesday: 7.30pm
Thursday – Saturday: 8.00pm
Matinees: Wednesday Thursday & Saturday 2.30pm
Lunch and Listen Wednesday 22nd
Active audience day – Saturday December 4th – location: The Ustinov
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