Stenham’s That Face to transfer to West End

Published Monday 18 February 2008 at 14:25 by Alistair Smith

Polly Stenham’s hit debut play That Face, which premiered at the Royal Court last year, is to transfer to the West End’s Duke of York’s Theatre in May.

The show, which has been nominated for an Olivier Award, will retain Lindsay Duncan and Matt Smith from its original cast and will also feature Catherine Steadman and Julian Wadham. Further casting will be announced shortly.

Directed by Jeremy Herrin, That Face will be produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions, Tulchin/Bartner and Jamie Hendry. It previews from May 1 with press night on May 8 and is booking until July 5, 2008. Design is by Mike Britton, with lighting by Natasha Chivers and sound by Emma Laxton. As a joint pricing initiative with the Royal Court, 100 of the best seats will be available for every performance at £25 bookable in advance.

That Face was written when Stenham was just 19 and received its world premiere in April last year at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, having been developed through the Royal Court’s Young Writers Programme. Stenham went on to receive both the Evening Standard’s Charles Wintour Award and Critics’ Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright, as well as the Theatrical Management Association Award for Best Play. The cast is nominated for this year’s Laurence Olivier Award Outstanding Achievement in an Affliliate Theatre. Stenham has also received a substantial grant from the UK Film Council to adapt her play for the big screen.