The Stage

Redgrave and York head cruise theatre launch

Published Tuesday 10 June 2008 at 16:55 by Alistair Smith

Leading UK actresses Lynn Redgrave and Susannah York are among the names lined up to appear in a new Theatre at Sea venture launched by US cruise operator Crystal.

Redgrave and York will headline the programme offered on board a 12-night cruise from Venice to Monte Carlo later this year.

Other talent includes Academy Award-winning actress Patricia Neal, Brady Bunch star Florence Henderson and Academy Award nominee Gena Rowlands.

The choice of line-up marks something of a departure for live entertainment on cruise ships, which have tended to focus on musical and variety-based shows rather than theatre performances. Redgrave will perform Nightingale, which tells the story of her theatrical family, while York will appear in one-woman show The Loves of Shakespeare’s Women.

Nick Thomas, chairman of Qdos Entertainment, which has just expanded into the cruise market in a deal with Celebrity Cruises, described the line-up as “fascinating”.

“It’s something I’d like to look at,” he added. “I couldn’t imagine something like this working for a mass market, but as a specific marketing tool for a single cruise, I think it’s a very interesting development.”

Crystal Cruises is a US-based company, operating two high-end vessels, the 940-guest Crystal Symphony and the 1,080 guest Crystal Serenity. The Theatre at Sea cruise will take place on board the Serenity in September.