The Stage

John Simm and Michael Frayn to feature in Sheffield Theatres’ 40th anniversary season

Published Thursday 20 October 2011 at 14:17 by Natalie Woolman

John Simm will star in Betrayal as part of Sheffield Theatres’ 40th anniversary season, which will also feature a trio of Michael Frayn plays.

Playwright Michael Frayn, whose plays and other works will be featured in Sheffield Theatres' 40th anniversary season Photo: Scott Matthewman

Simm will play Jerry in Harold Pinter’s play, which will be directed by Nick Bagnall. It will run from May 17 to June 9, 2012, with press night on May 22, 2012.

The Michael Frayn season will feature revivals of Copenhagen, Benefactors and Democracy and will take place across the Sheffield Theatres venues – the Lyceum, the Crucible and the Studio from February next year. Rehearsed readings of other texts will also be included in the mini-season, alongside an event with the playwright.

William Congreve’s The Way of the World will launch the second six months of the organisation’s year-long 40th anniversary celebrations in February and will be directed by Lyndsey Turner.

Meanwhile, Sheffield Theatres has also announced that it is to become the new home of the International Student Drama Festival and that it will stage the premiere of Kaite O’Reilly’s LeanerFasterStronger with Chol Theatre in association with iMove as part of Yorkshire’s Cultural Olympiad.

Artistic director Daniel Evans said: “It is a genuine privilege to be leading the organisation during this special time.”