Director: Deborah Warner
The School for Scandal
Barbican Theatre
bite11 festival
Wednesday 11 May – Saturday 18 June 2011
Press night: Friday 20 May, 7.15pm*
The School for Scandal , Richard Brinsley Sheridan ’s masterful 18th century comedy, marks the highly anticipated return of groundbreaking director Deborah Warner to the Barbican since becoming Artistic Associate following her hugely successful production of Julius Caesar in 2005. One of the most frequently performed plays of its period, The School for Scandal has not received a major revival since the RSC’s 1998 production. This new version sees the return to the stage of award-winning actor Alan Howard (playing the role of Sir Peter Teazle), last seen at the National Theatre in 2008 in Oedipus and Katherine Parkinson (playing the role of Lady Teazle), winner of Best Television Comedy Actress at the 2009 British Comedy Awards for her role in the IT Crowd. The School for Scandal is produced by the Barbican and co-produced by the Holland Festival where it plays after the Barbican run (24 – 26 June).
A searing lampoon of a society obsessed by wit, fashion and public reputation. With its glorious cast of characters including Snake, Sir Benjamin Backbite, Lady Candour and the Surface brothers, this is a timely revival of Sheridan’s high-spirited, comic masterpiece.
The cast includes: Leo Bill, Anthony Mark Barrow, Adam Gillen, Cara Horgan, Alan Howard, Will Joseph Irvine, Joseph Kloska, Stephen Kennedy, Aidan McArdle, John McEnery, Harry Melling, Katherine Parkinson, Gary Sefton, John Shrapnel and Jonathan Delaney Tynan.
Lighting is by Jean Kalman, music is by Mel Mercier, sound is by Christopher Shutt and set and video design is by Jeremy Herbert.