Imogen Stubbs to star in The Glass Menagerie

Imogen Stubbs is cast as Amanda Wingfield in a new production of Tennessee Williams’ play The Glass Menagerie and will be directed by Polly Teale in a co-production between Salisbury Playhouse and Shared Experience, opening in Salisbury in March 2010 prior to a national tour.

Shared Experience bring their bold and highly imaginative style to Tennessee William’s autobiographical play, which brilliantly captures a portrait of a family in crisis. Polly Teale’s new production explores the inner world of memory as Tennessee himself returns to confront the past and his family come to haunt the stage.

Set in St. Louis at the heart of the American depression, Amanda clings to memories of her idyllic youth in the South. With her husband long gone and her own days of courtship over, she is determined to find her daughter a husband. But Laura is painfully shy; she plays with her collection of glass animals and lives in a world of her own. Amanda’s son Tom (based on Tennessee) an aspiring poet in a dead-end job, secretly dreams of escape. But when he is given the task of finding a suitable gentleman caller for his sister, it is an evening that will be forever imprinted on their memories.

Imogen Stubbs’ extensive credits include The Rainbow, (BBC) the film Jack & Sarah, Betrayal and The Relapse at the National Theatre and Closer in the West End. Full casting will be announced in early 2010.

Shared Experience has captivated audiences the world over with its productions, fusing stunning visual imagery with powerful text. Recent works include Jane Eyre, War and Peace, After Mrs Rochester, Kindertransport and the highly acclaimed 2009 production of The Caucasion Chalk Circle.

Salisbury Playhouse is one of Britain’s leading producing theatres and in recent months has produced its own production of plays as varied as Arsenic and Old Lace, Blackbird and the premiere of Rose Tremain’s Restoration.

LISTING AND TOUR INFORMATION

4 – 20 March 2010
Salisbury Playhouse
salisburyplayhouse.com

23 – 27 March 2010
Watford Palace Theatre
watfordpalacetheatre.org

7 – 10 April 2010
Liverpool Playhouse
everymanplayhouse.com

13 – 17 April 2010
Cambridge Arts Theatre
cambridgeartstheatre.com

20 – 24 April 2010
Oxford Playhouse
oxfordplayhouse.com

27 April – 1 May 2010
Glasgow Citizens Theatre
citz.co.uk

5 – 8 May 2010
Theatre at the Mill, Newtownabbey
Booking details to be confirmed