"Calico" by Michael Hastings at Duke of Yorks Theatre from 19 Feb 2004

"Calico" by Michael Hastings at Duke of Yorks Theatre from 19 Feb 2004

Calico by Michael Hastings, will open at the Duke of York's Theatre 3 Mar 2004, following previews from 19 Feb 2004, and booking to 29 May 2004

Tickets are on sale now!!

Directed by Edward Hall , the cast includes Imelda Staunton, Dermot Crowley, Romola Garai

This new play concerns the passionate relationship between James Joyce's troubled daughter Lucia and the playwright Samuel Beckett

The romance was at its height in 1928, and only Nora Barnacle knew about it. She kept the relationship, which was probably never consummated, from her husband. The novelist only found out about it later.

Lucia, who was considered very unstable by her parents and was seen by the psychiatrist Carl Jung in 1934, spent her last 20 years in a nursing home where she died in 1982 aged 75. She had earlier been befriended by an English lady, Jane Lidderdale, who became what virtually amounted to her guardian.

The title of the play, Calico, comes from the cotton which is sometimes put around the wrists of those who are taken off to mental homes.

Imelda Staunton's London stage credits include: "Guys and Dolls" at the National in 1996; " Habeas Corpus" at the Donmar Warehouse in 1996; "Life x 3 " at the National in 2000 & Old Vic in 2001.

Dermot Crowley's most recent London stage credits include: "His Girl Friday" and "Scenes From The Big Picture" both at the National Theatre in 2003.

Romola Garai's TV credits include the BBC costume drama "Daniel Deronda" and "the TV mini series "Perfect". Her film credits include "I Capture the Castle" and "Nicholas Nickleby" .