Casting announced for The Knowledge at Charing Cross Theatre
Casting has been announced for the stage premiere of The Knowledge, an adaptation of Jack Rosenthal's television comedy, at the Charing Cross Theatre.
Directed by his wife Maureen Lipman, Rosenthal's 1979 comedy is about a group of people training to become London black cab drivers by doing 'The Knowledge', the process by which cabbies learn the 20,000 streets in London. Lipman also starred in the TV film, alongside Nigel Hawthorne, Mick Ford and Kim Taylforth.
The cast will feature Steven Pacey as Mr Burgess, the examiner from the Public Carriage Office. Pacey has been nominated for an Olivier Award for his role as Bertie in By Jeeves, and has also appeared in Spamalot, Six Degrees of Separation and La Cage aux Folles.
Joining Pacey will be James Alexandrou, best known for playing Martin Fowler in EastEnders for 11 years, as Gordon, Jenna Augen (Bad Jews, St James Theatre) as Val, and Celine Abrahams (McMafia, BBC) as Brenda.
The cast is completed by Louise Callaghan (Miss Staveley), Ben Caplan (Ted), Alice Felgate (Janet), Fabien Franke and Michael Chance.
Maureen Lipman is an Olivier Award-winning actress who recently appeared in Lettice and Lovage in the West End with Felicity Kendal, and has previously directed a touring production of Barefoot in the Park, in which she also starred.
The story has been adapted for the stage for the first time by Simon Block, who is known for his work on the 2013 film The Physician and ITV series Home Fires.
The Knowledge will have set designs by Nicolai Hart-Hansen, costumes by Jonathan Lipman and sound design by Andrew Johnson. It will run at the Charing Cross Theatre from 4th September to 11 November with an official opening night on 11th September.
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