Lucy Punch cast as Paige Britain in Great Britain transfer

Lucy Punch has been cast in the leading role of Paige Britain (replacing Billie Piper) in the West End transfer of The National Theatre production of Richard Bean's new play Great Britain, which transfers to The West End's Haymarket Theatre, opening 26 Sep 2014, following previews from 10 Sep - booking to 10 Jan 2015.

Lucy Punch previous theatre credits are "Boy Gets Girl" for the Royal Court Theatre, "A Carpet, A Pony, and A Monkey" for the Bush Theatre and "The Graduate" at the Gielgud Theatre. Her many film credits include "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger", "Hot Fuzz", "St Trinian's", "Bad Teacher", "Being Julia", "Are You Ready for Love and Dinner for Schmucks". Her TV credits include "Ben and Kate", "Vexed" and "The Class".

The new play opened to good notices from the popular press at the National's Lyttelton Theatre on 30 Jun 2014, where it continues to 23 Aug 2014 - "Slickly staged and theatrically accomplished" (Londontheatre.co.uk); "Exhilarating and exemplary" (Independent); "Required, conscience-pricking viewing" (Telegraph).

Great Britain is directed by National Theatre Director Nicholas Hytner and features scenic design by Tim Hatley, lighting by Neil Austin, music by Grant Olding, sound design by Paul Arditti and video/projection by 59 Productions.

Ben Mansfield also joins the original NT company for the West End cast, which comprises Sarah Annis, Ross Boatman, Robert Calvert, William Chubb, Dermot Crowley, Jo Dockery, Robert Glenister, Ian Hallard, James Harkness, Scott Karim, Barbara Kirby, Nicholas Lumley, Ben Mansfield, Maggie McCarthy, Iain Mitchell, Miles Mitchell, Aaron Neil, Lucy Punch, Nick Sampson, Kellie Shirley, Kiruna Stamell, Harriet Thorpe, Rupert Vansittart, Joseph Wilkins, Andrew Woodall.

Synopsis: 'Richard Bean's fast and furious new play is an anarchic satire about the press, the police and the political establishment. Concerns Paige Britain, an ambitious young news editor of The Free Press, a tabloid newspaper locked in a never ending battle for more readers.'