Maureen Lipman in Daytona at Theatre Royal Haymarket

Olivier Award winner Maureen Lipman and Harry Shearer are set to join Oliver Cotton for the West End transfer of his play Daytona, which will be directed by David Grindley. It will begin previews on 30 Jun 2014, officially open on 07 Jul 2014 and continue its limited engagement through to 23 Aug 2014 at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. The play received its world premiere at London's Park Theatre last year and this production will mark the first time that the Theatre Royal Haymarket has ever collaborated with an Off West End venue.

Synopsis: ' Daytona is a play with not one but two love stories at its heart. Set in New York in 1986, Joe and Elli share a love of ballroom dancing and are practising their routines for the next big competition. Despite constant bickering, the love they have shared for nearly fifty years is clear. Then one night, out of the blue, Joe's long-lost brother Billy bursts back into their lives with an extraordinary story to tell.'

Bios:

Maureen Lipman (Elli) won an Olivier Award in 1985 for 'See How They Run'. She was also nominated for an Olivier in 1998 for 'Live and Kidding'. Her West End theatre credits include 'When We Are Married', 'A Little Night Music', 'Aladdin', 'Re-Joyce' and many productions at the National Theatre including 'Oklahoma!', 'Macbeth', 'Long Day's Journey Into Night', 'Jumpers', 'The Front Page' and 'School for Scandal'.

Harry Shearer (Joe) is perhaps best known for his voice-work on the long-running animated series 'The Simpsons', voicing such characters as Principal Skinner, Kent Brockman, Mr. Burns, Waylon Smithers, Ned Flanders, Reverend Lovejoy and many more. He also co-created, co-wrote and co-starred in the cult movie 'This is Spinal Tap'. Other notable credits include his film roles in 'The Fisher King', 'Godzilla' and 'The Truman Show', as well as theatre roles in 'Loose Lips', 'Tinkle Time' and 'Accomplice' in the US. This will mark Mr. Shearer's West End debut.

Oliver Cotton's (Billy) West End credits include 'Passion Play', 'A Flea in her Ear', and 'The Syndicate' and 'The Grapes of Wrath' for Chichester Festival Theatre and 'Henry IV parts 1 and 2' for Shakespeare's Globe. As a writer, his credits include 'Wet Weather Cover' at the King's Head and Arts Theatres, 'The Incredible Journey of Sir Francis Younghusband' and 'The Enoch Show' for the Royal Court, 'Scrabble' for the National Theatre and 'Man Falling Down' for Shakespeare's Globe.

Daytona is produced by TRH Productions, Lee Dean and Jenny Topper in association with Park Theatre.