Ralph Fiennes to star in ‘Straight Line Crazy’ at the Bridge Theatre

Casting has also been announced for 'The Book of Dust - La Belle Sauvage.'

Ralph Fiennes will lead the cast of a new David Hare play, receiving its world premiere at the Bridge Theatre next year. Straight Line Crazy begins previews at the Bridge Theatre from 16 March, with an opening night on 23 March and performances to 18 June. 

In Straight Line Crazy, Fiennes will play Robert Moses, an American public official who created parks and bridges to improve the lives of New York City's workers. At the same time, grass root protests organised against his schemes and the increased use of the motor cars.

At the Bridge, Fiennes has starred in Beat the Devil, and will work with director Nicholas Hytner again, after the pair collaborated on King Lear for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Next month, Fiennes will star in Four Quartets at the Harold Pinter Theatre, with Four Quartets tickets on sale now. 

Designs for Straight Line Crazy are by Bob Crowley. Further casting and a further creative team are to be announced. 

 As well as Straight Line Crazy, the full casting has been revealed for the stage adaptation of Philip Pullman's The Book of Dust - La Belle Sauvage. Set 12 years before His Dark Materials, The Book of Dust sees two young people having to care for Lyra Belacqua, who holds the future. 

The full cast is completed by Julie Atherton, Holly Atkins, Wendy Mae Brown, Pip Carter, Samuel Creasey, Ella Dacres, Ayesha Dharker, Heather Forster, Naomi Frederick, Richard James-Neale, John Light, Dearbhla Molloy, Tomi Ogbaro, Sid Sagar, Nick Sampson and Sky Yang. 

Emily Burns and James Cousins will co-direct The Book of Dust, with scenic design by Bob Crowley, puppetry by Barnaby Dixon, lighting design by Jon Clark and sound design by Paul Arditti.

The Book of Dust - La Belle Sauvage begins previews at the Bridge Theatre on 30 November, with an opening night on 7 December and performances to 26 February. 

^{Photo credit: Bridge Theatre (Photo by Philip Vile)}

^{Article Updated: 25 October 2021}