Seth Numrich leads cast of Donmar's Fathers and Sons

Dom O'Hanlon
Dom O'Hanlon

Casting has been announced for the Donmar Warehouse's production of Fathers and Sons by Brian Friel, which runs at the venue from 5 Jun to 26 July 2014.

The play is based on the novel by Ivan Turgenev and is directed by Olivier Award-winner Lyndsey Turner - who returns to the Donmar having previously directed Friel's 'Philadelphia, Here I Come!' in 2012.

Seth Numrich will play the lead role of Bazarov. He returns to the London stage for the first time since he was awarded Best Newcomer at The Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2013, for his performance in 'Sweet Bird of Youth' at the Old Vic in which he starred alongside Kim Cattrall. Numrich made his Broadway debut in 'The Merchant of Venice' (Broadhurst Theatre) and has also appeared on Broadway in 'Golden Boy' and War Horse at the Lincoln Centre.

He will be joined by Anthony Calf (Nikolai), Elaine Cassidy (Anna), Caoilfhionn Dunne (Fenichka), Susan Engel (Princess Olga), David Fielder (Prokofyich / Timofeich), Joshua James (Arkady), Karl Johnson (Vassily), Tim McMullan (Pavel), Jack McMullen (Piotr), Siobhán McSweeney (Dunyasha), Phoebe Sparrow (Katya) and Lindy Whiteford.

"Two young men arrive at a country estate, fresh from university: one, the son of the landowner, the other a brilliant and charismatic radical, proclaiming a dangerous new philosophy. But their warm welcome cools as the new house guest attacks the values of his hosts, bringing to the surface the tensions between one generation and the next. Over the course of a summer, political ideals are tested by filial duty and the arrival of Anna, a mysterious visitor whose presence stirs the heart and threatens a friendship."

Brian Friel is considered to be one of the greatest living Irish dramatists and has written over 30 plays in the past sixty years. He is best known for his plays 'Translations', 'Philadelphia, Here I Come!' and 'Dancing with Lughnasa', which won Best Play at the Tony Awards, Olivier Awards and New York Drama Critics Circle.

Originally published on

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