South Downs and Browning Version double bill

The Chichester Festival Theatre production of the double bill South Downs / The Browning Version by David Hare / by Terence Rattigan, transfers to the West End's Harold Pinter Theatre, opening 24 April 2012, following previews from 19 April - booking to 22 July 2012.

Directed by Jeremy Herrin (South Downs) and Angus Jackson (The Browning Version). Designed by Tom Scutt, lighting by Bruno Poet, sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph.

Starring Anna Chancellor (Belinda Duffield in South Downs and Millie Crocker-Harris in The Browning Version), Nicholas Farrell (Reverend Eric Dewley in South Downs and Andrew Crocker-Harris in The Browning Version), Jonathan Bailey (Jeremy Duffield in South Downs), Andrew Woodall (Basil Spear in South Downs and Dr Frobisher in The Browning Version), Mark Umbers (Frank Hunter in (The Browning Version) , Amanda Fairbank-Hynes(Mrs Gilbert in The Browning Version), Bradley Hall (Colin Jenkins in South Downs) , Rob Heaps (Peter Gilbert in The Browning Version), Liam Morton (Roger Sprule in South Downs) .

SOUTH DOWNS is set at Lancing College in Sussex where a pin sharp young pupil is cut off from the rest of the school by virtue of his own intellect, background and questioning spirit. The school in response presents an unyielding and rigid outlook on life that leaves the boy isolated and confused. In an unlikely meeting with the mother of another pupil, her generosity of spirit and sound advice present the boy with a world of kindness and possibility.

Rattigan's THE BROWNING VERSION presents the retiring Classics master Mr Crocker-Harris, tired, dried up and an abhorred tyrant over his pupils. Stuck in a broken marriage and facing the prospect of a retirement with no money, a simple act of generosity by one of Crocker-Harris' pupils brings out the deep-rooted dignity and heartbreaking sadness that give this play its power.

Originally published on

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