The Old Vic announces full cast for The Crucible

The Old Vic has now announced full casting for its upcoming production of Arthur Miller's The Crucible, which begins previews on 21 Jun 2014, with an official opening set for 03 Jul and continues its limited engagement through to 13 Sep 2014.

Joining previously announced Richard Armitage (John Proctor), Samantha Colley (Abigail Williams), Anna Madeley (Elizabeth Proctor), Sarah Niles, Rebecca Saire and Zara White, will be fellow cast members Jack Ellis (Deputy Governor Danforth), William Gaunt (Giles Corey), Adrian Schiller (Reverend John Hales), Michael Thomas (Reverend Parris), Harry Attwell, Marama Corlett, Ann Firbank, Natalie Gavin, Christopher Godwin, Hannah Hutch, Lauren Lyle, Paddy Navin, Tom Peters, Neil Salvage, Alan Vicary, Daisy Waterstone, and Matt Weyland.

This new production will be directed by Yaël Farber, designed by Soutra Gilmour, with lighting by Tim Lutkin, music and sound by Richard Hammarton and movement by Imogen Knight.

Synopsis: 'This classic American drama is set during the Salem witch trials. The Crucible tells the story of one man's fight to save his identity in a repressive Puritan community where intolerance collides with lust and superstition, fuelling widespread hysteria with tragic results.'

Bios:

Richard Armitage (John Proctor) is perhaps best known for his screen role as Thorin Oakenshield in the Hobbit trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson. He has also played villain Heinz Kruger in Captain America: The First Avenger, and will star in the upcoming disaster film 'Into the Storm'. His stage credits include 'The Duchess of Malfi' and 'Macbeth' for the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as 'Hamlet' for the Birmingham Rep.

Samantha Colley (Abigail Williams) will make her professional stage debut playing Abigail Williams, after graduating this year from The Oxford School of Drama. Credits whilst training include 'Anna Karenina', 'The Taming of the Shrew' and 'Pride and Prejudice'.

Jack Ellis (Deputy Governor Danforth) last appeared at the Old Vic in Sam Mendes' 'Richard III'. Other West End credits include 'Great Expectations' (Vaudeville Theatre), and 'A Few Good Men' (Theatre Royal Haymarket). He also performed with the RSC in 'Hamlet', 'Cymbeline' and 'Twelfth Night' (RSC). Jack is also well known for his TV roles as villainous prison officer Jim Fenner in 'Bad Girls', Harry Mason in 'Coronation Street', and Detective Inspector Muddyman in 'Prime Suspect'.

William Gaunt (Giles Corey) was last seen on the West End stage as Dogsborough in 'The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui' (Duchess Theatre). Other theatre credits include 'The Cherry Orchard' (Chichester Festival Theatre), 'Sixty Six Books - Concerning Faith' (Bush), 'Henry IV Parts I & II' (Shakespeare's Globe), 'King Lear' and 'The Seagull' (RSC), 'Humble Boy', 'Albert Speer', 'Look Back in Anger', 'The Mysteries' and 'An Inspector Calls' (National). He also appeared in the West End in 'The Miracle Worker', 'Travels With My Aunt', 'Boys in the Band' and 'Flip Side'. Gaunt is also known for his TV role as Arthur Crabtree in the sitcom 'No Place Like Home'.

Anna Madeley (Elizabeth Proctor) returns to the West End to play Elizabeth Proctor after recently starring in Richard Eyre's Broadway production of 'Private Lives' (Music Box Theater). London credits include 'Earthquakes in London' at the National Theatre and 'The Turn of the Screw' at the Almeida.

Adrian Schiller (Reverend John Hales) was last seen on stage as Dali in 'Hysteria' at the Hampstead Theatre. His other theatre credits include 'The Captain of Kopenick', 'The Veil', 'Every Good Boy Deserves Favour' and 'The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other' (National), 'The Three Sisters' (Young Vic), 'Our Private Life' (Royal Court), and 'Twisted' (Southwark Playhouse). Schiller has appeared regularly with the RSC, including roles in 'Julius Ceasar', 'Two Gentlemen of Verona', 'Henry V', 'As You Like It', 'Romeo & Juliet', 'The Tempest', 'Measure for Measure', 'Macbeth', 'The White Devil' and 'Troilus & Cressida'.

Michael Thomas (Reverend Parris) last appeared at the Old Vic in 'As You Like It' and 'The Tempest'. His theatre credits include 'People' (UK Tour), 'All's Well That Ends Well', 'St Joan', 'Pillars of the Community', 'The Orestia' and 'The Life of Galileo' (National), 'Before The Party and Waste' (Almeida), 'Under the Curse' (Gate Theatre) and various RSC productions including 'Women Beware Women', 'Edward III', 'The Roman Actor', 'The Malcontent', 'The Comedy of Errors', 'Henry V', 'Henry IV Part 2', 'Romeo & Juliet' and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.