The full casting has been announced today for Arcola’s first production in its new outdoor venue, Arcola Outside: a raucous adaptation of Pierre de Marivaux’s romantic comedy, The Game of Love and Chance.
This brand new version by Quentin Beroud and Jack Gamble brings Marivaux’s classic comedy of love and class into a modern world of minor royals and major scandals.
Lady Silvia Orgon, 58th in line to the British throne, faces a crisis when she falls in love with a man she thinks her family would never accept. The production opens amid the fallout from the Harry and Meghan interview, which has shone an international spotlight on the royal family’s traditional attitudes and the ongoing prejudices at the top of British society.
The production reunites adapter and director Jack Gamble with adapter and associate director Quentin Beroud after their critically-acclaimed production of The Daughter-in-Law (“a first-rate revival” ★ ★ ★ ★ The Guardian).
Previews begin on 14 July, and the run ends on 7 August. Press night is Monday 19 July at 7pm.
David Acton plays Mr Orgon. David’s previous credits include Macbeth and The Merry Wives of Windsor (RSC) and The Woman in Black in the West End and in New York.
Ammar Duffus plays Dorante. Ammar’s previous credits include Twelfth Night (National Theatre); Holes (Nottingham Playhouse) and The Play About My Dad (Jermyn Street Theatre). His TV and film credits include Doctors and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
George Kemp plays Marius. He can currently be seen as Lord Weaver in Shonda Rhimes’ series Bridgerton for Netflix. Prior to this, he played Stanley Stubbers in One Man, Two Guv’nors at Derby Theatre and Queens Theatre, Hornchurch. He also starred as the lead role of Brandon in the revival of Rope at the Queen’s Theatre, directed by Douglas Rintoul.
Beth Lilly plays Lisette. Beth’s previous credits include Away in a Danger (Lichfield Garrick); The Play That Goes Wrong (Mischief Theatre/Kenny Wax Ltd/Duchess Theatre) and The Railway Children (York Theatre Royal/Charing Cross Theatre).
Michael Lyle plays Harlequin. Michael previously starred in Amadeus at the National Theatre, Season’s Greetings at Stephen Joseph Theatre and New Vic; No Villain at Trafalgar Studios. His film credits include My Grandson Charlotte, Number One Fan, New World and Nuryan.
Ellie Nunn plays Sylvia. Her stage credits include The Daughter-in-Law at Arcola, Lady Windermere’s Fan (King’s Head Theatre), Desperate Measures (Jermyn Street Theatre) and Shakespeare in Love (Noel Coward Theatre) Her film credits include Chubby Funny and Cracks.
The creative team includes Louie Whitemore (Designer), Geoff Hense (Lighting Designer), Tom Attwood (Sound Designer), Natasha Harrison (Choreographer) and Didi Hopkins (Commedia Consultant).
The Game of Love and Chance is part of Arcola Theatre’s reopening outdoor festival of art and performance, Today I’m Wiser. Running from June to November, the festival features special collaborations and diverse stories from a broad range of theatre companies. The festival opens Arcola Theatre’s new outdoor performance space, Arcola Outside, designed by award-winning designer Jon Bausor.
Arcola’s co-founder and Artistic Director Mehmet Ergen said:
“We’re so pleased to be reopening this summer and for Arcola’s first production to be this new take on Marivaux’s classic comedy, The Game of Love and Chance. Almost 300 years after it was first written, the play’s themes of the intransigence of our relationship to class are still so resonant, and the humour and playfulness of the production seem like a perfect way to bring audiences back together with laughter after such a difficult and painful year.”