Tony Winner Robert Lindsay Tapped for London Premiere of Onassis

Tony Award-winning British actor Robert Lindsay has signed on to play the title role in Martin Sherman’s Onassis at London’s Novello Theatre. The new biographical drama will begin performances on September 30 and open on October 12, directed by Nancy Meckler. The limited West End engagement is set to continue through Feburary 5, 2011.

Onassis will feature Lydia Leonard (Frost/Nixon) as Jackie Kennedy and Anna Francolini (Merrily We Roll Along, Company) as Maria Callas. The cast will also include Tom Austen, Liz Crowther, Ben Grove, Robert Hastie, John Hodgkinson, Sue Kelvin, Graeme Taylor and Gawn Grainger.

Onassis is the story of the last years in the life of Aristotle Onassis, and of his passionate and interwoven relationships with Jackie Kennedy and Maria Callas, and his son Alexandros. Based on Peter Evans’ book Nemesis, the play is described as an explosive account of how those in positions of enormous power and wealth often live lives detached from the realities and moral codes of everyday existence.

Lindsay won the Best Actor Tony Award and an Olivier Award for his star turn in the musical Me and My Girl and a second Olivier Award for Oliver! Currently starring in the hit BBC series My Family, he won the BAFTA Award for the series GBH. Other major theater roles include The Entertainer and Richard III.

Sherman is author of the plays Bent and When She Danced, the book for the musical The Boy from Oz and the screenplays for Alive and Kicking and Mrs Henderson Presents.

Onassis will feature set design by Katrina Lindsay, lighting by Ben Ormerod, music by Ilona Sekacz, sound by John Leonard, video and projection design by Lorna Heavey and choreography by Lizzi Gee.