A Passionate Woman & Winter’s Tale Added to Sheffield Season; Cast Set for The History Boys

Revivals of Kay Mellor’s A Passionate Woman and William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale have been added to the Sheffield Theatre Company's 2013-14 season. Matthew Kelly is also set to lead the theater's previously announced production of The History Boys, and a New York transfer for Mike Bartlett’s Bull is in the works.

Screenwriter Mellor will make her Sheffield debut as director of her play A Passionate Woman, starring Lynda Bellingham (in the title role), Christopher Timothy and Peter McMillan. The production will be designed by Robert Jones, with lighting by Tim Lutkin and associate direction by Jack Ryder. The show will launch a national tour following its run at the Sheffield (September 10 through September 21).

Shakespeare’s classic play The Winter’s Tale will receive a new production helmed by Paul Miller. The comic and tragic romance runs from October 2 through November 2 and boasts design by Simon Daw, lighting by Mark Doubleday and compositions by Terry Davies.

The History Boys will star Kelly as Hector, Ross Anderson as Rudge, Oliver Coopersmith as Posner, Nicholas Day as Headmaster, Tom Rhys Harries as Dakin, Rege-Jean Page as Crowther, Edward Judge as Timms, Joshua Miles as Lockwood and Edwin Thomas as Iriwn. Directed by Michael Longhurst, the show is designed by Chloe Lamford with lighting by Neil Austin, music and sound by Ben and Max Ringham, choreography by Imogen Knight and musical direction by Tom Brady. The show begins its run at the Crucible Theatre on May 16. Opening night is set for May 22, and the production will run through June 8.

Finally, there is a transfer in the works for Mike Bartlett’s razor-sharp office politics play Bull, which will run at 59E59 Theaters in New York City as part of the Brits Off Broadway Festival. The show will be directed by Clare Lizzimore, with design by Soutra Gilmour, lighting by Peter Mumford and sound by Christopher Shutt. Bull runs April 22 through June 2 and stars original cast members Adam James, Eleanor Matsuura and Sam Troughton.