Amanda Whittington’s The Thrill of Love to Play London's St. James Theatre

Amanda Whittington’s new play The Thrill of Love will play the St. James Theatre beginning March 27. The show will officially open on  April 3, and run through May 4. James Dacre will direct the production, which features the music of Billie Holiday.

Faye Castelow will star as Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in the United Kingdom after being convicted of murdering her lover in 1955. Castelow is joined in the cast by Hilary Tones as Sylvia Shaw, Maya Wasovicz as Vickie Martin and Katie West as Doris Judd. Additional casting will be announced soon.

The Thrill of Love is set in the underworld of 1950s London and follows Ruth, a single mother and nightclub employee who becomes embroiled with a wealthy womanizer, only to have their relationship end in murder and her dreams of fame come true… though not in the way she imagined they would.

The design team is led by Jonathan Fensom, with lighting by Daniella Beattie and sound by James Earls-Davis. The Thrill of Love made its world premiere last year at the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme.