Cast announced for landmark revival of Hired Man

Lauryn Redding and Oliver Hembrough are cast in The Hired Man

Full casting has been announced for the eagerly-anticipated revival of the award-winning musical The Hired Man by Hornchurch’s Queen’s Theatre and Hull Truck Theatre in association with the Oldham Coliseum Theatre.

Written by Melvyn Bragg and Howard Goodall, the new production of the tale of love, betrayal and loyalty marks the first time the trio of leading regional venues have collaborated on a project.

Directed by Douglas Rintoul, the Queens Theatre’s artistic director, the production will launch in Hornchurch from 27 April until 18 May 2918 before heading for Hull (23 May-15 June) and Oldham (20 June-6 July).

The cast includes: Jon Bonner (The Commitments, UK tour); Lloyd Gorman (Sunny Afternoon, Harold Pinter Theatre); Oliver Hembrough (Insignificance, Arcola Theatre); TJ Holmes (Two Gentlemen of Verona, Shakespeare’s Globe and Liverpool Everyman); Lucy Keirl (The Crucible, UK tour); Lara Lewis (Daisy Pulls It Off, Charing Cross Theatre); Sufia Manya (Miss Littlewood, Royal Shakespeare Company); Samuel Martin (The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare’s Globe); Lauryn Redding (Oliver Twist, Hull Truck); Tom Self (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch) and James William-Pattison (Once, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch/New Wolsey Theatre).

Commenting on the earlier announcement of the latest production of his work, composer Goodall said: “I am absolutely thrilled about this revival: three brilliant regional theatres, a wonderful creative team and a chance for a new generation of theatre-goers to see this piece that Melvyn Bragg and I first put in front of an audience 45 years ago.”

The production will be designed by Jean Chan, with musical direction by Ben Goddard, lighting design by Prema Mehta, and sound design by Chris Murray. Jane Gibson will be the show’s movement director.

Based on writer and broadcaster Bragg’s 1969 novel, The Hired Man debuted in 1984 with a West End run that won critical acclaim and the Ivor Novello Award for Best Musical. The show is also notable for being the first professional musical from the now multi award-winning Goodall.

Angela Thomas