Obi Abili, Anthony Head and Lesley Manville are set to star in John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation at London’s Old Vic Theatre. The revival, directed by David Grindley, is set to begin performances on January 7, 2010 and open on January 19, 2010.
The Olivier Award-winning play is a sharp take on two worlds colliding. It was inspired by the real-life story of a flamboyant con artist who managed to convince wealthy residents of Manhattan’s Upper East Side that he was the son of Sidney Poitier.
The play had its official Broadway debut in 1990, and in 1993, was adapted into a film starring Stockard Channing (reprising her Broadway role), Donald Sutherland and Will Smith. This new production at the Old Vic will be the first major London revival of the play in almost 18 years.
Abili will take on the cental role of Paul. As a recent graduate of RADA, Abili’s stage credits included Dido Queen of Carthage at the National Theatre; Brothers Size at The Young Vic and Angels in America at the Headlong Theatre.
Head will play John Flanders Kittredge. After his West End debut in Godspell, he went on to appear in such shows as Yonadab, Chess, The Rocky Horror Show and Otherwise Engaged. His television credits include Secret Army, Enemy at the Door, Love in a Cold Climate, Howard’s Way, the Fox series VR.5 and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Manville will play Louisa Kittredge. She is perhaps best known for her actingcollaborations with director Mike Leigh, which began in 1980. She has appeared in his films High Hopes, Secrets and Lies, Topsy-Turvy, All or Nothing and Vera Drake. Her other film credits include Dance with a Stranger and Sammie and Rosie Get Laid. She was last seen at The Old Vic in the world premiere of Pedro Almodóvar’s All About My Mother. Her recent stage credits include Her Naked Skin, Pillars of the Community and His Dark Materials at the National Theatre.
Six Degrees of Separation is scheduled to play through April 3, 2010.