The 39 Steps - Dianne Pilkington joins cast
Lizzie Guilfoyle
ON MONDAY, April 26, 2010, Dianne Pilkington will take on the roles of Annabella Schmidt, Pamela and Margaret in the multi award-winning The 39 Steps, which is currently booking at the Criterion Theatre until October 23, 2010.
She will be joined by David Bark-Jones as Hannay, and Timothy Speyer (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Rose Theatre Kingston, The Hutton Inquiry, BBC TV) and Jeremy Swift (Abigail’s Party, West End, Roman Polanski’s Oliver Twist) as Man 1 and 2.
Between them, the four actors play more than 139 roles in 100 minutes of what is described as fast-paced fun and thrilling action.
The 39 Steps follows the incredible adventures of Richard Hannay – complete with stiff-upper-lip, British gung-ho and pencil moustache – as he goes on the run from police accused of a dastardly murder, dodges double-crossing secret agents, and becomes entangled with several devastatingly beautiful women.
Maria Aitken’s production of the John Buchan classic contains every legendary scene from the award-winning film – including the chase on the Flying Scotsman, the escape on the Forth Bridge, the first theatrical bi-plane crash ever staged and the sensational death-defying finale in the London Palladium. There’s even the memorable and controversial ‘stockings and suspenders’ scene!
Pilkington has previously starred as Grizabella in Cats; Belinda in The Far Pavilions; Mary in Tonight’s the Night; Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast; and as Kim in the original cast of Boy George’s musical Taboo. She can currently be seen in the West End playing good witch Glinda in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.
Bark-Jones’ previous theatre credits include The Forrest (National Theatre) and Dealer’s Choice. On screen, he has appeared in Guy Ritchie’s Rocknrolla and The Da Vinci Code.
Now in its fourth year, The 39 Steps opened on September 14, 2006. It played three years on Broadway and has had productions staged in more than 28 countries.
The 39 Steps is designed by Peter McKintosh, with lighting by Ian Scott, sound by Mic Pool and movement by Toby Sedgwick. It is presented by Edward Snape for Fiery Angel Ltd and Tricycle London Productions Ltd in association with the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Read more about The 39 Steps