Kacey Ainsworth has joined the cast of Carrie’s War, which opens at the Apollo theatre on 24 June (previews from 18 June).
Ainsworth is best known for playing Little Mo Slater in EastEnders for six years. Since leaving the BBC soap she has appeared on our screens in Holby Blue and Hotel Babylon. Ainsworth’s London stage experience includes several productions at the Royal Court and National Theatre, Serving It Up at the Bush theatre and The Exonerated at Riverside Studios.
Based on Nina Bawden’s famous 1973 novel and adapted for the stage by Emma Reeves, Carrie’s War is set during World War Two and tells the story of young evacuees Carrie and Nick Willow, who are billeted to the mining valleys of Wales with old Mr Evans and his kind sister Lou (Ainsworth). At Christmas they are sent to Druid’s Bottom to collect a goose from Mrs Gotobed, where they meet Hepzibah the witch and eccentric Mr Johnny and hear about the curse of an ancient skull.
Ainsworth joins a cast that already includes Sarah Edwardson in the title role, Prunella Scales as Mrs Gotobed, Amanda Symonds as the witch and James Beddard as Mr Johnny. They are also now joined by Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre regular John Heffernan as Albert Sandwich, plus James Joyce (Nick), Daniel Llewelyn-Williams (Major Harper) and Siôn Tudor Owen (Mr Evans). They are directed by Andrew Loudon.
Currently at the Apollo theatre is Three Days Of Rain, which finishes its run on 2 May. The theatre will then host Rob Brydon Live! and Peter Schaufuss’s latest dance show Marilyn before Carrie’s War begins performances in June. It is booking to 12 September, to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the start of World War Two on 3 September.
CB