Following historical drama Total Eclipse, the Menier Chocolate Factory is changing tack with the premiere of a new comedy by Jonathan Lewis and Miranda Foster called All Mouth, opening on 31 May (previews from 23 May).
Set in the heart of Soho, All Mouth is a wry eavesdrop on the unseen voiceover world, the people behind the voices, the ad agencies and the machinations of the studios. The story focuses on four characters who are trying to protect their livelihoods: Digby is agonising over which records to take for his desert island disks, Greg can’t take the pressure of being down to the last two for a new regular on EastEnders, Mel won’t speak to her ex and Paddy pretends to be a banker.
Regular Royal Shakespeare Company actor Christopher Benjamin plays Digby. His London theatre credits include Henry IV at the Open Air, Much Ado About Nothing at the Haymarket, Noises Off at the National and the Piccadilly and A Voyage Round My Father at the Donmar Warehouse last year. He is also a familiar face on television with roles in Judge John Deed, Heartbeat and Midsommer Murders.
Benjamin has worked frequently with Simon Chandler, who plays Paddy. Chandler, who played Sir Ian Rochester in Judge John Deed, has appeared on stage around the UK and in London, where his credits include One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest at the Garrick and Macbeth at the Queen’s. His film work includes the recent Perfume and Vera Drake.
Caroline Harker (Mel) is a familiar face from the small screen, where her credits include Murder In Suburbia, Foyle’s War, Auf Wiedersein Pet, A Touch Of Frost and Kavanagh QC. Her stage credits include Battle Royal at the National, Things We Do For Love at the Duchess and The Strip and Editing Process at the Royal Court.
The cast also includes Nigel Whitmey, (Saving Private Ryan, Holby City), and newcomer James Russell.
Actors themselves, husband and wife Lewis and Foster are the writing team behind the comedy Our Boys, which ran at the Donmar Warehouse in 1995. This is their first new play since then.
All Mouth is booking until 7 July.
CB