The Almeida opens 2008 with a revival of Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming directed by its Artistic Director, Michael Attenborough. The production, which runs from 31 January until 22 March (press night 7 February), stars Kenneth Cranham, Neil Dudgeon, Danny Dyer, Jenny Jules, Nigel Lindsay and Anthony O’Donnell.
Pinter’s play, which explores an all-male household’s reaction to the homecoming of the eldest son and his wife, was first staged by the RSC in 1965. It has since been performed across the globe. Pinter performed in a Radio 3 production earlier this year.
Both Jules and Lindsay have appeared at the Islington venue in the past year, in Big White Fog and Awake And Sing! respectively. Jules has also worked extensively at the Tricycle, where her credits have included Fabulation, Gem Of The Ocean and The Colour Of Justice. Lindsay’s previous Almeida appearances include Romance, The Earthly Paradise and The Tower, while elsewhere in London he has starred in Guys And Dolls (Piccadilly), The Pillowman, Dealer’s Choice (National Theatre) and The Real Thing (Donmar Warehouse).
Dyer is best known for films including Football Factory, Mean Machine and Human Traffic, but is also a Pinter veteran. The 30-year-old has previously appeared in Pinter’s Celebration at the Almeida and No Man’s Land at the National Theatre.
Cranham returns to the Almeida for the first time since 2000’s The Novice. His recent London appearances include Victorian thriller Gaslight (Old Vic) and The UN Inspector (National Theatre), and his career also includes the distinction of having performed the role of Inspector Goole in An Inspector Calls on 796 occasions.
Dudgeon and O’Donnell both have extensive London credits. Dudgeon, who has worked on many occasions at the Royal Court, has appeared in Closer, Yerma, Fewer Emergencies and Blasted. O’Donnell’s credits include King Lear (Almeida), King Of Hearts (Hampstead), Glengarry Glen Ross (Donmar Warehouse), The Wier (Duke Of York’s) and many productions with the RSC.
The Almeida production of The Homecoming – which features designs by Jonathan Fensom, lighting by Neil Austin and sound by John Leonard – coincides with a major revival of the play on Broadway.
MA