Dawn King’s drama Ciphers, which receives its London premiere at the Bush theatre next year, may be set in a world of secrets and subterfuge, but the secrecy surrounding the play’s cast has now been lifted, with Bruce Alexander, Ronny Jhutti, Gráinne Keenan and Shereen Martin announced to star in the Out Of Joint and Northcott theatre co-production.
Playing from 14 January to 8 February at the west London venue, Ciphers tells the story of a woman intent on discovering the cause of her sister’s death, leading her into a world of lies and deception that makes her question how well she knew her beloved sibling.
Best known for his long-running role as Superintendent Mullet in David Jason-led detective drama A Touch Of Frost, Alexander has previously appeared in productions including The Reporter, The History Boys and The Mandate at the National Theatre, Waste and The Tempest at the Almeida, and Life After Scandal at the Hampstead theatre.
He is joined by Jhutti, whose stage credits include Rafta Rafta at the National Theatre, but is arguably better known for his role alongside Rory Kinnear and Toby Stephens in BBC comedy drama Vexed.
Completing the cast is Keenan, who was recently seen on the London stage in Scenes From An Execution at the National Theatre, and Martin, whose credits include The Black Album and The Hour We Knew Nothing Of Each Other at the acclaimed Southbank venue.
Ciphers, which will receive its world premiere at Exeter’s Northcott theatre next month prior to a UK tour culminating at the Bush, sees award-winning playwright King renew her collaboration with director Blanche McIntyre following their work together on King’s debut play Foxfinder.
The play’s London premiere will follow another new play by an award-winning writer, Tom Wells’ Jumpers For Goalposts, which plays at the venue from 26 November to 21 December.