Anthony Head and Lesley Manville are to star in the forthcoming revival of Six Degrees Of Separation at the Old Vic from 7 January (press night 19 January).
The experienced duo teams up with RADA graduate Obi Abili, who plays Paul, a young con artist who manages to convince a wealthy Manhattan couple – played by Head and Manville – that he is the son of actor Sidney Poitier.
Based on a true story, John Guare’s play premiered on Broadway in 1990 and was made into a film in 1993 starring Will Smith, Donald Sutherland and Stockard Channing, who reprised the role she created on stage.
Head is probably best known for his role in long-running TV show Buffy The Vampire Slayer. However since making his West End debut in Godspell he has been no stranger to the stage, collecting credits including Chess, The Rocky Horror Show and Otherwise Engaged. He has recently been seen on screen in Spooks, Manchild and Merlin.
Manville is a stage regular who was last seen at the Old Vic in the stage adaptation of Pedro Almodovar’s All About My Mother. Her recent stage outings also include Her Naked Skin, Pillars Of The Community and His Dark Materials at the National Theatre. On screen she has worked regularly with director Mike Leigh, appearing in his films High Hopes, Secrets And Lies, Topsy-Turvy, All Or Nothing and Vera Drake.
Since graduating from RADA in 2006 Abili has appeared in Dido Queen Of Carthage at the National Theatre, the award-winning The Brothers Size at the Young Vic, Fabulation at the Tricycle and Angels In America at the Lyric Hammersmith.
The cast of Six Degrees Of Separation also includes Steven Pacey – who recently starred in La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse theatre – Sarah Goldberg, Michael Goldsmith, Ilan Goodman, Sara Stewart, Paul Stocker and Kevin Trainor.
Six Degrees Of Separation kicks off the 2010 season at the Old Vic and follows Inherit The Wind, which plays until 20 December.
CB