Gavin And Stacey star Mathew Horne will star in the Menier Chocolate Factory’s forthcoming production of Charley’s Aunt.
Directed by Ian Talbot, Brandon Thomas’ classic comedy will play from 10 September (press night 1 October) until 10 November with further casting yet to be announced.
The actor, who made his West End debut in 2009 opposite Imelda Staunton in Entertaining Mr Sloane at the Trafalgar Studios, will play Lord Fancourt Babberly, Charley’s eccentric friend.
The 1892 farce tells the story of Charley’s predicament when his Aunt Dona Lucia fails to show up on a planned visit from Brazil. With no one around to act as chaperone to allow him and his friend Jack to propose marriage to their romantic interests, they decide to blackmail Lord Fancourt Babberly into posing as Dona Lucia.
Well known for his work with his comedy partner James Corden, Horne has appeared with the One Man, Two Guvnors actor in the duo’s BBC sketch show Horne And Corden and the feature film Lesbian Vampire Killers. His other screen credits include The Catherine Tate Show, Worried About The Boy, Roman’s Empire and Teachers.
Charley’s Aunt follows Anthony Rapp’s one-man show Without You, which plays from 29 August to 15 September, into the London Bridge venue.