Jack Shepherd and Rebecca Night have joined the cast of Anya Reiss’ forthcoming adaptation of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, which will open at the St James Theatre next month.
Shepherd, who plays Serebryakov in the production, returns to the London stage following recent performances in Home at the Arcola Theatre and Master Builder at the Almeida Theatre. The Olivier Award-winning actor, who triumphed in 1983 for his role in Glengarry Glen Ross, is also well known for his screen credits, which include Wycliffe.
His co-star Night, whose stage credits include A Flea In Her Ear at the Old Vic and the 2008 West End production of The Importance Of Being Earnest, will play Yelena in the production. Like Shepherd, Night is also known for her television credits, most notably for playing the title role in the BBC Four adaptation of Fanny Hill.
The duo joins previously announced cast members John Hannah, Amanda Boxer, Joe Dixon, Alan Francis and Amanda Hale.
Playing as part of the One Stage Season, which also includes current hit Breeders, Uncle Vanya will run at the St James Theatre from 8 October to 8 November.
The tale of a respected professor (Shepherd) who returns to his farmland, which has been managed without him for many years, with his new young wife, Chekhov’s play follows the estate’s residents as their lives are turned upside down, old wounds are reopened, passions are awakened and thwarted ambitions bubble to the surface.
The second of the three shows to play as part of Stage One’s season supporting emerging commercial theatre producers, Uncle Vanya will open prior to Blanche McIntyre’s revisiting of Emlyn Williams’ tale of sex, scandal and blackmail, Accolade, which concludes the season from 12 November to 13 December.