Handbagged star Jeff Rawle has joined the cast of the Old Vic’s much anticipated revival of High Society starring the previously announced Kate Fleetwood and Jamie Parker.
Playing from 30 April at the iconic Waterloo theatre, a quartet of newcomers to the company has today been announced with Christopher Ravenscroft, Richard Grieve and Ellie Bamber joining Rawle in the line-up.
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire star Rawle will follow credits in National Theatre productions Cocktail Sticks, The Power Of Yes, Fram and Noises Off to play Uncle Willie in Olivier Award winner Maria Friedman’s in-the-round take on Cole Porter’s classic feel good comedy musical.
Made famous by the 1956 film of the same name starring Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelly, High Society will star Fleetwood as Long Island socialite Tracy Lord. Planning her lavish summer wedding, trouble comes a-knocking in the form of her ex-husband and a ruthless tabloid reporter, both of whom have designs on the bride to be.
While Ravenscroft, who will play Seth Lord, is better known for his straight theatre roles including productions of The Comedy Of Errors at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and numerous plays at the Orange Tree Theatre, Grieve is no stranger to musical theatre. The actor, who will still be best known to many for his roles in Neighbours and Home And Away, boasts appearances in Priscilla Queen Of The Desert in the West End and numerous UK tours of shows including Footloose and Copacabana.
Rising star Bamber made her stage debut in Trevor Nunn’s 2014 production of Aspects Of Love at the Menier Chocolate Factory and will soon be seen on the big screen starring as Lydia Bennett in Pride And Prejudice And Zombies.
The full starry cast for Friedman’s follow up to her hugely successful directorial debut production Merrily We Roll Along also includes Barbara Flynn, Annabel Scholey and Rupert Young.