Matthew Kelly returns to the London stage in Forgotten Voices at the Riverside Studios from 30 May-7 July (press night 1 June).
Adapted for the stage by Malcolm McKay, the play is based on historian Max Arthur’s non-fiction book Forgotten Voices Of The Great War, a compilation of original witness statements taken from people who lived through World War One as given to researchers at the Imperial War Museum in the 1960s. A powerful distillation of these witness statements, the play centres on five characters who recall the elation, fear and suffering experienced during this catastrophic era.
Actor and television presenter Matthew Kelly was previously best known for being the long-time presenter of ITV’s sound-a-like talent competition Stars In Their Eyes. After taking off his presenting shoes to return to acting Kelly has appeared both on stage and on screen. His television credits include the serials Bleak House and Cold Blood, while on stage he played Salieri in Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus at Wilton’s Music Hall last year and Lennie in the stage adaptation of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice And Men at the Savoy in 2003, which won him a Best Actor Laurence Olivier Award the following year.
McKay’s previous work for the London stage includes A Chaste Maid In Cheapside at Shakespeare’s Globe, Airbase at the Arts and Pistols at Hackney Empire.
Forgotten Voices comes to Riverside Studios prior to a transfer to this summer’s Edinburgh Festival.
CB