Legally Blonde’s Sheridan Smith is to flex her dramatic muscles when she joins Sienna Miller in Terence Rattigan’s Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 10 March.
Smith, who gathered an army of fans during her year-long stint as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde The Musical at the Savoy theatre before leaving the show earlier this month, will play Doris in Rattigan’s Second World War drama, directed by Trevor Nunn.
Since making a name for herself on television with roles in Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps, The Royle Family and Gavin And Stacey, Smith has built up stage credits including The Taming Of The Shrew at the Open Air theatre and musical Little Shop Of Horrors at the Menier Chocolate Factory, for which she received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination.
Also joining the cast of Flare Path is James Purefoy, who is best known for playing Marc Antony in the TV drama Rome. On stage he has worked frequently with the Royal Shakespeare Company and appeared in Les Enfants Du Paradis at the Barbican and The Relapse at the National Theatre, in which he was directed by Nunn.
Set in 1942, Flare Path centres on young bomber pilot Teddy and his actress wife Patricia (Miller). But when famous heartthrob Peter (Purefoy) arrives and an urgent bombing mission over Germany is ordered, Patricia finds herself at the centre of a passionate conflict of love and loyalty.
This production of Flare Path, which is staged as part of the celebrations for the centenary of Rattigan’s birth, is the first production in Nunn’s year as Artistic Director of the Theatre Royal Haymarket Company.
The cast also includes Joe Armstrong, Sarah Crowden and Clive Woods, with further casting to be announced.
Flare Path opens to the press on 10 March and is booking to 4 June.
CB