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French Without Tears

Press Release
Issued 19 January 2006
English Touring Theatre presents

FRENCH WITHOUT TEARS
By Terence Rattigan
Directed by Paul Miller
Set and Costume Designer Simon Daw
Lighting by Bruno Poet
Composer David Shrubshole

Cast: Ben Carpenter, Ben Mansfield, Terrence Hardiman, Jenna Harrison, Adam James, Leonor Lemee, Hugh Skinner, Hannah Yelland, Rupert Young

On National Tour from 14 February 2007
 
PRESS PERFORMANCE: 
Friday 16 February at 8pm  at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Surrey

A busy year for English Touring Theatre begins with a national tour of one of Terence Rattigan’s most loved plays, his sparkling 1930s comedy, French Without Tears. This stylish and touching revival which opens at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre on 14 February gives audiences the chance to revel in Rattigan’s world of frothy wit and hedonistic charm.

The sun is hot and the sea inviting as a group of young gentlemen attempt to learn French in a house on the western coast of France. Unfortunately, the mysteries of syntax and pronunciation are so much less interesting than the mysteries of sex, romance and seduction. French Without Tears is a masterpiece of light comedy which uses delicious humour to poke fun at the English male when he is “abroad” and “in love”.
Rattigan wrote French Without Tears at the age of 25 its huge success made Rattigan’s name overnight, and subsequent plays included The Browning Version, The Deep Blue Sea and The Winslow Boy.
The vibrant young company of actors in this production includes Jenna Harrison, who recently appeared in Night of the Iguana in the West End, Adam James (Rabbit at Trafalgar Studios), and in the role of Monsieur Maingot, Terrence Hardiman, known to television viewers as ‘The Demon Headmaster’
Director Paul Miller’s productions include Kingfisher Blue (Bush Theatre), Mercy (Soho Theatre), Sing Yer Heart Out For The Lads (National Theatre) and Honeymoon Suite (Royal Court/ETT).

ETT follow the tour with two productions directed by Artistic Director Stephen Unwin.  ‘Someone Else’s Shoes’ a sharp and thought-provoking new comedy opens at Soho Theatre on 7 March, and a tour of ‘The Changeling’ will open at Nottingham Playhouse in the autumn prior to a national tour.

ENDS.

 
Listings Information
 
14 - 17 Feb  GUILDFORD’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
Box Office: 01483 440000

20 - 24 Feb  MALVERN Theatres
Box Office: 01684 892277 

27 Feb - 3 Mar  CAMBRIDGE Arts Theatre
Box Office: 01223 503333

6 - 10 Mar  RICHMOND Theatre   
Box Office: 0870 060 6651

20 - 24 Mar  Theatre Royal, BRIGHTON
Box Office: 08700 606650

 
For further information and images call Martin Shippen on 020 7372 3788 or 07956 879165 or e-mail m.shippen@virgin.net
 
 

www.ett.org.uk