Pygmalion
Friday 13 – Saturday 28 May 2016
An Oldham Coliseum Theatre Production
By Bernard Shaw
Directed by Chris Honer
Designed by Michael Holt
Associate Director Chris Lawson
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Press Night: Friday 13 May, 7.30pm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Oldham Coliseum Theatre presents Bernard Shaw’s classic provocative comedy, Pygmalion.
Egocentric Professor of Phonetics Henry Higgins makes a bet with his friend, the amiable Colonel Pickering, that he
can transform cockney flower seller, Eliza Doolittle, into a woman as poised and well-spoken as a duchess. His
ambition is that she mix with London's high society and make a fine marriage. But the sassy Eliza is more than a
match for her tutor...
Pygmalion is one of Bernard Shaw’s most popular plays, first presented on stage in 1913. It has been adapted and
performed in theatres across the globe ever since. In 1956 Pygmalion became the inspiration for the musical, My Fair
Lady, which opened on Broadway starring Julie Andrews and was subsequently adapted for film in 1964 starring
Audrey Hepburn.
The cast for the Coliseum’s production features James Simmons as Henry Higgins, whose previous roles include:
Scar in Disney’s The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre, London (2005 – 2008), Arthur Kipps in The Woman in Black at
the Fortune Theatre, London and Champmathieu in Universal Pictures’ feature film Les Misérables.
Pygmalion will be directed by Chris Honer, former Artistic Director of the Library Theatre Company, Manchester.
Coliseum Associate Director Chris Lawson, who joined the company in October 2015, will make his main stage debut
supporting Chris Honer as the production’s Associate Director.
This most recent production from Oldham Coliseum Theatre follows a theme of plays in which working-class
characters are questioning the world around them and empowering themselves through graft and education:
Educating Rita (October 2015), The Pitmen Painters (February 2016) and Our Gracie (March 2016).
- Ends --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Notes to Editor:
Pygmalion runs at Oldham Coliseum Theatre from Friday 13 – Saturday 28 May 2016
Tickets can be booked on 0161 624 2829 or at www.coliseum.org.uk
Link to production page: http://www.coliseum.org.uk/plays/pygmalion/
For further press information, please contact Shelly Ramsdale on 0161 785 7012 or [email protected]
The Oldham Coliseum Theatre is a cultural and educational charity that works with over 150,000 individuals per year.
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Images:
A high-resolution JPEG of the artwork for Oldham Coliseum Theatre’s production of Pygmalion is available to
download from Dropbox via: https://www.dropbox.com/s/191e0zjqsj5sf2j/Pygmalion.jpg?dl=0
Rehearsal photographs will be available from 6 May 2016.
Production photographs will be available from 13 May 2016.
Cast:
John Branwell –
Alfred Doolittle
Charlotte Brimble –
Eliza Doolittle
Natasha Davidson –
Clara Eynsford-Hill
Rob Mallard –
Freddy Eynsford-Hill
Jackie Morrison –
Mrs Eynsford-Hill
Benedict Shaw Footman
James Simmons –
Henry Higgins
Alwyne Taylor –
Mrs Higgins
Sue Twist –
Mrs Pearce
Christopher
Wilkinson –
Colonel Pickering
Production Team:
Chris Honer – Director
Michael Holt – Designer
Jason Taylor – Lighting Designer
Lorna Munden – Sound Designer
Chris Lawson - Associate Director
Catherine Weate – Vocal Coach