Paul McGann UK Tour Debut in Moira Buffini Play
by Best of Theatre Staff on Wednesday 2 November 2016, 12:17 pm in Upcoming and New Shows
Theatre6 is delighted to announce the UK Tour of Gabriel, which opens in London at Richmond Theatre on Tuesday 28 March 2017, with a national press night on Friday 31 March 2017.
Starring Paul McGann (Withnail and I, Doctor Who and The Monocled Mutineer) and written by Moira Buffini (Handbagged, Wonder.land), this electric drama is directed by award-winning Kate McGregor and produced by Theatre6, co-producers of the award-winning, West End smash hit The Scottsboro Boys.
The story of Gabriel is based in 1943 Nazi-occupied Guernsey. Widow and mother Jeanne does whatever it takes to keep her adolescent daughter Estelle and daughter-in-law Lily safe on an island filled with danger and fear. Her toughest test arrives in the form of the terrifying Commander Von Pfunz, whose romantic advances may be the only way to keep her family alive. But tensions intensify when a mysterious young man is washed ashore with no memory of who he is. Fluent in German and English, is he an RAF pilot, an SS interrogator, a local boy with amnesia or a saviour sent from heaven? The stakes are high and getting it wrong means certain death.
Paul McGann, who established his name in the iconic cult film Withnail and I, returns to the stage for his first UK Tour. As well as numerous TV and film credits, including the TV series Hornblower, Luther and the film Alien3, Paul’s theatre credits include Helen at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, Butley in London’s West End and Mourning Becomes Electra at the National Theatre. Paul will play the role of Von Pfunz.
Robin Morrissey will play the title role of Gabriel. His previous theatre credits include The Government Inspector (Birmingham Rep & UK Tour), Sex and the Three Day Week (Liverpool Playhouse), Juno and the Paycock (Bristol Old Vic) and Twelfth Night (Liverpool Everyman). Television credits include Holby City (BBC) and Doctors (BBC).
Sarah Schoenbeck will be playing Lily. Sarah’s theatre credits include The Breadwinner and The Man Who Pays the Piper (Orange Tree Theatre) and Sam Wanamaker Festival (Shakespeare’s Globe). Sarah’s television credits include Doctors (BBC) and the regular role of Lizzie Baker in 4 O’Clock Club (CBBC).
Venice van Someren will be playing the role of Estelle. Venice recently graduated from drama school. Since graduating, theatre credits include Thérèse Raquin (Southwark Playhouse) and Jodie in Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down (Theatre N16). This is Venice’s debut UK Tour.
Gabriel is directed by Kate McGregor. Kate is Artistic Director of award-winning Theatre6 and winner of the Noel Coward Trainee Director Bursary at the Salisbury Playhouse. Her credits include Kinetics (UK Tour), Grace: A Youth Musical (New Wimbledon Theatre), Honest (UK Tour), Moments (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Water Engine / Mr Happiness (Old Vic Tunnels, Time Out Award nominated), The Ripple Effect (Richmond Theatre - London 2012 Festival), Never Any Fruit (Pleasance Theatre Studio), and The Double (White Bear Theatre).