Penelope Wilton, who is currently starring in the Donmar revival of Enid Bagnold's
The Chalk Garden, will return to that Covent Garden venue in November to lead the cast of
The Family Reunion, T.S. Eliot's 1939 verse drama adapted from
The Oresteia. She will be joined by Sam West in a production directed by Jeremy Herrin.
Wilton’s credits include John Gabriel Borkman and Little Foxes at the Donmar, The House of Bernarda Alba at the National, Deep Blue Sea and Much Ado About Nothing among many more. Her voice can be heard in Samuel Beckett’s short play Eh Joe, now playing in New York.
West last appeared at the Donmar in Harold Pinter's Betrayal in 2007. Since that time, he directed a revival of Patrick Marber's Dealer's Choice and appeared off-Broadway at the Public Theater in Caryl Churchill's Drunk Enough To Say I Love You?
The designers for the production will be Bunny Christie (sets and costumes) and Tony winner Rick Fisher (lights). The show runs from November 20 through January 17 and opens on November 26. The production will be the centerpiece of a range of Eliot-themed work at the Donmar, including readings of the Missouri-born poet/playwright's verse.
The Family Reunion will be followed by Be Near Me, a stage adaptation of the Andrew O'Hagan novel, adapted by Tony winner Ian McDiarmid (Faith Healer), who will also star. John Tiffany (Black Watch) directs this co-venture with the National Theatre of Scotland, which runs January 22-March 14 prior to a U.K. tour.