PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
A Pitlochry Festival Theatre Production
By Arrangement with Fiery Angel Limited
THE 39 STEPS
Adapted by Patrick Barlow
From the novel by John Buchan
From the movie by Alfred Hitchcock
Licensed by ITV Global Entertainment Limited, and an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon
The 39 Steps is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk
Director: Ben Occhipinti
Designer: Liz Cooke
Lighting Designer: Emma Jones
Sound Designer: Niroshini Thambar
Fight Director: Robin Hellier
- This year will be the 20th anniversary of the first staging of Patrick Barlow’s adaptation of The 39 Steps
- Based on Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic 1935 film which is loosely based on John Buchan’s novel of the same name
- The performance on Wed 13 August will coincide with Alfred Hitchcock’s anniversary of his birth
- Talented cast of four actors to play 150 roles in the production
- Scottish film locations have featured in several film versions of The 39 Steps. Locations include Edinburgh, The Brig o’ Turk Tearoom in Callander Trossachs, Queensferry, Stirling, Dumfries & Galloway
- Runs in the Auditorium at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 11 July – 26 September
- Press performance on Wednesday 16 July at 2pm
Gripping and hilarious whodunnit The 39 Steps set to thrill theatre audiences this Summer
This July, Pitlochry Festival Theatre is set to take its audience into the world of espionage, intrigue, and slapstick comedy, as they stage a new production of Patrick Barlow’s hilarious Olivier and Tony Award winning stage adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic 1935 spy thriller, The 39 Steps.
Masterfully combining a gripping spy thriller with an uproarious comedy, The 39 Steps follows the upstanding gent and all-round good guy with a fine pencil moustache, Richard Hannay, as he finds himself in a bit of a pickle when he wakes up to find a mysterious woman in his apartment. Dead. Now on the run, pursued by all manners of suspicious characters, can Hannay evade capture and clear his name of murder before it’s too late? Will he fall in love along the way? And what exactly are The 39 Steps?
With ingenious staging and four talented actors playing over 150 characters, switching roles and costumes at breakneck speed, this whirlwind physical comedy promises an unforgettable experience.
The 39 Steps was first performed at the Leeds Playhouse on 17 June 2005. The original London production opened at the Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn on 10 August 2006 and transferred to the Criterion Theatre in the West End on 14 September 2006. The play premiered on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre in 2008 and has played in many different countries across the globe, delighting over three million people worldwide with its quintessentially plucky spirit and dashing sense of fun.
Playing over 150 – yes – over 150 roles between them, The 39 Steps cast will feature Chris Coxon (Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, Pitlochry Festival Theatre and The Wizard of Oz, Watermill Theatre); Stephanie Cremona (Cinderella and A Christmas Carol, Dundee Rep); Blythe Jandoo (Gypsy and The Maggie Wall, Pitlochry Festival Theatre) and Alexander Service (Heathers, Soho Place, West End/UK Tour/The Other Palace, London).
Director Ben Occhipinti said:
“Directing The 39 Steps for Pitlochry Festival Theatre audiences will be an exhilarating challenge. I can’t wait to bring this classic story to the stage with a truly exciting cast and creative team. This play is a love letter to classic cinema and the boundless creativity of the stage”
The 39 Steps runs at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 11 July until 26 September.
The production is supported by Katharine Liston
Tickets and further information are available from the Box Office on 01796 484626 or online at pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com.
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Media Contact
For all press interviews and review tickets please contact Duncan Clarke PR:
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Press performance: Wednesday 16 July at 2pm
Creatives:
Pitlochry Festival Theatre production of
The 39 Steps
Adapted by Patrick Barlow
From the novel by John Buchan
From the movie by Alfred Hitchcock
Licensed by ITV Global Entertainment Ltd and an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon
Director: Ben Occhipinti
Designer: Liz Cooke
Lighting Designer: Emma Jones
Sound Designer: Niroshini Thambar
Fight Director: Robin Hellier
Production Manager: Nick Trueman
Stage Manager: Katy Nicolson
Deputy Stage Manager (Book): Tracy Cattell
Assistant Stage Manager: Rebecca Gorman
Cast: Alexander Service (Richard Hannay), Blythe Jandoo (Annabella/Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret), Chris Coxon (Clown 1) and Stephanie Cremona (Clown 2). All other roles will be played by members of the company.
The 39 Steps is supported by Katharine Liston
Listings
Eve perf at 7.30pm:
July: 11, 12 & 15
August: 2, 7, 12, 20, 28
September: 2, 6, 11 & 25
Mat perf at 2pm:
July: 16
August: 13, 21
September: 3, 12, 17 & 26
Captioned performance: 21August at 2pm
Audio described performance: 3 September at 2pm
Relaxed and Dementia Friendly performance: 12 September at 2pm
Ticket prices: From £15
Box Office and group bookings: 01796 484626
email boxoffice@pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
Website: pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
Address: Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Port-Na-Craig, Pitlochry, Perthshire PH16 5DR
Pitlochry Festival Theatre. A Theatre for Everyone. A Theatre for a Lifetime.
Since 1951, Pitlochry Festival Theatre has been the artistic heart and soul of Highland Perthshire. Attracting over 100,000 visitors every year, we’re more than simply a place to come and see a show – we’re Scotland’s leading producer of musical theatre, a champion of ensemble practice and the country’s only rurally-located, major arts organisation. Our purpose is to improve lives by sharing Pitlochry with the world and the world with Pitlochry. Our aim is to create life-enhancing experiences in our Theatre and its glorious eleven-acre campus that encompasses the magical Explorers Garden. In everything we do, we are committed to nurturing an exciting creative and cultural future for Scotland.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre is a charity supported by funding from Creative Scotland and Perth & Kinross Council. It is also grateful to the many individual donors, and trusts and foundations who support us; without their generosity we could not continue to produce exceptional theatre.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre
Address: Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Port Na Craig, Pitlochry, Perthshire PH16 5DR
Box Office and group bookings: boxoffice@pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
Website: pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
Pitlochry Festival Theatre is a registered Scottish Charity. No SC013055
Pitlochry Festival Theatre gratefully acknowledges support from:
