Full Cast Announced for West End Premiere of Aussie Play HOLDING THE MAN

HOLDING THE MAN, the smash hit Australian production, adapted by Tommy Murphy from Timothy Conigrave's award winning and best selling memoir of the same name, will make its UK debut from 23 April (Press Night 4 May) at Trafalgar Studios 1 in London.

The full company will be Jane Turner (Kath and Kim, BBC/ABC), Simon Burke (The Sound of Music, London Palladium), Oliver Farnworth (Hollyoaks, Channel 4) and Anna Skellern (The Descent 2, Celador). Reprising the roles they originated in Australia will be Guy Edmonds as Tim Conigrave and Matt Zeremes as John Caleo. Guy and Matt will also be making their West End debuts.

Jane Turner is known to millions globally for writing, producing and starring in the hit comedy series Kath and Kim, in which she plays Kath. The comedy has won numerous awards including multiply AFI's and Logies in Australia. Prior to this Jane appeared in Australian series Prisoner and comedy sketch shows Fast Forward, Big Girls Blouse and Something Stupid. She will making her West End debut in Holding The Man.

Simon Burke is best known for his West End performances most recently as Georges opposite John Barrowman in La Cage Aux Folles (London Playhouse) and Captain Von Trapp opposite Connie Fisher in The Sound of Music (London Palladium). At the age of 13 Simon won Best Actor at the AFI Awards for his performance in The Devil's Playground. Other film includes Pitch Black (Polygram). Simon also remains a longstanding and much loved presenter of Playschool in Australia (ABC).

TOMMY MURPHY was described by Cate Blanchett as, 'a bewitching playwright of startling originality.' For his 2007 adaption of Holding The Man he won a NSW Premier Award and an AWGIE Award for four sell out Sydney seasons (including the Sydney Opera House). In London, Tommy's work has been staged at the National Theatre Studio and he is a member of the Royal Court Young Writer's programme.

The show will be directed by David Berthold, director of the original Australian production, and designed by BrIan Thomson, most recently known for his design of the musical, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Michael Agosta will design costume and puppets with lighting deigned by James Whiteside.

Falling in love with the captain of the football team at an all-male Melbourne High School in the ‘70's was never going to be universally popular. But for Tim Conigrave being young and gay in Australia was exciting but uncharted territory.

HOLDING THE MAN is an achingly funny and heartbreaking true life story about the relationship between Tim and John Caleo. This multi-award winning play explores the highs and lows of their remarkable partnership and is a celebration that speaks across generations, sexual preference and culture.

Holding the Man (published by Penguin) is the best-selling memoir by Australian writer, actor, and activist Timothy Conigrave. Reprinted thirteen times around the world Holding the Man won the United Nations Human Rights Award for Non-Fiction in 1995. When the theatrical adaption opened in Sydney in 2007 it enjoyed unprecedented success at the box office, winning critical acclaim and multiple awards, transferring to such prestigious venues as the Sydney Opera House for a sell out season.

The term ‘Holding the Man' comes from Australian Football and refers to a transgression that incurs a penalty.

The play is produced by Daniel Sparrow (All About My Mother), Mike Walsh OBE, Benjamin Jones and Neil Gooding Productions.

Visit www.holdingtheman.com for more information.