Isla Blair & Nicholas Day Complete Cast of THE LYONS at Menier Chocolate Factory

Isla Blair and Nicholas Day complete the cast for the European premiere of Nicky Silver's The Lyons at the Menier Chocolate Factory 19th September - 16th November. They will join Tom Ellis, Katy Secombe, Charlotte Randle and Ben Aldridge, as previously announced.

Isla Blair is well known for her extensive stage work, which includes the recent UK tour of Steel Magnolias, Collaborators (Duchess), The History Boys(Wyndham's), Breath of Life (Sheffield Lyceum) and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (both the original West End production and The National Theatre revival). Isla is also known for her role in House of Cards / To Play the King / The Final Cut (BBC) and most recently appeared on screens in BBC One'sSingle Father.

Nicholas Day's stage credits include Cardenio and The City Madam for the RSC, The Iceman Cometh at the Almeida and Old Vic and Dealer's Choice and the David Hare Trilogy at the National. His numerous TV credits include Rosemary and Thyme, Doc Martin, New Tricks and Minder. Nicholas has also appeared in films The Wolfman and Amazing Grace.

The Lyons have gathered around the hospital bed of their dying father Ben. But surface compassion soon gives way to bickering, sniping and betraying each other's secrets. This exploration of a fractured family is at once savagely funny and heart-breaking.

The Lyons first ran off-Broadway in 2011 and then transferred to Broadway in 2012. The play was nominated for the Drama League Award for Distinguished Production of a Play and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Play.

Mark Brokaw directed The Lyons both off- and on Broadway. His other New York credits include Cinderella (currently on Broadway), This Is Our Youth, As Bees in Honey Drown and How I Learned to Drive. He directed Lobby Hero both in New York and at the Donmar (which transferred to Ambassadors Theatre).

Nicky Silver's plays range between social satires and absurdist comedies. His plays include Pterodactyls (Oppenheimer Award, Kesselring Award, Drama Desk & Outer Critics Circle nomination), The Eros Trilogy, The Food Chain (Outer Critics Circle nomination), Fat Men in Skirts, Fit to Be Tied, The Maiden's Prayer, Free Will and Wanton Lust (Helen Hayes Award), My Marriage to Ernest Borgnine, The Altruists and Raised in Captivity (Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nomination).

The production will be designed by Jonathan Fensom, with lighting design by Jason Taylor and sound design by Gregory Clarke.