James McAvoy joins Nigel Harman in Richard Greenberg's Three Days of Rain, which opens at the Apollo Theatre on February 10th 2009. Previews begin January 30th. The female lead is yet to be cast.
Three Days of Rain explores how the private worlds of one generation are reinterpreted by the next. A tender and surprising story of love lies at the heart of a creative conflict which could never have been imagined by these children. The actors play both generations in this humorous and touching play about family and the enigma of parenthood.
"Walker Janeway (James McAvoy) and his sister Nan reunite for the reading of their father's will in the Manhattan loft where he lived. A wealthy architect, Ned's legacy is the iconic, internationally renowned 1960s New York house designed with his late business partner Theo. Joined by Theo's son Pip (Nigel Harman), the three childhood friends meet to settle the estate and determine the future of the house. The discovery of a brief entry, "three days of rain", in Ned's diary is the only clue to the true stories of the previous generation", explain press notes.
James McAvoy (Walker/Ned) is regarded as one of the most talented and versatile actors of his generation. His film credits include the critically acclaimed Atonement, for which he received both a Golden Globe and BAFTA nomination for his performance, The Last King Of Scotland which earned him another BAFTA nomination, The Chronicles of Narnia, Bright Young Things, Becoming Jane and Wanted starring Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie. He will be appearing in The Last Station co-starring Helen Mirren due for release in 2009. TV credits include White Teeth, State of Play and Shameless. Theatre credits include Breathing Corpses at the Royal Court, Out in the Open at Hampstead directed by Kathy Burke and Privates on Parade directed by Michael Grandage at the Donmar.
Nigel Harman (Pip/Theo) is perhaps best known from TV's EastEnders and is soon to lead in Hotel Babylon. Other small screen credits include Lark Rise to Candleford and The Friday Night Club. Theatre credits include The Caretaker at Sheffield and the Tricycle directed by Jamie Lloyd, Privates on Parade at the Donmar and Guys and Dolls in the West End, both directed by Michael Grandage, and The Exonerated at Riverside Studios. Film credits include Blood Diamond.
Award winning playwright Richard Greenberg's extensive stage credits include Take Me Out, Night and her Stars, The American Plan, The Author's Voice, The Bloodletters, The House In Town, The Maderati, Eastern Standard, The Dazzle and Hurrah at Last.
Jamie Lloyd most recently directed Piaf at the Donmar which has just transferred to the Vaudeville Theatre. Other credits include The Lover/The Collection at the Comedy and The Caretaker at Sheffield and on tour. As an Associate Director, his credits include Guy & Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre and Melbourne, Evita at the Adelphi Theatre and The Glee Club at the Bush and the Garrick Theatre. He is an Associate Director of the Donmar.
Three Days of Rain was commissioned and originally produced by South Coast Repertory in 1997, and had its New York premiere later that year, in a production at the Manhattan Theatre Club featuring Patricia Clarkson, John Slattery and Bradley Whitford. It was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama, and has enjoyed many subsequent productions in regional theatres across the United States and abroad. Its UK premiere was staged at the Donmar Warehouse Theatre in 1999 with Colin Firth, David Morrissey and Elizabeth McGovern.
