Casting announced for new digital comedy GOING THE DISTANCE premiering next month

Full casting has been announced for the world premiere of a digital production of new comedy Going The Distance by Henry Filloux-Bennett and Yasmeen Khan, available on demand from 4–17 October 2021.

The cast includes Sara Crowe as ‘Em, Nicole Evans as ‘Billie’, Shobna Gulati as ‘Vic’, Sarah Hadland as ‘Rae’, Merch Husey as ‘Kem, Matthew Kelly as ‘Frank’, Emma McDonald as ‘Gail’, and Penny Ryder as ‘Maggie’ with Stephen Fry as the ‘Narrator’.

Stephen Fry said: “My involvement with the Lawrence Batley Theatre over three brilliantly imaginative, innovative and original lockdown dramas was one of the features that made the months of sourdough, banana bread and general weirdness bearable. Henry Filloux-Bennett and his team managed to find the heart of what theatre and dramatic performance are even in the heart of a tumultuously difficult and uncertain time. It helped so many of us keep the faith in theatre and what it can be.”

Directed by Felicity Montagu, Going The Distance is a co-production between the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Oxford Playhouse, The Dukes and The Watermill Theatre.

When there’s no light at the end of the tunnel and the chips are down, you can count on Matchborough Community Theatre to fight back...

March 2020. Theatres across the country go dark. Hundreds of cherished arts centres face the prospect of permanent closure. But that isn’t going to stop the Matchborough Community Theatre… as they fight to save their local venue with the genius idea to put on a fundraising production of Wizard* (*inspired by but for rights purposes certainly not based on The Wizard of Oz).

Get ready for a brand new comedy about a little theatre with a huge challenge.

Yasmeen Khan said, “Going the Distance has been a joyous project on every level; the digital format allowed us to create a hugely ambitious show that responds to all of the challenges presented by COVID-19 over the last 18 months. The story itself celebrates theatre and showcases the power of community in the face of adversity, and the cast and crew could not have done more to make it all come together.”

Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased here.