A brand new race and gender blind production of Terence Rattigan’s 1948 play, The Browning Version, will run at London’s Riverside Studios from 5-29 August, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh.

The cast is made up of RADA graduates. Branagh will play Andrew Crocker-Harris, alongside Lolita Chakrabarti as Millie Crocker-Harris, Kemi Awoderu as Taplow and Wendy Kweh as Dr Frobisher. Also in the cast will be Victor Alli as Peter Gilbert, Sarah Eve (Mrs Gilbert), and Joseph Kloska (Frank Hunter).

Branagh said: “Rattigan demands detailed, truthful performance. RADA works hard to train actors for that. It will be exciting to see the two combine.” 

The production will be designed by Frankie Bradshaw, with lighting by Paul Pyant and sound by Emma Laxton.

A late summer’s day at a school in England brings the end of term, and the end of intrigues, deceptions, and lies in the lives of its inhabitants.

The climax of teacher Andrew Crocker Harris’s career is also the crisis of his once intensely romantic relationship with his passionate wife Millie.

The school celebrations, and the twisted ambitions of more popular pupils and teachers are intertwined with the inglorious retirement of the despised  ‘Crock’.

One quietly momentous evening in summer reveals whether their mutual futures can survive the conflict and the pain lurking just beneath the surface of British gentility, cricket, and ‘playing the game’. 

Rattigan’s play is ‘English Chekhov’ for some, and for others, a titanic domestic drama that thrillingly lays bare its ties to the blood soaked drama of Ancient Greece.

At 70 minutes, many regard it as a pocket masterpiece.

The  production will donate all profits to RADA and The  Browning Version marks the launch of Stage Critical, RADA's fundraising  campaign. For more information about Stage Critical, please click here. 

For more information and to book tickets for The Browning Version, please click here.