John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday 2 to Saturday 6 May, in a new staging which opened this spring at Birmingham Rep Theatre. A story of enduring friendship, this production directed by Birmingham Rep Associate Director, Iqbal Khan, focuses a 2023 lens on Steinbeck’s tale of the crumbling American dream.
George and Lennie are migrants in search of a better life, a place where they can belong, where Lennie feels safe and George can be somebody. But this is the Great Depression, not many dreams come true in a time where a few have plenty but most have nothing. When the friends take a job on Curley’s farm, tragedy unfolds leading to a heart-breaking decision. Written more than 80 years ago, but with themes of economic migration, racism, prejudice and exclusion, Of Mice and Men remains a parable for our times.
Tom McCall plays the role of George. His theatre credits include productions in the West End, for the Royal Shakespeare Company and Bristol Old Vic. He last performed at the Theatre Royal Bath in This Happy Breed in 2011 as part of The Peter Hall Company season. His screen credits include This Town, Call the Midwife, Wallender, The Musketeers, Luther: The Fallen Sun and White House Farm. Wiliam Young returns to the role of Lennie, having first performed it in 2017 in August 012’s production directed by Mathilde Lopez.
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Maddy Hill, well-known for her recent role as Nancy Carter in EastEnders, plays Curley’s Wife. Simon Darwen, last seen at the Theatre Royal in Beginning in 2021, appears as Slim, and James Clyde plays the role of The Boss. The cast also features Edward Judge as Carlson, Reece Pantry as Crooks, Stuart Quigley as Whit, Lee Ravitz as Candy, Riad Richie as Curley and Jake Benson as Puppeteer.
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Tom McCall said: “The relationship between Lennie and George is brotherly, but it’s parental as well. What I like about George is his care and his love as well as his fierce wit and his speed of thought. He has an ability to become who he needs to be in this hard, hard world of the play. I feel like he is striving for this thing the whole play and it’s kind of sitting there in front of him in Lennie. His purpose and his dream are irrelevant if Lennie is not there.”
Wiliam Young said: “I'm ecstatic to be playing Lennie again. I played him in Chapter, Cardiff in 2017 with August 012 Theatre Company. He reminds me of Roald Dahl's BFG. I was born with a rare brain condition called Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum and find it easy to get into Lennie's mindset. I'm doing this for all the other people with Learning Difficulties/Disabilities who love to act but haven't had the opportunity to land any professional roles yet.”
Birmingham Rep Associate Director, Iqbal Khan, directed the Opening Ceremony for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, as well as critically acclaimed productions of Tartuffe and East is East at Birmingham Rep.
Iqbal Khan, Director of Of Mice and Men, said; “I’m so excited to be working with a great and diverse company on this timeless parable from Steinbeck. I look forward to creating a beautiful and generous production, that embraces all who experience exclusion in challenging times.”
Of Mice and Men appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday 2nd to Saturday 6th May. To book tickets call the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 or visit www.theatreroyal.org.uk
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