Sarah Lawrie for Proud Haddock in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre today announce full casting for the European première of award-winning playwright Michael Healey’s hit satirical political comedy 1979 at the Finborough Theatre.
Jimmy Walters directs Joseph May as Canada’s youngest ever prime minister Joe Clark, and Ian Porter and Samantha Coughlan will both play multiple roles including Pierre Trudeau, Maureen McTeer and Steve Harper.
The production opens on 4 January 2024, with previews from 2 January, and runs until 27 January 2024. Tickets are on sale here
This fast-paced satirical political comedy is an illuminating insight into the rapidly changing world of Conservative party politics.
“You’re a forgettable blank. A complete nobody. You’re the leader of this country, and the vast majority of Canadians couldn’t pick you out of a police line-up. And that’s good. As long as the leader is as still, silent, and blank as possible…he can do whatever he wants.”
In May 1979, Progressive Conservative Joe Clark was elected as Canada’s youngest ever Prime Minister.By Christmas 1979, it looked as though it was all over.But Clark is young and idealistic, resolute on making his mark in office, and governing for the whole country, not just his own party supporters. Faced with a critical decision, his colleagues – including his predecessor Pierre Trudeau – take the opportunity to steer him in completely different directions…
1979 opened to great critical acclaim on its première in Calgary in 2017, and received six Betty Mitchell Award nominations. The production subsequently ran at the Berkeley Street Theatre in Toronto in 2019.
