Producers today announced that a stage adaptation by Sean Foley of the classic Ealing Studios comedy The Man in the White Suit, will play a three week season at Theatre Royal Bath, prior to receiving its world premiere at Wyndhams Theatre in preview from September 26th with an opening night of October 8th. The production will be directed by Sean Foley and will star Stephen Mangan as Sidney Stratton and Kara Tointon as Daphne Birnley. Set and costume design will be by Michael Taylor.
The 1951 iconic EALING comedy starred Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood and Cecil Parker. It was directed by Alexander Mackendrick and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing (Screenplay).
When Sidney Stratton, played by Stephen Mangan, develops a fabric that never gets dirty and never wears out, manufacturers and trades unions are terrified by the threat it poses to their industry and their jobs. Only Daphne (Kara Tointon) the mill owner’s daughter, shows Stratton any sympathy as his world gradually falls apart before he finally finds love and a new idea.
This world premiere production will reunite Stephen Mangan and Sean Foley who created the Olivier Award winning comedy Jeeves and Wooster together. Foley also teams up again with Michael Taylor with whom he created the five times Olivier Award nominated The Ladykillers. Foley’s production will feature a cast of fourteen including actor musicians and a specially written score.
