BOOKING EXTENDED TO FEBRUARY 2009 FOR THE 39 STEPS

Patrick Barlow’s Olivier award-winning adaptation of The 39 Steps will extend its current booking at the Criterion Theatre in the West End until 7 February 2009.

Best known as Hitchcock’s 1935 classic movie thriller, The 39 Steps is directed by Maria Aitken, has designs by Peter McKintosh, lighting design is by Ian Scott, sound design by Mic Pool, and movement by Olivier award-winning Toby Sedgwick. The 39 Steps is presented by Edward Snape for Fiery Angel Ltd and Tricycle London Productions Ltd in association with the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Patrick Barlow’s adaptation has been playing for over twenty months to sell-out houses at the Criterion Theatre since its transfer from the Tricycle Theatre winning the 2007 Laurence Olivier and Whatsonstage.com award for Best New Comedy.

In the US it has recently been announced that the Broadway production of The 39 Steps has won two Drama Desk Awards for Unique Theatrical Experience and Outstanding Lighting Design. In the same week it was also announced that the production has been nominated for six Tony awards including Best Play, Best Director and Best Scenic Design.

Maria Aitken’s production is performed by four actors playing a minimum of 139 roles and contains every single legendary scene from the award-winning movie - including the chase on the Flying Scotsman, the escape on the Forth Bridge, the first theatrical bi-plane crash ever staged and the sensational death-defying finale in the London Palladium, besides many other favourite cinematic moments, including the memorable and controversial ‘stockings and suspenders’ scene!

The current London cast comprises of Jo Stone-Fewings, Josefina Gabrielle, Martyn Ellis and long standing cast member Simon Gregor.

The 39 Steps is currently playing in 20 countries - as well as in the West End there are productions currently running on Broadway at the Cort Theater, on tour in the UK, in Germany, Greece, Hungary, Finland, Spain, Mexico, Turkey, Czechoslovakia, Skandinavia, South Africa, Poland, North America, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Italy, Korea and Japan.