Owain Arthur will take over as lovable chancer Francis Henshall when the production moves to the Theatre Royal Haymarket having previously stepped in to the role at the Adelphi. Further casting will be announced shortly for the Theatre Royal Haymarket transfer.
Richard Bean’s award-wining adaptation, based on Carlo Goldoni’s The Servant of Two Masters, opened at the National Theatre in May 2011. Last month, after a UK tour, One Man, Two Guvnors opened in the West End at the Adelphi Theatre where it will complete its run on 25 February 2012. A Broadway production of One Man, Two Guvnors will open at the Music Box Theatre 18 April 2012.
After training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Owain Arthur who has been understudying the role of Francis Henshall as part of the West End Company, has also been seen in Nicholas Hytner’s National Theatre production of The History Boys, as well as Romeo and Juliet for the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Comedy of Errors for the Royal Exchange Theatre and Birdsong at the Comedy Theatre. On television his credits include Holby City, Ddeg, Cei Bach, New Tricks and The Palace. His film credits include Abroad, Mr Nice and Eldra.
Richard Bean’s plays include England People Very Nice for the National The Heretic, Harvest (winner of the Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Play), Honeymoon Suite, Under the Whaleback and Toast for the Royal Court and The Big Fellah for Out of Joint at the Lyric Hammersmith and on tour. He adapted David Mamet’s House of Games and wrote a new version of The Hypochondriac for the Almeida Theatre. Last month Bean won the 2011 Evening Standard Award for Best Play for One Man, Two Guvnors and The Heretic.
Since he became Director of the National in April 2003, Nicholas Hytner has directed Henry V, His Dark Materials, The History Boys, Stuff Happens, Henry IV, Southwark Fair, The Alchemist, The Man of Mode, The Rose Tattoo (with Stephen Pimlott), Rafta, Rafta… , Much Ado About Nothing, Major Barbara, England People Very Nice, Phèdre, The Habit of Art, London Assurance, Hamlet and Collaborators.
[posted 15/12/2012]