A co-production with the National Theatre of Scotland

Be Near Me
A stage version by Ian McDiarmid. From the novel by Andrew O’Hagan

Cast: Jimmy Chisholm, Blythe Duff, Kathryn Howden, Ian McDiarmid, David McGranaghan, Richard Madden, Helen Mallon, Colette O’Neil, Benny Young, Jimmy Yuill

Director: John Tiffany; Designer: Peter McKintosh; Lighting Designer: Guy Hoare; Sound Designer: Gareth Fry; Musical Director: Davey Anderson

14 – 17 January - The Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock, Press night: Friday 16 January
22 January 2009 - 14 March 2009 Donmar Warehouse, Press night: Monday 26 January

David Anderton, an Oxford-educated Catholic priest, is assigned to a parish in a dispirited Scottish town on the Ayrshire coast. Lonely and adrift he befriends two unstable teenagers from the local school and is drawn into their exotic world. As events spin out of control he is forced to face his greatest trial yet.

Adapted for the stage by Ian McDiarmid from The Booker Prize-nominated novel by Andrew O’Hagan, Be Near Me is a compelling story about love, morality and regret. Following the performances at the Donmar Warehouse, the production will embark on an eight-week tour of the UK.

Be Near Me was published in 2006. Andrew O’Hagan’s other works include The Missing (1995) – an autobiographical work which was adapted for film and television as Calling Bible John, Our Fathers (1999 – shortlisted for the Booker and Whitbread First Novel Awards), Personality (2003 – James Tait Black Memorial Prize) and The Atlantic Ocean (2008).

Jimmy Chisholm plays Mr Nolan/Mr McCallum/Hamilton QC. For theatre his credits include Of Mice and Men (Perth Theatre), Trumpets and Raspberries (Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh) and The 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre). For television, his work includes The Man Who Built Britain, Taggart and Ivanhoe; and for film, Braveheart and Mrs Brown.

Blythe Duff plays Mrs Poole – Duff is perhaps best known for her role as Jackie Reid in the long running series Taggart. For theatre, Duff’s work includes Intolerance, King of the Fields, Sharp Shorts (Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh), Home, Glasgow (National Theatre of Scotland) and Mum’s the Word (King’s Theatre, Glasgow and tour).

Kathryn Howden plays Mrs Nolan/Angela/Mrs Fraser. Her theatre work includes Trumpets and Raspberries, All My Sons (Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh) and Phaedre (Perth and tour). For television, her credits include Taggart, Night and Day and Rockface; and for film, The Pen and Karmic Mothers.