Award-winning play in first UK tour

8:00am Friday 16th May 2008

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BLACKBIRD opens at the Theatre Royal Bath next week - this Olivier Award-winning play tours the UK for the first time.

David Harrower's critically acclaimed electrifying drama is directed by David Grindley in a new production starring Robert Daws and Dawn Steele. It has been described as a searing theatrical experience'.

Blackbird is the tragic love story of 27 year old Una and 56 year old Ray who had an unlawful affair 15 years ago and now meet again. Ray has made a new life for himself, with a fresh identity. Una has thought of nothing else since and sets out to track Ray down, arriving unannounced at his office, with shattering consequences.

Guilt and raw emotions are running high as Ray and Una recollect their past. Listening in on their extraordinary confrontation, this highly provocative play is guaranteed to make audiences examine their preconceived ideas. As tensions rise we are asked to question: when is love abuse? And can we ever break free from the shackles of the past?

This explosive new play visits Bath direct from seasons in the West End and off Broadway. Blackbird also premiered in December 2007 as part of Cate Blanchett's inaugural season as Artistic Director of the Sydney Theatre Company.

Robert Daws plays Ray. One of the most familiar faces on British television with many credits including Dr Gordon Ormerod in The Royal, Sam Mountjoy in John Sullivan's Roger Roger and Tuppy Glossop in Jeeves and Wooster. His West End credits include the role of John Smith in Ray Cooney's Caught in the Net.

Perhaps best known as Lexie in over 50 episodes of BBC1's Monarch of the Glen, Dawn Steele plays Una. Her theatre work includes Tutti Frutti (National Theatre of Scotland), Rainbow Kiss (Royal Court), The Slab Boys (Traverse, Edinburgh) and Electra and Medea (Theatre Babel).

David Grindley directs. His credits include Journey's End (Olivier Award nominated and Tony Award-winning revival, West End and Broadway), which played Bath in October 2004; Abigail's Party (Hampstead Theatre and West End), which played Bath in January 2004; Some Girl(s) (with David Schwimmer - West End); What the Butler Saw (Hampstead Theatre and Criterion Theatre, West End) and National Anthems (with Kevin Spacey - Old Vic).

Multi award-winning playwright David Harrower's plays include Knives in Hens (Traverse Theatre 1995); Presence (Royal Court 2001); Dark Earth (Traverse 2003). One of Scotland's most successful young playwrights, his adaptations include Six Characters in Search of an Author (Young Vic, 2000); and Tales from the Vienna Woods (National Theatre 2003). His new version of Brecht's A Good Soul of Szechuan has just opened at London's Young Vic Theatre.

Performances of Blackbird at the Theatre Royal Bath continue until Saturday, May 24.