Last Updated on 19 August 2021 by Showcall Editorial Team
A star-studded cast has been announced for the world premiere of new digital production Going the Distance
Stephen Fry, Sarah Hadland, Matthew Kelly, Shobna Gulati and Sara Crowe are among cast announced for the online premiere of comedy Going the Distance.
Directed by actor Felicity Montagu, the cast will also feature Nicole Evans, Emma McDonald and Penny Ryder.
Going the Distance, written by Henry Filloux-Bennett and Yasmeen Khan, will be available to watch on demand from 4 to 17 October 2021 via goingthedistanceplay.com.
The play follows Matchborough Community Theatre which fights back after the theatre shutdown of March 2020 by putting on a fundraising production of Wizard (inspired by but for rights purposes certainly not based on The Wizard of Oz).
Going the Distance is a co-production from the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield, Oxford Playhouse, The Dukes in Lancaster and The Watermill Theatre in Berkshire.
It follows other digital productions adapted by Filloux-Bennett including What A Carve Up!, The Picture of Dorian Gray and Yasmeen Khan’s adaptation of The Importance of Being Earnest, produced by the Lawrence Batley Theatre and The Dukes.
Stephen Fry, who appeared in What a Carve Up!, The Picture of Dorian Gray and Filloux-Bennett’s audio production The Understudy, said: “My involvement with the Lawrence Batley Theatre over three brilliantly imaginative, innovative and original lockdown dramas was one of the features that made the months of sourdough, banana bread and general weirdness bearable.
“Henry Filloux-Bennett and his team managed to find the heart of what theatre and dramatic performance are even in the heart of a tumultuously difficult and uncertain time. It helped so many of us keep the faith in theatre and what it can be.”
Khan added: “Going the Distance has been a joyous project on every level. The digital format allowed us to create a hugely ambitious show that responds to all of the challenges presented by Covid-19 over the last 18 months.
“The story itself celebrates theatre and showcases the power of community in the face of adversity, and the cast and crew could not have done more to make it all come together.”
Felicity Montagu said: “To be directing for the first time is one thing but to be directing a cast of such exciting stature is another. The magic they created had me laughing and crying in equal measures. I think they will cast a spell on whoever watches Going The Distance.”
Tickets are on sale now via goingthedistanceplay.com. Bookers will receive a screening link which will allow access for their booked performance date for a 48-hour period.
Tickets are priced at £15 which will include both a link to the production as well as a digital programme.
Audio description and closed captioning will be made available for the production during its run.
