THE 39 STEPS EXTENDS | London Theatre Direct

Patrick Barlow’s award- winning adaptation of The 39 Steps opened this week on Broadway to great acclaim with rave reviews in the American press. Simultaneously, after the continuing success of the show in the West End, further dates have been added to the run at the Criterion Theatre with booking now extended to 11 October 2008. The 39 Steps, which began life at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2005, is now also playing on tour in the UK, in Israel, Italy and South Africa. An Australian production is due to open later this year with a further fifteen countries scheduled to present the play over the next twelve months.

The 39 Steps Broadway premiere was held on 15 January at the Roundabout Theatre Company's American Airlines Theatre with a cast led by Charles Edwards who reprises the role of Richard Hannay for which he received rave reviews in the London production. Edwards is joined by Arnie Burton (Clown), Jennifer Ferrin (Pamela/ Margaret) and Cliff Saunders (Clown).

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 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. The London cast comprises of Simon Paisley Day, Josefina Gabrielle, Martyn Ellis and long standing cast member Simon Gregor.

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!