''Harper Regan'' is a two-act

play Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * Pla ...

Simon Stephens Simon Stephens (born 6 February 1971) is an English playwright and Professor of Scriptwriting at Manchester Metropolitan University. Having taught on the Young Writers' Programme at the Royal Court Theatre for many years, he is now an Artistic ...

that premiered at the National Theatre in 2008.

Setting

Set in UK, Autumn of 2006 : from

Uxbridge Uxbridge () is a suburban town in west London and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon. Situated west-northwest of Charing Cross, it is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. Uxbrid ...

Stockport Stockport is a town and borough in Greater Manchester, England, south-east of Manchester, south-west of Ashton-under-Lyne and north of Macclesfield. The River Goyt and Tame merge to create the River Mersey here. Most of the town is within ...

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...

and back.

Synopsis

One woman's struggle with the difficulties of her personal and family life. At forty one, Harper Regan suddenly leaves her family in the suburbs of West London and sets off on a mission to see her father before he dies. Her journey becomes a road trip through the heart of England in this violent and comic exploration of the moralities of sex and death. It explores Harper's relationship with her daughter, husband and mother.

Production history

UK

Premiered at the National Theatre in 2008. With

Lesley Sharp Lesley Sharp is an English stage, film and television actress whose roles on British television include ''Clocking Off'' (2000–2001), '' Bob & Rose'' (2001) and ''Afterlife'' (2005–2006). She was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actres ...

as Harper Regan.

Israel

Premiered at the

Gesher Theater Gesher Theater is an Israeli theater company founded in 1991 in Tel Aviv by new immigrants from Russia. Defending Identity: Its Indispensable Role in Protecting Democracy, by Natan Sharansky, 2008, pp 139ff. History Gesher Theatre was founded ...

in Tel Aviv in November 2009 under the direction of Oded Kotler, with Laura Rivlin in the principal role.

United States

Premiered at Steep Theatre in Chicago, Illinois in January 2010 under the direction of

Robin Witt Robin Witt is an American theater director. She is an ensemble member at both the Griffin Theatre and Steep Theatre Company in Chicago. Witt's notable productions include Enda Walsh's ''The New Electric Ballroom'' at A Red Orchid Theatre, Dennis K ...

, with Kendra Thulin playing the title role. The New York premiere was presented

Off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...

by the

Atlantic Theater Company Atlantic Theater Company is an Off-Broadway non-profit theater, whose mission is to produce great plays "simply and truthfully utilizing an artistic ensemble." The company was founded in 1985 by David Mamet, William H. Macy, and 30 of their actin ...

in October 2012 at the Linda Gross Theater. Directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch, the cast included Mary McCann in the title role,

Mary Beth Peil Mary Beth Peil (born June 25, 1940) is an American actress and soprano. She began her career as an opera singer in 1962 with the Goldovsky Opera Theater. In 1964 she won two major singing competitions, the Young Concert Artists International Au ...

as Alison Woolley,

John Sharian John Sharian (born John Shahnazarian) is an English actor of Armenian descent. He appeared in the film '' The Machinist'' (2004). Education John Sharian attended the Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut and later the Kenyon College in Gambier ...

as Duncan Woolley,

Peter Scanavino Peter Muller Scanavino (born February 29, 1980) is an American actor. He currently stars as ADA Dominick "Sonny" Carisi Jr. in the long-running NBC crime/legal drama series '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit''. Career Since 2005, Scanavino ha ...

as Mickey Nestor, Christopher Innvar as James Fortune, Mahira Kakkar as Justine Ross, Jordan Lage as Elwood Barnes,

Madeleine Martin Madeleine Elizabeth Martin (born April 15, 1993) is an American actress, known for her role as the character Rebecca "Becca" Moody on Showtime comedy-drama ''Californication''. Early life Martin grew up in New York City, United States. As her ...

as Sarah Regan, Gareth Sake as Seth Regan, and Stephen Tyrone Williams as Tobias Rich.

Canada

Premiere a
Canada Stage
in Toronto, Ontario in March 2015 under the direction of

Matthew Jocelyn Matthew Jocelyn (born 1958) is the former artistic and general director of Canadian Stage, the largest not-for-profit theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Prior to his appointment at Canadian Stage, Jocelyn was the artistic and general director of ...

, with

Molly Parker Molly Parker (born 30 June 1972) is a Canadian actress, writer, and director. She has had roles in independent films as well as television. Her accolades include two Genie Awards, one Canadian Screen Award, one Independent Spirit Awards nomina ...

playing the title role.

Austria

Premiere at Off-Theater in Vienna in January 2017 under the direction of Markus Emil Felkel, with Pilar Aguilera playing the title role.

Notes

External links

Harper Regan at The National Theatre

Plays by Simon Stephens 2008 plays {{2000s-play-stub