New play The Code has announced casting for its run at Southwark Playhouse Elephant this autumn.
Written by Michael McKeever (Daniel’s Husband and Mr. Parker), The Code is playing at Southwark Playhouse Elephant from 12 September to 11 October 2025.
The new drama will star Olivier Award-winner Tracie Bennett (Here We Are, Hairspray) as Tallulah Bankhead, John Partridge (EastEnders, Cats) as Billy Haines, Solomon Davy (Hairspray) as Chad Manford and Nick Blakeley (Underdog: The Other Brontë) as Henry Willson.
Directed by Christopher Renshaw (Taboo, We Will Rock You), The Code examines the hidden rules of 1950’s Hollywood.
The show had industry readings in New York back in November 2023, with Tracie Bennett attached.
Joining Christopher Renshaw in the creative team are set and costume design by Ethan Cheek, lighting design by Jack Weir and casting by Nicholas Hockaday.
Michael McKeever’s other plays include Daniel’s Husband, which is getting a revival at Marylebone Theatre this Christmas.
Hollywood, 1950. A fading star. A rising one. An agent with an agenda. And a legend who’s seen it all. Tallulah Bankhead – magnetic, mercurial, and unapologetically sharp-tongued – stops in for a cocktail at the home of former screen idol turned interior designer Billy Haines, who may or may not be planning to disappear from the town he once ruled. Enter power agent Henry Willson and his all-too-perfect protégé Chad Manford, setting the room alight. In a world where image is everything, and identity must be carefully edited to survive, can any of them break ‘the code’ without losing everything?
Writer Michael McKeever said in a statement: “I am thrilled to bring this show to London. I look forward to seeing what this splendid team will do with it. It’s fascinating to me how relevant the issues in the play have become in these strange times in which we live.”
Director Christopher Renshaw said: “I am genuinely excited to be at Southwark Playhouse Elephant, directing this wonderful quartet of actors in this equally wonderful play.”
Producer Jim Kierstead said: “It gives me great pleasure to bring this brilliantly inspiring and timely show to London with our incredible producing team. Working with Chris and Michael and this talented group of actors and creatives is a dream come true.”
The Code is produced in London by Jim Kierstead, Merrie L. Davis, Jim Head, Elisabeth Rock, Jim Karp/James Manuel Meneses, Vasi Laurence/Adina Schecter and Ted Snowdon.
The Code is running at Southwark Playhouse Elephant from 12 September to 11 October 2025.
More about tickets to The Code at Southwark Playhouse Elephant in London
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