Kara Tointon in Absent Friends at the Harold Pinter Theatre

Tuesday, 13th Dec 2011  

The EastEnders Actress Set to Appear in the Production from January 2012 Alongside Reece Shearsmith

It seems that this year’s star of “Pygmalion” at the Garrick Theatre will be teaming with one of the stars of “Betty Blue Eyes” and “Ghost Stories” as Kara Tointon joins the cast of “Absent Friends” at the Harold Pinter Theatre alongside Reece Shearsmith. The production is also set to feature David Armand, Elizabeth Berrington, Katherine Parkinson and Steffan Rhodri whilst Jeremy Herrin steps into the director’s role following his current role as director of “Death and the Maiden”.

Alan Ayckbourn’s “Absent Friends” focuses on the character of Colin, who has recently lost his fiancée, as he is joined by a group of friends hoping to cheer him up. But what is supposed to be a gathering of good intentions soon gives way to a gathering of resentment and loathing as jealousy and infidelity rear their ugly heads. It is set to appear at the venue from January to April 2012 and marks the latest appearance of Ayckbourn’s work in the West End. The writer is one of the best known playwrights in the British Isles and is responsible for the likes of “Season’s Greetings”, which ran at the Lyttelton National Theatre last year, “The Norman Conquests” and “Bedroom Farce”, among others.

Kara Tointon was last seen in the West End when she starred in the mentioned “Pygmalion” alongside Rupert Everett at the Garrick Theatre earlier this year, though she is better known for her television work. Many know her for portraying the character of Dawn Swann in the popular soap “EastEnders” in addition to her appearance on “Strictly Come Dancing” last year, though she has also appeared in “Kara Tointon: Don’t Call Me Stupid” and will be seen in the recently announced movie “Last Passenger”.

Reece Shearsmith, meanwhile, has appeared in a wide range of west end shows in the last year or so and has now amassed credits like “The League of Gentlemen” stage show, “Ghost Stories” at the Duke of York’s Theatre and “Betty Blue Eyes” at the Novello Theatre. He is also better known for his screen work, which includes the “League of Gentlemen” television series and movie, “Pyschoville”, “Spaced” and movies like “Burke and Hare”.

“Absent Friends” is set to appear at the Harold Pinter Theatre from Thursday 26th January 2012 to Saturday 14th April 2012.