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PREVIEW: EDINBURGH’S DETECTIVE REBUS TO COME OUT OF RETIREMENT ON THEATRE ROYAL STAGE

Posted on February 25th 2019 by Whats on Northeast

Rebus: Long Shadows has been written exclusively for the stage by author of the original Rebus novels, Ian Rankin and award-winning playwright Rona Munro. Rankin’s Rebus novels have dominated the detective fiction market since 1987, with the ensuing TV series from 2000 cementing the detective’s legendary status. Long Shadows is Rebus’ stage debut.

We meet Detective Inspector John Rebus in retirement but with the ominous shadows of his former life still following him through the streets of Edinburgh. Whisky has helped but now he’s denying himself that pleasure. When the daughter of a murder victim appears outside his flat, he’s back on the case and off the wagon….

Ron Donachie, who has played the title role in all six BBC Radio dramatisations of Rebus since 2008, stars as John Rebus. He also played Deputy Chief Inspector Gunner in the Rebus TV series and Ser Roderick Cassell in Game of Thrones. John Stahl (Being Human and Game of Thrones) plays Big Ger Cafferty and Cathy Tyson (Mona Lisa and Band of Gold) plays detective sergeant Siobhan Clarke.
Dani Heron plays Angela, Eleanor House plays Heather/Maggie and Neil McKinven, Mordaunt.

Ian Rankin is the internationally bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus and Detective Malcolm Fox novels, as well as a string of standalone thrillers. His books have been translated into 36 languages and are bestsellers on several continents. Rankin has won multiple awards including four The Crime Writers Association Dagger Awards, and in 2004 received America’s celebrated Edgar Award. He is also the recipient of the OBE for services to literature.

Rona Munro has written extensively for stage, radio, film and television. Her theatre credits include The James Plays (which wowed Newcastle Theatre Royal audiences in 2016), Scuttlers, Iron – which won the John Whiting Award, The Last Witch and Little Eagles. Her television credits include Rehab, Bumping the Odds (BAFTA nomination), and Doctor Who; and for film, Ladybird Ladybird and Oranges and Sunshine.  Munro’s adaptation of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin will visit the Theatre Royal in May.

Long Shadows is directed by Robin Lefevre, an award-winning theatre director who has worked extensively in the UK, Ireland and the United States. He directed John Hurt in Afterplay, Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, and John Byrne’s first play Writer’s Cramp. On Broadway his credits include Brian Friel’s The Aristocrats which won him the New York Drama Desk Award for Best Director and George Bernard Shaw’s Heartbreak House.

Rebus: Long Shadows is at Newcastle Theatre Royal between Mon 25 Feb and Sat 2 March 2019 playing evenings at 7.30pm and matinees Thu 2pm and Sat 2.30pm. Tickets from £16 can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk

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