Stage and screen actress Dame Penelope Keith will collaborate once again with director Alan Strachan and designer Simon Higlett for Two Cigarettes in the Dark, a brand new play by Stephen Wyatt, produced by Jonathan Church Theatre Productions and Cambridge Arts Theatre.

This bittersweet comedy will kick off its UK Tour at Chichester Festival Theatre (17 – 26 February) with Press Night scheduled for 4 March at Cambridge Arts Theatre. More casting is to be announced in due course.

Dame Penelope Keith said: “Following this difficult period for regional theatres I am delighted to be bringing this new play to a group of theatres and audiences who have been important to me over the years. When I read Stephen’s touching and amusing play which has at its centre a (rare to find) role for an actress of a certain age, I knew immediately I wanted to play the part and bring this play to audiences across the country.”  

Dame Penelope Keith is renowned for her many acclaimed roles on stage and screen, most notably in the iconic British sitcoms The Good Life and To The Manor Born.  

The Nottingham Playhouse production of Michael Morpurgo’s award-winning novel, Private Peaceful, adapted for the stage by Simon Reade and directed by Elle While, has announced a major UK tour following its Nottingham premiere with JCTP acting as tour producers.

First published in 2003 by Harper Collins, Private Peaceful was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and won the Red House Children’s Book Award and the Blue Peter Book Award. Acknowledged by Morpurgo as his favourite work, this thrilling new ensemble retelling for the stage explores the lengths a young soldier will go to, to fight for what is right.

In other JCTP news, rehearsals are about to start for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Check out the stunning 2021 Tour trailer below!