Full casting announced for first major revival of Neil Labute's THE SHAPE OF THINGS

From the producers of Clybourne Park, this will be the first major revival of The Shape of Things since 2004 – a dark comedy about the drama of human relationships and the nature of love and art.

How far would you go for love? For art? What would you be willing to change? What price might you pay?

Adam, a geeky young student, works part-time in an art museum and video store to pay his way through college. When he meets post-grad art student Evelyn, his life changes as she instils in him a new-found confidence. As she encourages him to change his appearance, soon Adam is attracting attention he has never had before. But how much will he change his perception of himself from what he used to be to what he believes he wants to be?

The Shape of Things premièred at the Temporary Almeida Theatre at Kings Cross in 2001, directed by Neil LaBute, with Paul Rudd as Adam, Rachel Weisz as Evelyn, Gretchen Mol as Jenny, and Fred Weller as Phillip. The London production opened Off-Broadway later that year, winning the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play. LaBute wrote and directed a 2003 comedy drama film based on his play, featuring the original cast. The play has been revived in Dublin, London and New York.

Amber Anderson makes her professional stage debut playing Eve. Her television work includes Peaky Blinders, Strike – The Cuckoo’s Calling, Maigret’s Dead Man and Black Mirror. Her film work includes The Souvenir II, Emma, White Lie, All the World’s a Stage, Skin Walker, In Darkness, The Riot Club, Lotus Eaters and Your Highness.

Carla Harrison-Hodge plays Jenny. Her theatre work includes Cyrano de Bergerac (Jamie Lloyd company/ Harold Pinter Theatre/BAM New York) and Amadeus (National Theatre).For television, her work includes Year of the Rabbit, Fresh Meat, and Cuffs.

Luke Newton plays Adam. His theatre work includes The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre). For television, his work includes Bridgerton (as series regular Colin Bridgerton), The Lodge, Mr Selfridge, Sadie J, and The Cut; and for film, Lake Placid: Legacy.

Majid Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy plays Phillip. His theatre work includes Y’Mam: Young Man’s Angry Movements (also wrote - Soho Theatre, Liverpool Everyman and UK tour), Something That Means Something (Theatre503), Peter Pan (Theatre By the Lake), Twelfth Night (Liverpool Everyman), War Horse (New London Theatre), and Galka Motlalka (Royal Exchange Theatre). For television, his work includes The Girlfriend Experience, and Hollyoaks (as series regular Jesse Donovan); and for film, Chosen, Act/Or, and The Turning Enigma.

Neil LaBute is a writer and director. For theatre credits include:Bash: Latter-Day Plays (Douglas Fairbanks Theatre, Almeida Theatre); The Shape of Things (Almeida Theatre, Promenade Theatre); The Distance from Here (MCC Theatre, Almeida Theatre); The Mercy Seat (MCC Theatre, Almeida Theatre); Filthy Talk for Troubled Times (MCC Theatre); Fat Pig (MCC Theatre, Trafalgar Studios); Autobahn (MCC Theatre); Some Girl(s) (Gielgud Theatre, MCC Theatre); This is How it Goes (Donmar Warehouse, The Public Theatre); Land of the Dead/Helter Skelter (Ensemble Studio Theatre, Bush Theatre); Wrecks (Everyman Palace Theatre, The Public Theatre, The Bush Theatre); In a Dark Dark House (MCC Theatre, Almeida Theatre); Reasons to be Pretty (MCC Theatre, Almeida Theatre); In a Forest, Dark and Deep (Vaudeville Theatre, Profiles Theatre); Woyzeck – adaptation (Schauspielhaus Zurich); Taming of the Shrew - additional scenes (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); Short Ends (Open Fist Theatre); Lovely Head (Spoleto Festival-Italy, Fringe Festival-Madrid, La Mama); Pick One (Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Young Vic); I’m Going To Stop Pretending That I Didn’t Break Your Heart (Venice Biennale); 16 Pounds (Trafalgar Studios); We Have A Situation (Konstanz Theatre – Germany); and The Answer To Everything (Staatstheater Augsburg - Germany). For film credits include:In the Company of Men; Your Friends & Neighbors; Nurse Betty; Possession; The Shape of Things; The Wicker Man; Lakeview Terrace; Death at a Funeral; Some Girl(s); Some Velvet Morning; Dirty Weekend; Out Of The Blue; House Of Darkness and the upcoming Fear The Night. For television credits include:Bash: Latter-Day Plays; Full Circle; Ten X Ten; Billy & Billie; Van Helsing; he I-Land, and the upcoming Thou Shalt Not. Fiction includes:Seconds of Pleasure (Faber & Faber).

Nicky Allpress is a director.Credits include Walworth Farce, Romeo & Juliet (Southwark Playhouse), Crackers (Polka Theatre), Restless (Terrifying Women), Circle Mirror Transformation, Pomona (Mountview), Rabbit (Drama Centre London), PROUD (New Wimbledon Theatre), Market Boy (Union Theatre), Mercy by Mandi Riggi, My Fair Lady (Reading Hexagon, Blackadder (South Hill Park), Tragedy in the Park (Site Specific Work). AsStaff Director at the National Theatre: My Brilliant Friend and as Assistant Director: Leading Lady Parts (Summerland). She is a member of the Young Vic Creator’s Program.

Peter Butler is a set and costume designer. His current practice spans set design, costume design and performance collaboration. Credits include: Shut Up, I’m Dreaming (National Theatre & The PappyShow), Anthem & Horizon (Bush Theatre), The Beat of Our Hearts (Exeter Northcott), Patient Light (Eastern Angles), Paper Cut (Theatre 503) The Seagull, Husbands & Sons (Drama Centre). As Associate Designer: Cabaret (Playhouse Theatre). As Assistant Designer: Carousel (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Arrangement (Sadlers Wells) and Scoring a Century (Peacock Theatre). He is one of the 2021 Linbury Prize winners for stage design.