The Michael Grandage Company and Headlong have announced full casting for James Graham’s world-premiere political drama Labour of Love, which will co-star Martin Freeman (Sherlock, Lord of the Rings) and Sarah Lancashire (Coronation Street, Happy Valley) in the respective roles of Labour MP David Lyons and his constituency agent Jean Whittaker.

The cast will also include newly announced members Rachael Stirling, Kwong Loke, Dickon Tyrrell, and Susan Wokoma.

Labour of Love begins previews September 15 at the West End’s Noel Coward Theatre ahead of a September 25 opening night. Performances are scheduled through December 2.

Graham again teams up with director Jeremy Herrin, artistic director of Headlong, having previously collaborated together on the Olivier-nominated political drama This House at the National Theatre in 2012.

Set over the course of 25 years, the play centers on “Labour MP David Lyons [who] cares about modernisation and "electability"... his constituency agent, Jean Whittaker [who] cares about principles and her community. Set away from the Westminster bubble in the party's traditional northern heartlands, this is a clash of philosophy, culture and class against the backdrop of the Labour Party over 25 years as it moves from Kinnock through Blair into Corbyn... and beyond?”

The production will have set and costume design by Lee Newby, lighting design by Neil Austin, sound design by Paul Arditti, and video and projection designer by Duncan McLean.

The show’s producers are continuing their commitment to offer over 20,000 tickets at £10 (including booking fee and restoration levy), which is 25 percent of the tickets for the entire run, across all levels of the auditorium. In addition, they will stage access performances – with both captioned and audio described performances.

Visit LabourOfLoveThePlay.co.uk.

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