NEIL MORRISSEY & OLIVER CHRIS TO STAR IN RAIN MAN ON STAGE

Neil Morrissey (Men Behaving Badly, Waterloo Road) makes his touring debut in the stage adaptation of the Oscar-winning film Rain Man, starring alongside Oliver Chris (Green Wing, The Office). Rain Man will embark on a major national tour this autumn, opening at Bath Theatre Royal on Wednesday 26 August, visiting thirteen venues across the UK until Saturday 28 November 2009.

Morrissey will play the role of Raymond Babbitt, an autistic savant who has been institutionalised for most of his life, the part for which Dustin Hoffman received the Oscar for Best Actor in the 1988 movie. Oliver Chris will play Raymond’s younger brother Charlie, played by Tom Cruise in the movie.

Rain Man tells the story of Charlie Babbitt, a self-centred Los Angeles-based car dealer and hustler who learns that his missing inheritance has been bequeathed to an autistic older brother in Ohio that he never knew he had. Discovering that his brother, Raymond, has an extraordinary talent for numbers, he takes him on a roller coaster journey across America from the mid-West to the casinos of Las Vegas. Charlie’s single-minded quest for cash evolves into a life-changing experience, where he finally learns the true meaning of unconditional love.

Dan Gordon’s stage adaptation of Rain Man received its UK premiere in the West End in 2008 starring Josh Hartnett and Adam Godley, where it ran for sixteen weeks. The 1988 movie won four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor award for Dustin Hoffman. Gordon’s own screenwriting credits include The Hurricane, Wyatt Earp, Murder in the First and Passenger 57.

Neil Morrissey is one of this country’s most popular television actors, with credits ranging from Men Behaving Badly to Boon, and Paradise Heights to Carrie and Barry, and is currently starring in the BBC1 series Waterloo Road. His West End stage credits include: A Passionate Woman, Guys and Dolls and Victoria Wood’s Acorn Antiques, performing alongside Julie Walters. Oliver Chris has appeared in many TV comedies including Green Wing, The IT Crowd, Nathan Barley and The Office. On stage he recently performed in Peter Hall’s The Portrait of a Lady and earlier this year made his West End debut in Lisa Kron’s play Well at the Apollo. Charles Lawson plays the role of Dr Breuner. Best known for the role of Jim MacDonald in TV’s Coronation Street, Lawson is set to make a long-awaited return to the Street for four weeks this summer.

Rain Man is adapted for the stage by Dan Gordon, based on the original story by Barry Morrow. Cast includes: Neil Morrissey (Raymond Babbitt), Oliver Chris (Charlie Babbitt), Charles Lawson (Dr Breuner), Ruth Everett (Susan), Emma Gregory (Lucy/Sally Dibbs/Iris) and Patrick Brennan (Mooney/Copy/Dr Marston). The production is directed by Robin Herford with Designs by Jonathan Fensom, Lighting Design by Jason Taylor and Sound Design by Gregory Clarke. The tour is presented by Nica Burns, Jane Walmsley, Michael Braham, Max Weitzenhoffer and Kenny Wax in association with MGM on Stage, Darcie Denkert and Dean Stolber. The tour is managed by Kenny Wax Ltd.