Cast announced for world premiere of Atonement stage adaptation at Chichester
The much-anticipated stage adaptation of Ian McEwan’s novel Atonement will debut at Chichester Festival Theatre this May, with the casting now confirmed. Directed by Adam Penford, the production promises to bring new life to the acclaimed story of Briony Tallis and its far-reaching consequences.
The world premiere of Atonement, adapted for the stage by Christopher Hampton, opens at Chichester Festival Theatre from 29 May to 20 June, with a press night scheduled for 5 June. Set in 1935 on an English country estate, the story focuses on 13-year-old Briony Tallis, who witnesses an incident between her sister Cecilia and Robbie, the housekeeper’s son, leading to an accusation that impacts all their lives over subsequent decades.
The casting sees Siân Phillips take on the role of the older Briony Tallis, with Miriam Petche cast as Cecilia, Jasper Talbot as Robbie, and Isabella Dempster playing the younger Briony. The ensemble also features James Backway, Tom Chapman, Yanexi Enriquez, Debra Gillett, Gabin Kongolo, Natasha Magigi, and Jonathan Oliver.
Ian McEwan’s novel Atonement was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and has been included in both Time Magazine and the Guardian’s lists of the 100 greatest novels of the past century. It is widely known too for its acclaimed film adaptation starring Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, and James McAvoy.
Christopher Hampton, the adaptor, is known for plays such as The Philanthropist and Les Liaisons Dangereuses, the latter earning Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Play and currently being revived at the National Theatre.
Adam Penford, director of the production, is the artistic director of Nottingham Playhouse. His recent credits include James Graham’s Punch, which has been staged in the West End and on Broadway. Penford also directed The Sound of Music at Chichester in 2023.
The creative team supporting the production includes designer Anthony Ward, lighting designer Aideen Malone, composer and sound designer Alexandra Faye Braithwaite, movement and intimacy director Ben Wright, video designer Andrzej Goulding, and casting director Helena Palmer.
This staging adds to a growing trend of adapting major contemporary novels for the theatre, offering new dimensions to familiar literary works through live performance.
