Terence Rattigan's Epic Wartime Romance, Flare Path, Opens in Coventry

Alastair Whatley and Olivia Hallinan

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry is thrilled to welcome the new UK touring production of Terence Rattigan’s Flare Path from Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 November, directed by Justin Audibert and starring Philip Franks, Olivia Hallinan, Leon Ockenden and Alastair Whatley.
 
Based on Rattigan’s experiences as a tail gunner during World War II, Flare Path paints an evocative portrait of life in wartime Britain for the life-and-death existence of the RAF bomber crews, and their wives and sweethearts who were left waiting their return.  
                       
Philip Franks, who will play Squadron Leader Swanson, is perhaps best-known for his television roles as Charley in The Darling Buds of May and Sergeant Craddock in Heartbeat, as well as Tom Pinch in Martin Chuzzlewit and Richard in Bleak House. Recent theatre credits includes UK tours of The History Boys and The Rocky Horror Show. 

Olivia Hallinan will play Patricia Graham. Olivia’s numerous television credits include Laura Timmins in Larkrise To Candleford, Kim in the award-winning series Sugar Rush, Ellie Allard in Girls in Love and Liddy Blakeman in Murder in Suburbia.

Leon Ockenden, who will play Peter Kyle, is best known for his television roles as Prince Serge De Bolotoff in Mr Selfridge, Hector Reid in Waterloo Road, Dr Chris Oakley in Heartbeat and Sam Taylor in Family Affairs. 
 
Alastair Whatley, who will play Teddy Graham, is currently playing Evans in the UK tour of Birdsong (Birdsong Productions/ Original Theatre Company). Alastair is also the Artistic Director of the Original Theatre Company.                
                                                                                               
Set in 1942 against a backdrop of heartache and quiet bravery, Flare Path tells the story of former actress Patricia, the wife of RAF pilot Teddy, whose marriage is tested to the limits by the surprise arrival of Patricia’s ex‐lover and Hollywood idol Peter Kyle. An unexpected and dangerous mission over Germany puts Patricia at the centre of an emotional conflict as unpredictable as the war in the skies.

Flare Path combines highly charged drama with a truly authentic taste of the fear, camaraderie and passion experienced by the men and women who fought to save their country, their families and each other.

This new production of Flare Path will be directed by Justin Audibert, who is currently directing The Jew of Malta for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford. 

Flare Path runs at the Belgrade Theatre from 3 to 7 November. For more information and to book tickets click here or call 024 7655 3055.