Award-winning cast announced for Jeffrey Sweet’s darkly comedic and confrontational play.
Following the success of his OffWestEnd nominated play, Kunstler, Joseph Jefferson Award winning playwright Jeffrey Sweet’s The Value of Names will have its UK premiere this February 2025.
The Value of Names will star American actor Katherine Lyle (Troilus and Cressida, LAMDA; A Christmas Carol, Perseverance Theatre) as up-and-coming actor Norma who is staying with her retired comedy actor father Benny, played by Jeremy Kareken (The Shylock and the Shakespeareans, The New Ohio Theatre; American Rot, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club) in his Malibu mansion in 1983 Hollywood. With sharp dialogue and deeply conflicted characters, this show offers an exciting exploration of betrayal, redemption and the weight of the past on the future.
In this gripping and witty drama, Tim Hardy (The Trials of Galileo, Edinburgh Fringe, US & UK Tour, Mary Barnes, The Royal Court) will play the role of Leo, as he is forced to face the haunting consequences of his past actions, leading to a fierce, funny, and emotional battle between personal history and future aspirations.
Norma is caught in a powerful dilemma when she lands a career-defining role in a production directed by Leo, the man who betrayed her blacklisted actor father years ago by testifying against him to the House of Un-American Activities Committee. As Norma grapples with her ambition and loyalty to her father, her father must confront the painful possibility of his daughter working with the man who destroyed his career.
“The Value of Names is almost perfect.” Variety
“It’s not often you will encounter a play as rich in depth as The Value of Names.” Chicago Magazine
“Very moving, beautifully written.” Chicago Tribune
Listings
The Value of Names: Tuesday 11th February – Saturday 1st March 2025
The White Bear Theatre, 138 Kennington Park Road, London, SE11 4DJ
Tuesday to Saturday 7:30pm Matinee on Saturday at 2:30pm
Running time: 90 minutes (without an interval)