The Height of the Storm opens at the Barn Theatre in WGC

Opening on Friday, January 13, The Height of the Storm is the work of Florian Zeller, not so long ago the enfant terrible of the French literary scene and now regarded by many critics as the most interesting new playwright to have emerged so far this century.

Zeller’s work was first introduced to British audiences in 2014 when Laurence Boswell, then artistic director of Bath’s Ustinov Studio, staged The Mother, followed by its companion piece, The Father, which had highly acclaimed runs in London and New York.

Adapted for screen in 2020, The Father won several Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Sir Anthony Hopkins and Best Adapted Screenplay for Zeller and his translator, Christopher Hampton. The movie also starred Olivia Colman.

His plays have since been performed in 49 countries, including USA and Britain, where he enjoyed the rare achievement of three plays running at the same time in London’s West End.

Victoria Rive as Woman, Suzie Major as Madeleine and Francine Ross as Élise in The Height of the Storm (Image: John Davies)

The Height of the Storm's director is Barn veteran John Davies, whose last production was Violence and Son in February 2020, just before the pandemic.

He said: "The Height of the Storm is not an easy play to describe and is even harder to classify.

"It's all about a man and woman, still in love after many years of marriage, and the visit of their two adult daughters for the weekend.

"It soon becomes evident that someone has just died, but the audience has to puzzle out for themselves who it is. It's a serious play, moving in its depiction of married love, but also often comic."

A Zeller enthusiast, himself, Davies was delighted to discover that some of the very best actors at the Barn were equally enthusiastic about the play.

Jim Markey as André and Victoria Rive as Woman in the Barn Theatre's production of The Height of the Storm (Image: John Davies)

Jim Markey, seen last year in A Bunch of Amateurs, plays André, with Suzie Major playing his wife, Madeleine.

Natalie Gordon returns to Barn stage to play Anne, with Francine Ross, recently seen in The Lifeblood, playing her sister, Élise.

Victoria Rive is 'Woman' and Andy Hill, last seen in Dinner, is 'Man'.

Suzie, Natalie and Victoria have all played many roles at the Barn, and the last time all three acted together was in Moira Buffini's Handbagged, also directed by John Davies.

Victoria Rive as Woman, Suzie Major as Madeleine and Francine Ross as Élise in The Height of the Storm at the Barn Theatre. (Image: John Davies)

The Height of the Storm runs from Friday, January 13 to Saturday, January 21 at 8pm, with a matinee on January 21 at 2.30pm.

Tickets are available from the Barn Theatre box office on 01707 324300, or online at www.barntheatre.co.uk

Jim Markey as André and Natalie Gordon as Anne in The Height of the Storm. (Image: John Davies)