Contact has been made again… To mark 70 years of the broadcast of the original The Quatermass Experiment, details have been released of the cast for the epic staging taking place September 9th at Alexandra Palace, using the original camera scripts.

Mark Gatiss, who stars as Professor Bernard Quatermass, will be joined by actress Alice Lowe (Garth Merenghi’s Darkplace, Sightseers) who will star as Quatermass’s chief assistant Judith Carroon and accomplished horror actor James Swanton (DashCam, Frankenstein’s Creature) will play her husband, stricken astronaut Victor Carroon.

Scott Arthur (the lead in recent TV hit Steeltown Murders) takes the part of troubled scientist John Paterson. The key role of debonair journalist James Fullalove will be played by comedian and actor Toby Hadoke (Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf, Fergus Dunford in Coronation Street) whilst the charming Miss Wilde, whose house is crashed into by the Quatermass rocket, will be played by veteran actress Linda Marlowe (Jekyll, Sylvie Carter in Eastenders). Linda has a special tie with the The Quatermass Experiment – her father, Peter Bathurst, played mission commander Charles Greene in the original TV production.

The cast will also feature a very talented ensemble of familiar faces taking on a number of roles throughout the six episodes, including BAFTA winning Coronation Street star Cherylee Houston MBE, and Doctor Who regular Dan Starkey. They are joined by Krissi Bohn (Biff and Chip, Coronation Street), character comic Tom Burgess (Peter Fleming’s Woefully Inaccurate History of the BBC), Edinburgh Comedy Award winning actor and comedian Adam Riches (Detectorists, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown), Abra Thompson (Showtrail, This Country), and actor and writer Carrie Thompson (Red Rose, Powertool Cheerleaders Vs The Boyband of the Screeching Dead).

Gatiss, Hadoke, Arthur and Marlowe convened with the production’s instigator and producer Jon Dear and co-producer Chris Lincé of Hermetic Arts, on the anniversary of the broadcast of the serial’s first episode in order to pay homage to that pioneering work from 70 years ago. They were joined by Nigel Kneale’s daughter Tacy Kneale, who brought with her the original monster prop from The Quatermass Experiment, made out of gardening gloves, latex and vegetation by her father and his then-girlfriend (and future wife) Judith Kerr (The Tiger Who Came to Tea).

Gatiss noted, “I’m deeply honoured – the 8 year old version of myself would not quite believe it but I am thrilled to play Bernard Quatermass. I don’t know how I’m going to play him yet – because he’s always different! It’s a thrill for me to be here on the 70th anniversary. I used to live down the road and I used to come here all the time. For me Alexandra Palace is haunted by Quatermass – what those pioneers did was so special. As I think Nigel Kneale would appreciate – you can feel the history in the stones”

Producer Jon Dear added, “This is a unique chance for audiences to experience one of the great lost pieces of television. Nigel Kneale created a story and a character that have influenced generations of film makers and writers. It redefined television and I’m so delighted to help bring this seminal work back to life with one of Britain’s best actors playing Professor Bernard Quatermass.”

Toby Hadoke (James Fullalove & writer of forthcoming factual book The Quatermass Files) said, “How touching to be within these hallowed walls seventy years to the day since cast and crew gathered to make television history. In true Nigel Kneale style, I am sure their energy is embedded in the bricks and will crackle through the building when we perform here in September” with Linda Marlowe (Miss Wilde) adding, “I saw it at the time – I must have been about 12. It’s thrilling to be part of resurrecting a classic that famously gripped the nation. It really was marvellous and very exciting – and it must have been one of my father’s first television jobs.”

The live performance of The Quatermass Experiment is produced by Jon Dear in association with Chris Lincé and Carrie Thompson of Hermetic Arts. It will take place on September 9th 2023 at Alexandra Palace Theatre, doors open 18.30

Further info: https://www.alexandrapalace.com/whats-on/the-quatermass-experiment/

Ticket link: https://www.alexandrapalace.com/whats-on/the-quatermass-experiment/#tickets

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