CLASSIC PLAY RELEVANT TO THE CREDIT CRUNCH?

When the Arthur Miller classic Death of a Salesman was chosen by Warwick's Bridge House Theatre Company for the 2009 spring season Director Alison Sutcliffe had no idea there would be a worldwide economic decline to provide a pertinent backdrop in reality for the themes the play explores.

"It is a very timely production and definitely a play for our times," she said prior to the nine strong cast gathering for the first day's rehearsal on February 5th.

The new professional production of Death of a Salesman opens at the Bridge House Theatre in Myton Road on February 28th and runs until March 12th with performances at 7.30pm and 1.30pm on selected dates.

Taking the lead role of salesman Willy Loman is former RSC actor Richard Derrington - who is best known for playing the part of Mark Hebden in The Archers for 14 years.

Richard (58), a former pupil of Warwick School, has numerous other radio, television and theatrical credits in his long acting career and has previously appeared with the Bridge House Theatre Company as Prospero in The Tempest and Macduff in Macbeth.

He thinks the 1949 drama which questions the "American Dream" of a consumer society that measures success by a person's possessions and bank balance is as relevant in today's credit crunch as it was when it was written.

"I hope this new production is going to make people question the view that a dream can only become reality based on money and what you own, and that money defines success," he says.

He will draw on his own experiences to portray Willy Loman, but will not formulate his performance until the cast start working together.

"In rehearsals we are not going to be able to avoid drawing parallels with the theme of the play and the times we are living in now. It will give the production a dimension none of us could have predicted when it was first decided to stage a new version of Death of a Salesman. But above all the play is a highly charged family drama to which we can all relate."

Tickets are on sale now from the Bridge House Box Office on 01926 776438 or www.bridgehousetheatre.co.uk

For interested members of the audience and students there is are free post show question and answer session with the cast and creative team after the evening performances on March 4, 5,11 and 12th.