First published: 11 Dec 2009

Jodhi May and Richard Coyle have been cast in the premiere production of novelist Mark Haddon’s play Polar Bears, which runs at the Donmar Warehouse from 1 April (press night 6 April).

Polar Bears, the debut play by the author of best-selling novel The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time, tells of one man’s struggle to love, support and live with someone suffering from a psychological condition.

Coyle returns to the Donmar where he previously appeared in Proof and After Miss Julie. The actor has numerous London stage credits to his name including The York Realist at the Royal Court, Donmar Artistic Director Michael Grandage’s production of Don Carlos at the Gielgud theatre and Pinter double-bill The Lover and The Collection at the Comedy theatre, which was directed by Polar Bears director Jamie Lloyd. His screen credits include The Whistleblowers and Coupling.

May last appeared in the West End in the Laurence Olivier Award-winning play Blackbird at the Noël Coward theatre in 2006. Since then she has been seen on screen in the recent television adaptation of Emma, The Amazing Mrs Pritchard and film Defiance.

Polar Bears premieres at the Donmar following the current production of Red, and Lanford Wilson’s Serenading Louie, which plays from 11 February to 27 March.

CB