Full cast announced as rehearsals begin for blistering new production of The Caretaker this Autumn

David Judge (Mick), Patrice Naiambana (Davies) and Jonathan Livingstone (Aston). Photo by Iona Firouzabadi

Bristol Old Vic and Royal & Derngate, Northampton announce the full cast for The Caretaker which will begin rehearsals today.

Patrice Naiambana, previously announced in the iconic role of Davies, is joined by dynamic young actors David Judge and Jonathan Livingstone, bringing this radical revival of Pinter’s classic to life for a new generation. The vulnerability and aggression in the homeless Davies and the bitter wrangling between the brothers who offer him a kind of asylum rings out of the play with startling clarity for the present-day social tensions between those who feel they “belong” and those who do not.

Jonathan Livingstone will play Aston. Since graduating from RADA in 2008, Jonathan has made a name for himself on stage, working with director Daniel Kramer as Benvolio in the Shakespeare Globe production of Romeo and Juliet, in the Young Vic’s Now We Are Here (director Ian Rickson), the National Theatre’s Our Country’s Good, the RSC’s Taming of the Shrew and Cheek by Jowl’s ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore. He was also part of the National Theatre/West End production of War Horse and is best known on screen for the role of Boy Tracy in E4's Chewing Gum.

David Judge will play Mick. A graduate of the E17 acting school and the National Youth Theatre, David went on to be a regular in the Channel 4 series Hollyoaks in the role of Danny Valentine. His film and TV work includes the UK series Prey and the film American Haunting. Stage work includes Fatherland and Scuttlers (both Manchester Royal Exchange), Eleventh Capital (Royal Court) and A Taste of Honey (Sheffield Crucible).

Patrice Naiambana has most recently starred in the sell-out National Theatre production Barber Shop Chronicles. Describing himself as an “African performing artist from Sierra Leone”, his previous work includes the title role in Kathryn Hunter’s Othello, Warwick the Kingmaker in Michael Boyd’s Olivier Award-winning Histories Cycle Ensemble, and Aslan in Adrian Noble’s The Lion,The Witch and The Wardrobe, all for the RSC. He has played in Steven Berkoff’s Corialanus and Marcello Magni’s Tell Them I am Youngand Beautiful. Patrice is also the founder and facilitator of Tribal Soul Arts, an organisation which creates innovative and functional arts in collaboration with citizens and communities to bring about positive social transformation.

The production will be directed by Christopher Haydon, his first major production since his celebrated tenure at London’s Gate Theatre (Grounded, Image of An Unknown Young Woman, The Convert). Christopher’s previous credits include Twelve Angry Men at Birmingham Rep and in the West End, and Grounded (Traverse Theatre Edinburgh, Studio Theatre Washington DC, national and international tour) which won a Fringe First and Best Production in the Off West End Awards. He reunites with Designer Oliver Townsend for The Caretaker, after previously collaborating on Grounded (Best Set Design, Off West End Awards).

The Caretaker will open at Bristol Old Vic running from 9-30 September. It then tours to Nuffield Southampton Theatres (10-14 Oct) before a run at Royal & Derngate, Northampton from 17-28 October.