Adrian Edmondson joins cast of Neville's Island

He will play Gordon, one of four businessman sent off on a team building exercise in Tim Firth’s comedy about a disastrous outward bound expedition. They succeed in becoming the first people ever to get shipwrecked on an island in the Lake District. What should have been a bonding process turns into a muddy, bloody fight for survival amid a carnival of recrimination, French cricket and sausages.

Edmondson rose to prominence during the 1980s when he became best known for roles in the BBC comedy series’ The Young Ones and Bottom, in which he appeared alongside his long-time collaborative partner Rik Mayall. Edmondson also appeared in The Comic Strip Presents…TV series. Other screen credits include The Supergrass, Jonathan Creek, Holby City, Miss Austen Regrets and Teenage Kicks, which he also co-wrote. He formed the band The Bad Shepherds and has also written and performed for the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. He has also appeared as a regular TV presenter on programmes such as Ade in Britain and The Dales and was a finalist in the 2011 series of Let’s Dance for Comic Relief.

Edmondson features in Neville’s Island alongside actor and comedian Rufus Hound, with further casting still to be announced.

Neville’s Island will be the second production staged in the Theatre in the Park, a temporary state-of-the-art auditorium which has been built while the Festival Theatre’s £22 million RENEW redevelopment continues. Directed by Angus Jackson - the director of the Olivier Award-winning production Goodnight Mister Tom - this promises to be a technically and visually ambitious staging of a darkly funny play. Jackson also directed If Only, which plays at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester, until 27 July.

Neville’s Island runs in the Theatre in the Park from September 11–28, Evenings 7.30pm (except for Press Night, Friday, September 20, 7pm). Matinees 2.30pm. 18–25 tickets £8.50, other tickets from £10.