Photo Flash: In Rehearsal with the Company of PORGY AND BESS at Regents Park Open Air Theatre

The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess will run at Regents Park Open Air Theatre from 17 July to 23 August with Opening Night for press on 28 July. Celebrated as a landmark piece of American theatre with iconic songs including 'Summertime', 'I Got Plenty of Nothing', 'I Loves You Porgy' and 'It Ain't Necessarily So', Porgy and Bess will be directed by Regents Park Open Air Theatre's Artistic Director Timothy Sheader, with a book adapted by Suzan-Lori Parks and a musical score adapted by Diedre L. Murray.

Drawing on talent from both sides of the Atlantic, Rufus Bonds Jr plays Porgy and Nicola Hughes plays Bess, with Phillip Boykin as Crown, Cedric Neal as Sportin' Life and Olivier Award-winning Sharon D Clarke as Mariah.

The full cast of Porgy and Bess also includes David Albury, Angela Caesar, Jade Ewen, Alex Giannini, Owain Gwynn, Tyrone Huntley, George Ikediashi, Claudia Kariuki, Arthur Kyeyune, Oliver Lidert, Leon Lopez, Jay Marsh, Tania Mathurin, Ellen O'Grady, Golda Rosheuvel, Yemie Sonuga and Marvin Springer.

Porgy, a crippled beggar, is devoted to taming wild Bess and saving her from a life of ruin. Yet new beginnings give way to temptation as Bess is haunted by the demons of her past.

Porgy and Bess is part of the 2014 season at Regents Park Open Air Theatre which also includes All My Son's which ran from 15 May to 7 June, Hobson's Choice starring Mark Benton from 12 June to 12 July, Twelfth Night (Re-imagined for everyone aged 6 and over) from 21 June to 12 July and To Kill a Mockingbird from 28 August to 13 September.

For further information please visit www.openairtheatre.com

Photo Credit: Johan Persson