Casting announced for the Old Vic premiere of A Very Expensive Poison

### *A Very Expensive Poison* Old Vic cast announced Leading the [**Old Vic Theatre**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/60/old-vic-theatre.aspx) cast of *A Very Expensive Poison* are London-born actor **Tom Brooke** (HBO's *Game of Thrones*, BBC's *Sherlock*) in the role of Alexander Litvinenko and Swedish-born actress **MyAnna Buring** (*The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Parts 1 and 2, The Descent)* in the role of his wife, Marina Litvinenko. The two are joined by **Peter Polycarpou** (*Pinter 4* at [**The Pinter**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/26/harold-pinter-theatre.aspx), [***Phantom of the Opera***](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/13/phantom-of-the-opera-tickets.aspx), [***Les Miserables***](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/197/les-miserables-tickets.aspx)) in the role of Boris Bereszovsky, **Michael Shaeffer** (*Game of Thrones, Rogue One*) in the role of Andrei Luguvoi, **Lloyd Hutchinson** (*Florence Foster Jenkins*) in the role of Dimitri Kotvun, **Reece Shearsmith** (*The League of Gentlemen, Doctor Who*) in the role of The President, **Gavin Spokes** (*She Stoops to Conquer*) as DI Hyatt, **Bea Svistunenko** (*Love and Money*)** **in the roles of Anatoly Litvinenko/Nurse Michena/Waitress, **Thomas Arnold** (*BBC's War and Peace, Fanny & Alexander*) in the roles of Emmerson/Tim/Sergei/Mario, **Amanda Hadingue** (*The Madness of George III, Good Omens, The Queen*) in the roles of Professor Dombey/Lluba/Photographer/Bhatt, and **Sarah Seggari** (*Emila* at the [**Vaudeville Theatre**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/80/vaudeville-theatre.aspx)) in the roles of Cabin Crew/Nurse Rezan/Australian Cleaner/Nurse. The cast of *A Very Expensive Poison* is completed by **Marc Graham** (All We Ever Wanted Was Everything) as Onstage Swing/Nurse David/Youth/FSB Officer, **Callum Coates** as Onstage Swing/Dr Virchis/FSB Officer 2, **Yasmine Holness-Dove** as Onstage Swing/Natalia/FSB Officer 3/Youth 2/Waitress 2/Dr Dudhniwala, and **Robyn Moore** as Onstage Swing/Galina/Receptionist. ### Putin controversy ahead of the *A Very Expensive Poison* premiere at the Old Vic next month Ahead of the show's premiere, Lucy Prebble stated that *A Very Expensive Poison *couldn't come at a better time following **Vladimir Putin**'s recent article published in the *Financial Times *in which the President of Russia declared liberalism to be dead and obsolete. **Donald Tusk**, President of the European Council, fired back, calling authoritarianism obsolete. Putin has long been promoting the growth of populism, fostering the rise of Hungary's **Viktor Orban**, Italy's **Matteo Salvini**, and the UK's **Brexit uprising**. Lucy Prebble's *A Very Expensive Poison* takes a stab at these recent news events, rejecting Putin's preposterous propaganda whilst exploring both the investigation made by **Sasha Litvinenko** on the murder of Alexander Litvinenko and **Marina Litvinenko**'s fight to achieve justice years after the former Soviet spy's assassination. For more information on the upcoming Lucy Prebble play, don't forget to read our article on the [**Top 7 Facts About *A Very Expensive Poison***](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/do-you-know-these-7-facts-about-a-very-expensive-poison-at-the-old-vic). ### *A Very Expensive Poison* creative team for the Old Vic Theatre production Lucy Prebble's provocative new play is directed by renowned Irish director **John Crowley** (*Brooklyn, Intermission, The Present, The Pillowman, Goldfinch*) and features set and costume design by **Tom Scutt**, sound design by **Paul Arditti**, lighting design by **Mimi Jordan Sherin**, composition by **Paddy Cuneed**, choreography by **Aletta Collins**, video design by **Ewan Jones Morris**, voice coaching by **Charles Hughes D'aeth**, dialect coaching by **Penny Dyer**, and casting direction by **Jessica Ronane**. ## *A Very Expensive Poison* tickets for The Old Vic premiere on sale from £24! You won't want to miss one of the most thought-provoking plays of the summer. *A Very Expensive Poison* **officially* *opens on 24 August 2019** and is booking at [**London's Old Vic Theatre**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/60/old-vic-theatre.aspx) **until 28 September 2019**. With some of the cheapest West End theatre tickets on sale right now, *A Very Expensive Poison *tickets will not last long! [**Book your tickets for *A Very Expensive Poison *now**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/3219/a-very-expensive-poison-tickets.aspx) to **secure the best seats at the Old Vic Theatre** at the best prices whilst stocks last. 🎟 [**Purchase *A Very Expensive Poison *tickets, London from £24 and up**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/3219/a-very-expensive-poison-tickets.aspx).