BIG BIG SKY CAST ANNOUNCEMENT

Acclaimed actors, Jennifer Daley, Sam Newton, Matt Sutton and Jessica Jolleys will star in Big Big Sky. All four actors are making their debut at Hampstead Theatre.

The world premiere of Big Big Sky, by Tom Wells will run from 30 July until 11 September at Hampstead Downstairs. This beautifully tender new play which explores nature’s influence on love, friendship and family will be directed by Tessa Walker, Hampstead Theatre’s new Associate Director. Tickets will go on sale from Thursday 20 May at 1030am at hampsteadtheatre.com.

Tom Wells, playwright of Big Big Sky said:  

'I’m really delighted to be working again with Tessa Walker - our first time together at Hampstead Theatre - with Big Big Sky.  It feels properly special to be making theatre again, and making it with such a brilliant director.

The play is set in Kilnsea, where I grew up and where my Mum and Dad still live. It’s a small village on the very edge of East Yorkshire, windswept and sea-nibbled, but it has its own beauty, I think - a bit peaceful, a bit restorative.  Fingers crossed Big Big Sky can bring a bit of this to audiences in Hampstead.  Also a few jokes about oat slice, and some line dancing.  I think probably we need those at the moment too.'

Big Big Sky is a beautifully tender new play which explores nature’s influence on love, friendship and family – the belief that anyone who’s lost can be found, even in the remotest of places.  Set in his hometown of Kilnsea, in East Yorkshire, Wells’ touching drama draws on the beauty of his local coastal landscape whilst also subtly highlighting the vulnerability of nature and the need for better care.

Jennifer Daley will play the role of Angie. Recent theatre credits include Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads by Roy Williams (Chichester Festival Theatre) and Edward Albee’s The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? (Theatre Royal Haymarket). Daley also plays the role of Amy Franks in BBC Radio 4’s longstanding drama series The Archers.  

Sam Newton will play the role of Ed. Recent theatre credits include playing the main character, and narrator in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (National Theatre Productions, 2017, 2019), Phil Porter’s Sometimes Thinking (Frantic Assembly) and Nigel Slater's memoir, Toast (The Lowry / The Traverse).

Jessica Jolleys will play the role of Lauren. She is a recent graduate of Rose Bruford College (2019). Theatre work includes Jack and the Beanstalk (Theatre Clwyd). 

Matt Sutton will play the role of Dennis. Recent theatre credits include James Graham’s The Culture - a Farce in Two Acts, (Hull Truck/Hull UK City of Culture), Deborah Bruce’s The House They Grew Up In (Headlong / Chichester Festival Theatre) and Richard Bean’s The Hypocrite (Royal Shakespeare Company, Hull Truck Theatre and Hull UK City of Culture 2017).

Tom Wells’ theatre credits include The Kitchen Sink, winner of Most Promising Playwright Critics Circle Award (2011) and George Devine Award (2012), Ghosting (Royal Court), Drip, which premiered as part of Hull UK City of Culture 2017 (Script Club/Boundless) and Cinderella; Dick Whittington And His Cat and Jack and the Beanstalk (all Lyric Hammersmith). Other theatre credits include Folk (Birmingham Rep/ Hull Truck /Watford Palace) and About a Goth (Paines Plough / Play Pie and a Pint) which were directed by Tessa Walker. Big Big Sky will be Wells’ debut at Hampstead Theatre.

Tessa Walker is Hampstead Theatre’s newly appointed Associate Director. Big Big Sky will be Walker’s directorial debut at Hampstead Theatre and her fourth collaboration with Tom Wells. Recent directing work includes The Snow Queen (Sherman Theatre), Jekyll And Hyde (Birmingham Rep) and The Whip Hand (Traverse Theatre/Birmingham Rep). She has also been the Literary Director at Paines Plough and a Literary Associate at the National Theatre of Scotland.  

Walker will be joined by designer Bob Bailey, lighting designer Jai Morjaria and sound designer Laura Howard.


Big Big Sky will remain as originally sold, with reduced capacity and social distancing, for the duration of its run should national restrictions be lifted. In the event of the production being postponed due to UK Government advice, full refunds or credit vouchers will be offered.

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