2:22 A Ghost Story: Frankie Bridge joins the cast
The chilling play continues
Runaway Entertainment have announced that Frankie Bridge will join the cast of 2:22 - A Ghost Story playing the character Lauren in her West End debut after Sophia Bush has unfortunately had to withdraw from the production due to illness.
Frankie Bridge will perform from August until the end of the run on 17th September.
The Producers have said: ‘Due to illness, Sophia Bush has unfortunately had to withdraw from the production. We are delighted to welcome Frankie Bridge to the 2:22 family. Our talented understudies Gemma Yates and Allie Dart have been covering the role of Lauren on rotation. We are hugely grateful to them for stepping up so brilliantly. They will continue until Frankie begins.’
Sophie Bush added: 'I am truly gutted that my time in 2:22 A Ghost Story has come to an unexpected and early end. I came down with a virus in June and have not been able to bring my body back to a baseline. After weeks of being intermittently pulled off stage, visiting multiple doctors and spending a night in the Emergency Room, I’ve been advised by expert healthcare specialists that I needed to end my time on stage and be under the care of my doctors at home in the US.'
Cast as of August 2023:
Jaime Winstone as Jenny
Film includes: Arthurs Whiskey (CK Films/ Sky Movies); Sumotherhood (Piece of Pie Productions);Tomb Raider (GK Films); Made In Dagenham (Number 9 Films); Boogie Woogie (Autonomous); Donkey Punch (Warp X).
Television includes: Eastenders (BBC); The Barking Murders (ITV Studios); Torvill and Dean (ITV); Babs (BBC); Ellen (Touchpaper Television Ltd)
Theatre includes: Sex With a Stranger (Trafalgar Studio/ Hampstead Theatre); The Fastest Clock in the Universe (Hampstead Theatre / The Curve)
Clifford Samuel as Sam
Theatre: Dmitry (Marylebone Theatre); A Guide for the Homesick (Trafalgar Studios); Boudica (Shakespeare's Globe); Don't Sleep There Are Snakes (Simple8 Co/Park Theatre); The Events (Young Vic/Off-Broadway)
Film: Little Bone Lodge (Signature Films); A Birthday Party (BFI/Screen Scotland); Lock-In (Papercut Productions); Betsy & Leonard (Iron Box Films)
Television: McMafia (AMC/BBC); Soon Gone: The Windrush Chronicles (BBC); The Mallorca Files (BBC); Holby City (BBC TV); The Bill (Talkback Thames/ITV); Roman's Empire (BBC/Tiger Aspect).
Frankie Bridge as Lauren
Frankie Bridge is a versatile entertainer who has seamlessly transitioned from chart-topping pop sensation in The Saturdays to respected broadcaster, author, podcaster and fashion mogul. She joined the ITV1 daytime team as a Loose Women panellist in 2020 and was a finalist in ITV's 'I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here'. She also danced her way to the semi-finals on Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.
Beyond her television work, Frankie has enjoyed success with her Sunday Times Bestseller memoir and guide: 'OPEN: Why Asking for Help Can Save Your Life', plus the follow-up: 'GROW: Motherhood, Mental Health and Me.'Frankie began podcasting as an extension of her passion for open conversation and connecting with people. She launched OPEN MIND in 2019 and now co-hosts 'First Dates: The Podcast'. Her fashion label – FW Bridge – was founded in May 2022 and has gone from strength to strength.
Ricky Champ as Ben
Film: Lost in London (Waypoint Entertainment); Grandpa's Great Escape (King Bert for BBC); Stoner Express (Propeller Artists); A Royal Night Out (Propeller Artists); Mortdecai (Mort Productions Limited); The World's End (Big Talk Productions).
Television: The Decameron (Netflix); This is Going to Hurt (BBC One/ Sister for AMC); EastEnders (BBC); Absentia (Sony Pictures TV); Game of Thrones (HBO); Lucky Man Series 2 (Carnival Film), We are the Jury (Big Talk Productions for BBC2); Tracey Ullman Show (Series 2) (BBC/ HOB); Harlots (ITV/Hulu).
Theatre: A Midsummer Night's Dream (RSC); Coriolanus (RSC); Cannibals (Royal Manchester Exchange); Romeo & Juliet (Shakespeare's Globe); Days of Significance (Trycycle/RSC); Bent (Trafalgar Studios); Hamlet (RSC); Hang of Gaol (RSC); Love's Labour's Lost (RSC); The Giant (Hampstead Theatre/ RSC).
On joining the 2:22 cast Frankie said: ‘I’ve loved 2:22 A Ghost Story since I first saw it, so landing the role of Lauren is a total dream come true. Never one to do things by halves, it’s an honour to be making my West End debut on such a clever, suspense-filled production and I couldn’t be more excited to join the cast. Lauren is a joy to play with so many layers and emotions to explore. I can’t wait for you to meet her!’
The current run is the fifth West End transfer of Danny Robins’ edge-of-your-seat, supernatural thriller 2:22 - A Ghost Story. It moved to The Apollo in May this year following a hugely successful season at The Lyric theatre - just next door - and two hugely successful seasons at the Criterion. Last year 2:22 A Ghost Story had Olivier Nominations including Best New Play, and won the Best New Play and Best Actor in a play (Jake Wood) categories in the Whatsonstage awards.
2:22 - A Ghost Story originally ran at the Noël Coward Theatre between August and October this 2021 and starred Lilly Allen and Hadley Fraser. The play broke the theatre's box office records and then returned for a second West End run at the Gielgud Theatre with Stephanie Beatriz and Giovanna Fletcher.
The play is directed by Matthew Dunster features set design by Anna Fleischle, costume design by Cindy Lin, lighting design by Lucy Carter, sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph Sound, casting by Jessica Ronane CDG and illusions by Chris Fisher.
2:22 - A Ghost Story is produced by Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment, Isobel David and Kater Gordon.
How to get tickets to 2:22 - A Ghost Story
2:22 - A Ghost Story runs at the Criterion Theatre until 8th January 2023 and runs at the Lyric Theatre from 21st January until 23rd April 2023. Tickets can be bought by booking online.
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