You’ve read the book, you’ve seen the movie, now experience it as a piece of theatre!

Running until Saturday, October 28, the Torch Theatre’s autumn production of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is a spectacular production that packs a real punch.

In contrast to the smaller scale casts of the Torch’s most recent hit productions, The Woman In Black and Brief Encounter, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest boasts a 13-strong ensemble cast of accomplished professionals whose credits include stage, film and television.

Richard Nichols reprises the part of natural born rebel Randle McMurphy, and Torch Theatre Company regulars Liam Tobin, Miriam O’Brien, Dion Davies and Dave Ainsworth make welcome returns.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is directed by award-winning director, Peter Doran, Torch Theatre’s artistic director and winner of the Best Director Award at the 2017 Wales Theatre Award.

Peter Doran joins the cast of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest in the role of Scanlon, his first stage appearance since the Torch Theatre Company production of Bedroom Farce in October 2004.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest marks not only the Torch Theatre’s 40th anniversary and its 150th production, it is also the 50th collaboration between Peter Doran and set designer Sean Crowley since Peter became artistic director 20 years ago.

The play was the centrepiece of the Torch’s 25th anniversary celebrations back in 2002, when it not only received rave reviews, but also scooped two awards from the Theatre in Wales awards for 2002. Artistic director Peter Doran picked up the award for Best Production (English), while designer Sean Crowley won Best Design.

Said Peter: “For the 40th, I thought it would be nice to revisit one of our successes and this seemed the obvious choice.”

As well as being regarded as a classic novel, play and film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is generally considered to have left a lasting impact on the field of psychiatry. Ken Kesey’s 1962 book, and the film version released 13 years later, controversially exposed the public to the inner workings of mental health institutions and are both credited with irreparably tarnishing the image of electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, and quickening its departure from mainstream mental health care.

The Torch Theatre are delighted to be working with mental health charity MIND as their chosen charity during the run of this production.

“I hope people will be reminded of the fantastic work that goes on in the mental health service; every day is a challenge but every day you are helping somebody to get through very difficult times,” added Peter. “I also hope people will witness the power of theatre.”

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest will be running until Saturday, October 28. Tickets are available at the following prices: £18 full price; £16 concessions; £15.50 TLC members; £12.50 matinee; £8.50 under 26.

To book tickets or for more information, contact the Box Office at 01646 695267 or e-mail [email protected]