4000 Miles

About

Late one night, 21-year-old Leo arrives without warning at his grandmother's Manhattan apartment – the furthest point on a momentous bike ride across America. Vera is 91 and lives alone, her independence undimmed by the challenges of modern living. Baffled by each other at first, this odd couple slowly edge across the distance between them.

Amy Herzog's award-winning drama – named Time magazine's best play of 2012 – is a warm, wry and compassionate story about love, loss, memory and moving on.

Eileen Atkins makes a long-awaited return to Chichester as Vera. One of the UK's most distinguished actors, last seen here in Vita and Virginia in 1992, her many screen roles include her BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning role in Cranford, Doc Martin and The Crown.

Sebastian Croft makes his CFT debut as Leo; he is best known for Netflix's Heartstopper and Horrible Histories: The Movie for which he received a children's BAFTA nomination. This year he will lead Amazon's How To Date Billy Walsh. His theatre work includes Trevor Nunn's production of King John (Rose Theatre).
The cast is completed by Nell Barlow, named a BAFTA Breakthrough Talent in 2022 and BIFA Best Newcomer 2021 for Sweetheart; and Elizabeth Chu (Lesbian Space Crime at Soho Theatre, Much Ado About Nothing UK tour).

Director Richard Eyre returns to Chichester following The Stepmother (2017) and 8 Hotels (2019). Formerly Director of the National Theatre, his recent films include The Children Act and Allelujah.