The Grapes Of Wrath

Damian O'Hare and Christopher Timothy as Tom and Pa Joad

The middle of a deep recession is probably an opportune time to revisit the days of the Great Depression.

John Steinbeck's landmark novel, The Grapes Of Wrath, tells the tale of upheaval in the 1930s, as people look for a better life.

Now a new adaptation of that classic tale has been produced for the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

The new production stars Christopher Timothy, Sorcha Cusack, Oliver Cotton and Damian O'Hare.

The plot revolves around the Joad family who are seduced by the promise of a better life in the land of plenty - California.

The Joads, a family of impoverished Oklahoman share-croppers, make an epic journey across America from the Oklahoma dustbowl.

Having lost everything when their farm is repossessed after a devastating drought and buoyed by the prospect of opportunity and dignity, they invest everything they have in the journey.

Even when forced to face the possibility that California may not after all be the promised land, they have no choice but to go on.

Christopher Timothy plays Pa Joad - despite a long theatre career, he is probably best known for his portrayal of James Herriot in the classic 1970s TV drama, All Creatures Great And Small and more recently in the medical drama series, Doctors.

Playing the role of Ma Joad is Sorcha Cusack, who has a long list of television credits stretching back to her 1973 debut in an adaptation of Jane Eyre. She has also worked extensively with the RSC and at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin.

Oliver Cotton plays Jim Casey. Cotton is another RSC veteran who has also worked extensively at the National Theatre as well as numerous TV roles.

Tom Joad is played by Damian O'Hare, who is well-known as a series regular in ITV's The Royal.

The Grapes Of Wrath runs at West Yorkshire Playhouse from Tuesday 3 November until Saturday 14 November 2009.