************************* Imagine a canvas about five feet by four feet with a white background, completely white in fact, and white stripes. The question is how much would you pay for that painting? This, and other questions are set to be answered in Christopher Hampton’s translation of Yasmin Reza’s award-winning, world-wide hit Art when it opens with an all-star cast on 20 October until 11 November. Serge has bought a painting. White and expensive. Serge thinks it's a masterpiece, Marc thinks it's a joke and Yvan wonders how you can see the stripes. In Yasmina Reza's award-winning play, art and friendship are yoked together in knot of humour, pathos and aggression: a joke becomes a declaration of war, a throwaway comment becomes a personal attack; will a painting become the ruination of a fifteen-year relationship? At once hilarious, touching and disturbing, Art tackles a topical debate while presenting characters and situations that are dangerously real. Are you who you think you are or who your friends think you are? What happens when your friend breaks a tacit agreement? How much would you pay for a white painting? Art, winner of the Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy of the Year, received its British première at Wyndham’s Theatre, London, in 1994 starring Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay and Ken Stott. Andrew Dunn is set to make a welcome return to the Theatre following his appearance in the critically acclaimed York Theatre Royal production of Brassed Off, as well as appearing in the hit BBC One television series 55 Degrees North and Dinnerladies. Dunn, whose other television credits include appearing as Alistair Campbell in Bremner, Bird and Fortune, will play the role of Marc, alongside other actors making a welcome return to York Theatre Royal - Stuart Organ and Daniel Hill. Stuart Organ, who plays Serge and last appeared at York Theatre Royal in Single Spies, is perhaps best known for his roles of Mr Robson in Grange Hill and Kevin Cross in Brookside, whilst Daniel Hill will be familiar to audiences as the retirement home manager, Harvey Bains, in the much loved BBC One sitcom Waiting for God, as well as appearances in My Family, Rose and Maloney and Judge John Deed. Daniel was last at York Theatre Royal in the Theatre’s 1996 production of Dead Funny. York Theatre Royal’s artistic director, Damian Cruden, (Broken Glass, Pygmalion and Brassed Off) will direct the play. The production is designed by Mark Thompson (Tony nominee for Bombay Dreams on Broadway, the film The Madness of King George, and Art, West End); with lighting designed by Richard G Jones (Steptoe and Son in Murder at Oil Drum Lane, Brassed Off and Northanger Abbey, York Theatre Royal) Art runs from the 20 October – 11 November.Tickets are priced £8.00 - £18.00 (Matinee tickets are £8.00). Tickets for Under 25s and Students are £4.00 and can be purchased at York Theatre Royal Box Office or by calling 01904 623568. Tickets are also available online at www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk . **************************