Cast announced for All At Sea by Alison Carr playing at Live Theatre this Autumn

A stellar cast will bring Alison Carr’s mesmerising fictionalised new play All At Sea to  life this autumn. Phil Corbitt (Kinky Boots) and Sarah Belcher (Hamnet) play Colin and  Deborah a couple with spiralling debt, sky-high mortgage and seemingly nowhere to  turn.

Drawing inspiration from the notorious ‘Canoe Man’ story, All At Sea premieres at Live  Theatre Newcastle from Thursday 24 September to Saturday 10 October before  transferring to Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarbrough from Friday 16 to Saturday 31  October 2026. This gripping dark comedy directed by Maria Crocker takes a deep dive  into an audacious plan and an extraordinary deception.

The two-hander sees Phil Corbitt take on the role of Colin, a desperate husband whose  mounting debt pushes him towards the unthinkable: faking his own death for an  insurance payout.

Playing loyal wife and grieving widow Deborah is Sarah Belcher. Caught up in the  desperate, daring scheme, deceiving family and forced to hold her nerve as they await  the money, aware that one mistake could expose everything.

Phil Corbitt’s theatre credits include Sunny Afternoon (National Tour), Kinky Boots (Storyhouse Theatre), Mamma Mia (National and International Tour), Calendar Girls (National Tour), The Tempest (Northern Broadsides tour, Beijing and Shanghai) and A  Streetcar Named Desire (Europe, Hong Kong, Japan Tours).

Sarah Belcher’s stage credits include The Crucible (Shakespeare’s Globe), Hamnet (RSC/West End), The March on Russia (Orange Tree Theatre), Medea (Almeida Theatre), Twelfth Night (Filter/RSC), The Accrington Pals (Royal Exchange), Twelfth Night, The  Tempest, Comedy of Errors (RSC) and The Weather Man (Opera North).

Maria Crocker, director said: “I am so excited to welcome Phil Corbitt and Sarah Belcher  to the All At Sea team. This sharp and witty play requires two expert actors to bring this  extraordinary couple to life, and this casting has delivered just that.” 

The creative team for All At Sea includes Hannah Sibai (Set design and costumes),  Catja Hamilton (Lighting), Roma Yagnik (Sound design/composer) and Ziad Jabero  (Composer).

All At Sea is presented by Live Theatre and Stephen Joseph Theatre in association with  Laurels and supported by Newcastle based architects SPACE. Packed with tension,  emotion and unexpected twists, fictional comedy-drama All At Sea promises to keep  audiences guessing until the very end.

All At Sea plays at Live  Theatre Newcastle Thursday 24 September to Saturday 10 October. Tickets are available here.