The River extends to 8 February 2015 on Broadway

The Broadway premiere of the Royal Court Theatre production of Jez Butterworth's latest play The River, starring Tony winner Hugh Jackman and directed by Ian Rickson, has extended its limited run due to popular demand and will now play its final performance at the Circle in the Square on 8 February 2015. It began previews on 31 October 2014, officially opened on 16 November and was originally scheduled to end its limited engagement on 25 January 2015.

The River opened on Broadway to mixed reviews, but has constantly enjoyed up to 104% capacity houses due to its star's pulling power.

Synopsis: "A remote cabin on the cliffs, a man and a woman, and a moonless night. Jez Butterworth's The River asks when we find each other, are we trying to recapture someone we once lost? The writer director team who brought you Jerusalem returns with a bewitching new story."

Leading West End producer Sonia Friedman produces the three-hander show, whose cast also features Laura Donnelly and Cush Jumbo.

This production marks Jez Butterworth's sixth play, and in turn, sixth collaboration between himself and director Ian Rickson. Mr. Rickson has previously directed the world premiere productions of Mr. Butterworth's other plays 'Mojo', 'The Night Heron', 'The Winterling', 'Parlour Song' and the multi-award-winning West End and Broadway production of 'Jerusalem'.

The River was first developed by Sonia Friedman Productions and was subsequently produced by the Royal Court Theatre in London. It was presented from 18 Oct to 17 Nov 2012 in the Royal Court's Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, in a production directed by Mr. Rickson, also featuring Laura Donnelly, who makes her Broadway debut alongside Cush Jumbo.

Hugh Jackman is an Academy Award®-nominated, Golden Globe and Tony Award®-winning actor. The Australian native was most recently on Broadway in his one-man show 'Hugh Jackman - Back on Broadway' in the fall of 2011. Jackman's dedication to the Broadway community was feted at the 2012 Tony Awards®, where he received a Special Award recognizing his accomplishments as a performer and humanitarian. He previously starred on Broadway in Keith Huff's 'A Steady Rain', opposite Daniel Craig, and as 1970s singer-songwriter Peter Allen in 'The Boy From Oz', for which he received the 2004 Tony Award® for Best Actor in a musical. He was nominated for an Olivier Award for his performance in 'Oklahoma!' (National Theatre) and other theatrical credits include 'Carousel' (Carnergie Hall), 'Sunset Boulevard' and Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast'. Jackman is widely know for his recurring film role as Comic Book Hero Wolverine in Marvel's X-Men franchise, which includes the movies 'X-Men' (2000), 'X-Men 2' (2003), 'X-Men: The Last Stand' (2006), 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' (2009), a cameo in 'X-Men: First Class' (2011) and 'The Wolverine' (2013). Jackman reunited with the X-Men team for 'X-Men: Days of Future Past', which is set for release this month and there are also rumours of a sequel to 2013's 'The Wolverine'. Other notable film credits include Jean Valjean in the film adaptation of 'Les Miserables', for which he earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Comedy/Musical, and an Academy Award® nomination, 'Real Steel', Baz Luhrmann's 'Australia', Darren Aronofsky's 'The Fountain', Christopher Nolan's 'The Prestige', and Woody Allen's 'Scoop'. In Animation, he has also voiced leading characters in DreamWorks' 'Rise of the Guardians', Warner Bros.' 'Happy Feet' and Aardman's 'Flushed Away'. He has served as host of the Tony Awards® three years in a row from 2003 to 2005, and will once again serve as host for the 68th Annual Tony Awards®, live from Radio City Music Hall this Summer.

Laura Donnelly has appeared in London's West End in 'The River' (Royal Court), 'Philadelphia, Here I Come!' (Donmar), 'Judgment Day' (Almeida), and 'Romeo and Juliet' (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre). She is also known for her TV roles of Sarah Kay in 'The Fall' (BBC), Violet Heath in 'Missing' (ABC), Freya in 'Merlin' (Kudos), Barbara Best in 'Best' (BBC), Katy in 'Occupation' (Kudos), Leanne O'Dwyer in 'Be More Ethic' (BBC), Aoife in 'Rough Diamond' (BBC/RTE), Maya in 'Hex' (Shine), Fleur in 'Casualty' (BBC), and Beth in 'Sugar Rush'(Shine).

Cush Jumbo is an Olivier Award nominee. She was nominated for 'Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre' for her self-penned solo show 'Josephine and I'. She also performed at the West End's Donmar Warehouse in an all-female version of Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar', later reprising the role at St. Ann's Warehouse in New York. She was again nominated for an Olivier Award for her performance. She has also appeared at Manchester's Royal Exchange as Nora in 'A Doll's House' and as Rosalind in 'As You Like It'. She has appeared on Television series such as 'Vera' (ITV1), and 'Getting On', and in the films 'Remainder' and 'The Inbetweeners'.

- by Tom Millward