The show, which is based on the Graham Greene novel, reunites long-time collaborators composer John Barry and lyricist Don Black and will open on Oct. 5 following two weeks of previews.

Michael Jibson will be taking on the role of the violent gangster Pinkie Brown, the part played by Sir Richard Attenborough in the 1947 British movie. Jibson was last seen in the West End as Joe Casey, the lead role in Our House, a musical based on the songs of pop group Madness.

Sophia Ragavelas plays the part of the naïve waitress Rose, whom Pinkie marries to stop her giving evidence about the murder of his rival Fred (Nick Lumley). The role of Ida, who attempts to expose Pinkie's crime, has been given to Harriet Thorpe, who was seen recently in the National Theatre productions of A Prayer for Owen Meanie and Arthur Miller's All My Sons.

Don Black made his West End debut in 1974 as a lyricist with composer John Barry on the musical Billy, starring Michael Crawford at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. His more recent theatre work includes the lyrics for Tell Me on a Sunday (the recent West End revival of which starred Denise Van Outen), Bombay Dreams and the book and lyrics (with Christopher Hampton) for Sunset Boulevard, for which Black won two Tony Awards.

Less successfully, Black was also responsible for the lyrics to the critically panned 2002 show Romeo and Juliet, The Musical. He has written over a hundred songs for films, including five James Bond themes and the title song to the movie "Born Free," for which Black and Barry won an Oscar. Barry has a long track record of film scores, including the James Bond movies "Goldfinger" and "Thunderball." He has won five Oscars, four Grammys and a Golden Globe. The stage adaptation for Brighton Rock has been written by Giles Havergal. Almeida artistic director Michael Attenborough will direct.