Save up to £6.50 on tickets to see Ruby Wax: Losing It at the Duchess Theatre
August 24, 2011
SPECIAL OFFER: Save up to £6.50 on tickets to see Ruby Wax: Losing It at the Duchess Theatre
Ruby Wax: Losing It
Ruby Wax had it all – career, dream house, husband, kids, so when was the moment she realised she was the 1 in 4… Somewhere between painting her kitchen beige (again), realising she didn’t own a life manual or comprehend the contents of a children’s party bag?
Ruby’s acerbic, honest humour and Judith Owen’s touching songs are both poignant and laugh-out-loud funny. This show gives you the chance to explore the ups and downs of mental illness, its stigmas and the freedom you discover when you share the darkest moments of your life.
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Original Cast Members Return As The Pitmen Painters Arrive In The West End Direct From National Theatre And Broadway Triumphs
August 22, 2011
Casting has been announced for the forthcoming West End production of Lee Hall’s The Pitmen Painters, presented by Bill Kenwright. The climax of an extraordinary journey, which started at Newcastle’s Live Theatre and continued on to the National, Broadway, and all round the UK, The Pitmen Painters is highly amusing, deeply moving and always entertaining as it examines the lives of a group of ordinary men who do extraordinary things.
The cast includes Ian Kelly as ‘Robert Lyon’, Michael Hodgson as ‘Harry Wilson’, David Whitaker as ‘Jimmy Floyd’ and Brian Lonsdale as ‘Young Lad/Ben Nicholson’, all reprising the roles that they played at Live Theatre in Newcastle, at the National, on Broadway and on tour. Trevor Fox, who joined the cast on Broadway and on tour, will reprise the role of ‘Oliver Kilbourn’. Joy Brook and Viktoria Kay, who joined for the 2011 tour, will play ‘Helen Sutherland’ and ‘Susan Parks’ respectively. Joe Caffrey, who has appeared in many productions at Live Theatre in Newcastle and who played the role of Dad in the West End Production of Cooking With Elvis, and ‘Billy’s Father’ in the West End production of Billy Elliot (both also by Lee Hall), will join the cast to play ‘George Brown’.
The West End season will open at the Duchess Theatre on Wednesday 5 October with press night on the Tuesday 11 October at 7pm.
In 1934, a group of Ashington miners hired a professor to teach an art appreciation evening class. Rapidly abandoning theory in favour of practice, the pitmen began to paint – prolifically. Within a few years avant-garde artists became their friends and their work was acquired by prestigious collectors; but every day they continued to work, as before, down the mine…
Full of humour, drama and revelation, Lee Hall’s The Pitmen Painters, which won the Evening Standard Award for Best New Play, has never been so relevant, as public cutbacks take their toll and the debate about the importance of the arts reaches a crescendo.
IN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE, WITH CUTBACKS HITTING THE ARTS, LEE HALL’S AWARD WINNING PLAY HAS NEVER BEEN SO RELEVANT
Lee Hall wrote the screenplay for Billy Elliot and adapted it for the West End in 2005, winning an Olivier Award for Best New Musical. Billy Elliot opened on Broadway in November 2008. His plays include Spoonface Steinberg (Ambassadors), Cooking with Elvis (Live Theatre, Assembly Rooms and West End), and an adaptation of Herman Heijerman’s The Good Hope for the National Theatre.
Inspired by a book by William Feaver, this is the original production directed by Max Roberts, with set and costume design by Gary McCann, lighting by Douglas Kuhrt and sound by Martin Hodgson.
Release issued by: Target Live
LINKS
Book tickets to The Pitmen Painters at the Duchess Theatre in London
Ruby Wax: Losing It tickets at the Duchess Theatre
August 1, 2011
Ruby Wax’s sold out show transfers into the West End for a strictly limited season. Showcasing the inimitable Ms Wax’s distinctive wit, sharp observation and worldly wisdom, she is joined by singer-songwriter Judith Owen in this darkly hilarious show, directed by Thea Sharrock.
The Pitmen Painters tickets at the Duchess Theatre
July 15, 2011
Breathtaking in its scope, Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall’s remarkable play about art and socialism was a huge hit for the National Theatre and on tour, and now Max Roberts’s sublime production comes to London for a limited season.
The Pitmen Painters Arrive In The West End Direct From National Theatre And Broadway Triumphs
June 24, 2011
Presented by Bill Kenwright, following celebrated seasons at the National Theatre and on Broadway, Lee Hall’s The Pitmen Painters will at last enjoy a West End season, opening at the Duchess Theatre on Wednesday 5 October with press night on the Tuesday 11 October at 7pm.
The climax of an extraordinary journey, which started at Newcastle’s Live Theatre and continued on to the National, Broadway, and all round the UK, The Pitmen Painters is highly amusing, deeply moving and always entertaining as it examines the lives of a group of ordinary men who do extraordinary things.
In 1934, a group of Ashington miners hired a professor to teach an art appreciation evening class. Rapidly abandoning theory in favour of practice, the pitmen began to paint – prolifically. Within a few years avant-garde artists became their friends and their work was acquired by prestigious collectors; but every day they continued to work, as before, down the mine…
Full of humour, drama and revelation, Lee Hall’s The Pitmen Painters, which won the Evening Standard Award for Best New Play, has never been so relevant, as public cutbacks take their toll and the debate about the importance of the arts reaches a crescendo.
IN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE, WITH CUTBACKS HITTING THE ARTS, LEE HALL’S AWARD WINNING PLAY HAS NEVER BEEN SO RELEVANT
Lee Hall wrote the screenplay for Billy Elliot and adapted it for the West End in 2005, winning an Olivier Award for Best New Musical. Billy Elliot opened on Broadway in November 2008. His plays include Spoonface Steinberg (Ambassadors), Cooking with Elvis (Live Theatre, Assembly Rooms and West End), and an adaptation of Herman Heijerman’s The Good Hope for the National Theatre.
Inspired by a book by William Feaver, this is the original production directed by Max Roberts, with set and costume design by Gary McCann, lighting by Douglas Kuhrt and sound by Martin Hodgson, and featuring many of the actors who starred at the National Theatre and on Broadway.
Release issued by Target Live
LINKS
Book tickets through the National Theatre website
Production photos of Butley at the Duchess Theatre starring Dominic West
June 9, 2011
Photos of Butley at the Duchess Theatre in London.
The West End revival of Simon Gray’s biting comedy Butley stars Dominic West (The Wire) in the iconic title role of the rapier-tongued lecturer Ben Butley, alongside with Paul McGann (Withnail and I, Doctor Who), Penny Downie, (RSC’s Hamlet, Invictus), Amanda Drew (ENRON, Eastenders) and Martin Hutson (A Very British Sex Scandal).
Ben Butley is having a monumentally bad day. So bad, he’s making sure everyone else has a worse one. His estranged wife has taken up with the most boring man in London. His beloved protégé has found a new benefactor. And in an unprecedented act of betrayal even the English department’s resident failure has a book deal. Butley’s trusty arsenal – mischievous irony and gleeful troublemaking – have never failed him yet. Might they finally prove to be the weapons of his own tragic self-destruction?
Butley premiered in 1971 in Harold Pinter’s award-winning production starring Alan Bates at London’s Criterion Theatre. Forty years on, West takes the lead in this razor sharp and darkly comic assault on the soft underbelly of academia.
The production is directed by Lindsay Posner (An Ideal Husband, A View From The Bridge), designed by Peter McKintosh, and with lighting designed by Howard Harrison.
LINKS
SPECIAL OFFER: Book tickets to Butley
Butley starring Dominic West – Round-up of Reviews
June 6, 2011
A round-up of reviews of Butley at the Duchess Theatre starring Dominic West.
Dominic West in Butley
The West End revival of Simon Gray’s biting comedy Butley stars Dominic West (The Wire) in the iconic title role of the rapier-tongued lecturer Ben Butley, alongside with Paul McGann (Withnail and I, Doctor Who), Penny Downie, (RSC’s Hamlet, Invictus), Amanda Drew (ENRON, Eastenders) and Martin Hutson (A Very British Sex Scandal).
The production is directed by Lindsay Posner (An Ideal Husband, A View From The Bridge), designed by Peter McKintosh, and with lighting designed by Howard Harrison.
See a round-up of Butley reviews, below.
LINKS
SPECIAL OFFER: Book tickets to Butley at the Duchess Theatre in London
PAUL MCGANN in Butley
April 27, 2011
Paul McGann stars alongside Dominic West in Butley at the Duchess Theatre
Paul McGann joins the cast of Simon Gray’s classic comedy Butley this summer at the Duchess Theatre, playing Reg Nuttall. He is joined by Dominic West, Penny Downie and Amanda Drew.
Paul McGann’s first major role was as Percy Topliss in the BBC series The Monocled Mutineer. He is best known for his role in Withnail and I and as the eighth Doctor in Doctor Who, and recently appeared as Mark North in the TV series Luther.
Paul’s long career in theatre includes work at the Nottingham Playhouse, Royal Court and Liverpool Playhouse, with recent performances including Helen at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and Mourning Becomes Electra at the National Theatre.
Book tickets to see Butley at the Duchess Theatre
Full Cast Announced For Butley: Paul Mcgann, Penny Downie And Amanda Drew Join Dominic West
April 27, 2011
The full cast has been announced for this summer’s West End revival of Simon Gray’s comedy Butley. Alongside Dominic West, star of hit US drama The Wire, who will play the iconic title role of the rapier-tongued lecturer Butley, will be Paul McGann (Withnail and I, Doctor Who), Penny Downie, (RSC’s Hamlet, Invictus) and Amanda Drew (ENRON, Eastenders).
Ben Butley is having a monumentally bad day. So bad, he’s making sure everyone else has a worse one. His estranged wife has taken up with the most boring man in London. His beloved protégé has found a new benefactor. And in an unprecedented act of betrayal even the English department’s resident failure has a book deal. Butley’s trusty arsenal – mischievous irony and gleeful troublemaking – have never failed him yet. Might they finally prove to be the weapons of his own tragic self-destruction?
Butley premiered in 1971 in Harold Pinter’s award-winning production starring Alan Bates at London’s Criterion Theatre. Forty years on, West takes the lead in this razor sharp and darkly comic assault on the soft underbelly of academia.
Full cast: Dominic West, Paul McGann, Penny Downie, Amanda Drew, Martin Hutson, Cai Brigden, Emma Hiddleston
The production will be directed by Lindsay Posner, designed by Peter McKintosh, with lighting designed by Howard Harrison.
Dominic West played the character of Jimmy McNulty in five seasons of The Wire (HBO) from 2002 to 2008. His other screen credits include The Devil’s Whore, Centurion and 300. His theatre credits include The Seagull (Old Vic), As You Like It (West End), The Voysey Inheritance (National), Rock ‘n’ Roll (West End) and Life Is A Dream (Donmar).
Paul McGann will play Reg Nuttall. His first major role was as Percy Topliss in the BBC series The Monocled Mutineer. Best known for his role in Withnail and I and as the eighth Doctor in Doctor Who, Paul’s theatre work includes Helen (Globe Theatre) and Mourning Becomes Electra (National Theatre). Paul also recently appeared as Mark North in the TV series Luther.
Penny Downie will play Edna Shaft. Her recent stage roles include Gertrude in Hamlet and Penelope in The Penelopiad (both for the RSC) and Dinner (National Theatre/West End).
Amanda Drew will play Anne Butley. Amanda played the role of Beth in the recent West End revival of Simon Gray’s Otherwise Engaged. Other recent stage appearances include House of Games (Almeida), ENRON (Chichester/Royal Court/West End), Parlour Song (Almeida) and The Ugly One (Royal Court). She also played the regular character of Dr May Wright in Eastenders (BBC TV), and won the Evening Standard Award for Best Newcomer for her role in Eastward Ho! (RSC) in 2002.
Martin Hutson will play Joseph Keyston. His stage credits include Anthony and Cleopatra (Liverpool Playhouse), Taking Sides / Collaboration (Chichester/West End), The Voysey Inheritance (NT), The Comedy of Errors (Sheffield) and As You Like It (RSC). He was nominated in 2001 for the Ian Charleson Award for his roles in Ghosts (West End) and As You Like It (Sheffield)
Lindsay Posner’s credits include An Ideal Husband, A View From The Bridge (both West End), Fiddler on the Roof (Sheffield Crucible and West End), Fool for Love, Oleanna (both West End) and Death and the Maiden (Royal Court/West End).
Press night will be held on Monday 6th June 2011 at 7pm.
Press release issued by: The Corner Shop
LINKS
Book tickets to Butley at the Duchess Theatre in London
DOMINIC WEST in Butley
April 27, 2011
The Wire’s Dominc West to star in Butley at the Duchess Theatre
Dominic West. Photo: perou
Dominic West will return to the London stage this summer to take on one of Simon Gray’s great comedy characters. Lindsay Posner’s new production of Butley at the Duchess Theatre will see West play the rapier-tongued lecturer Butley alongside Paul McGann, Penny Downie and Amanda Drew.
Dominic West played the character of Jimmy McNulty in five seasons of The Wire (HBO) from 2002 to 2008. His other screen credits include The Devil’s Whore, Centurion and 300.
Dominic’s stage credits include The Seagull at the Old Vic, The Voysey Inheritance at the National Theatre, Life Is A Dream at the Donmar Warehouse and Rock ‘n’ Roll and As You Like It in the West End.
Book tickets to see Dominic West in Butley at the Duchess Theatre
