Whatsonstage Awards announced
February 21, 2011
Legally Blonde picks up four awards; Shakespeare’s Globe wins best new play for Anne Boleyn
Anthony Howell and Miranda Raison in the 2010 production of Anne Boleyn
The Whatsonstage Awards were announced last night, 20 February 2011, at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London. Musical Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre won four awards including best new musical and best actress in a musical for Sheridan Smith, who played leading lady Elle Woods in the show until last month.
It was also a good night for outdoor London venues as best new play went to Howard Brenton’s Anne Boleyn at Shakespeare’s Globe, which is returning to the venue this summer, and best director went to the Open Air Theatre’s artistic director Timothy Sheader for his 2010 summer productions of Into the Woods and The Crucible.
Other big winners included Les Miserables, which grabbed best ensemble performance and best theatre event of the year for its 25th anniversary concert at the O2, and best musical revival for the national touring production which ended its run at the Barbican theatre last autumn; and best West End show went to Wicked at the Apollo Victoria, with the show’s current star Rachel Tucker winning best takeover in a role.
Best actress was awarded to Zoe Wanamaker for her performance in All My Sons at the Apollo Theatre, alongside her co-star David Suchet, who picked up best actor. Love Never Dies, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, also won two awards, with Ramin Karimloo taking home best actor in a musical, joined by Joseph Millson as best supporting actor in a musical.
Sheridan Smith in Legally Blonde
Other highlights included Yes, Prime Minister, which beat current best play award winner and Olivier Award best play favourite Clybourne Park in the best comedy category, Meera Syal named best solo performance for Shirley Valentine, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof winning best play revival, Joanna Scotcher winning best set design for The Railway Children at Waterloo Station and American actor Jonathan Groff taking home London newcomer of the year for his role alongside Simon Russell Beale in Deathtrap at the Noel Coward Theatre.
Finally, in the only category to celebrate National theatre, Craig Revel Horwood’s new production of Chess won best regional production.
The annual awards, which are voted for by members of the public, saw 45,000 votes registered this year. See a full list of winners here.
OLIVIER AWARDS
Public voting is now under way for the Olivier Awards Audience Award, to be announced on 13 March. See WestEndTheatre.com’s new Olivier Awards microsite for further information.
Deathtrap – Save £13 on tickets
November 18, 2010
Save £13 on tickets to see DEATHTRAP at the Noel Coward Theatre in London
Jonathan Groff and Simon Russell Beale in Deathtrap
Deathtrap is the wickedly funny thriller that has enjoyed rave reviews at the Noel Coward Theatre in London for its stellar cast and ingeniously clever and hilariously twisted plot.
Ira Levin’s comic thriller stars acclaimed actor Simon Russell Beale as best-selling author Sidney Bruhl, alongside Jonathan Groff (Glee) as Clifford and Claire Skinner (Outnumbered) as his wife Myra. The cast also includes legendary American actress Estelle Parsons (Bonnie & Clyde) as Helga.
The play is directed by Matthew Warchus, who won a Tony award last year for his production of God of Carnage, and has recently directed La Bete at the Comedy Theatre and now on Broadway.
The 1978 thriller, which was made into a film starring Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve, sees good-looking young author Clifford turn up at Bruhl’s Connecticut home with a brilliant new stage thriller, at a time with Bruhl’s career has hit the skids. Much hilarious twisting and turning ensues.
Its author Ira Levin has written a number of celebrated screenplays and plays including The Stepford Wives, Rosemary’s Baby, The Boys from Brazil and A Kiss Before Dying.
Deathtrap is produced by David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers, producers of Brief Encounter, Equus and recent success Calendar Girls.
“Its brand of unapologetically giddy entertainment makes it sure to be a hit.” (Evening Standard)
Enjoy our special offer on stalls and dress circle tickets, and grand circle tickets for Monday to Friday evening performances and Wednesday and Saturday matinees.
BOOK THIS OFFER NOW
Deathtrap and Free Dinner
October 20, 2010
Jonathan Groff and Simon Russell Beale in Deathtrap
Deathtrap is the wickedly funny thriller that has enjoyed rave reviews at the Noel Coward Theatre in London for its stellar cast and ingeniously clever and hilariously twisted plot.
Ira Levin’s comic thriller stars acclaimed actor Simon Russell Beale as best-selling author Sidney Bruhl, alongside Jonathan Groff (Glee) as Clifford and Claire Skinner (Outnumbered) as his wife Myra. The cast also includes legendary American actress Estelle Parsons (Bonnie & Clyde) as Helga.
The play is directed by Matthew Warchus, who won a Tony award last year for his production of God of Carnage, and has recently directed La Bete at the Comedy Theatre and now on Broadway.
This is our first special offer on the show and provides a top price stalls or dress circle ticket to Deathtrap and a FREE, delicious two course Italian meal from the pre or post-theatre menu at Spaghetti House St. Martin’s Lane (just a 2 minute walk from the theatre).
BOOK THIS OFFER NOW
Deathtrap – Round-up of Reviews
September 8, 2010
Deathtrap at the Noel Coward Theatre in London – Round-up of Reviews
Deathtrap marks the first big show to arrive in town at the start of this autumn’s West End openings. And it’s a biggie, with much anticipation around the pairing of acting giant Simon Russell-Beale and Glee heart-throb Jonathan Groff, along with director Matthew Warchus turning his intelligent eye to another genre ripe for reinvention – in this case, the thriller.
Simon Russell-Beale in Deathtrap
But much of Warchus’s work in the reinvention stakes seems to have been done for him in Ira Levin’s 1978 comedy thriller, which neatly deconstructs and exposes the inner workings of the well-made thriller, with plenty of shocks and laughs along the way.
And it’s this self-awareness that seemed to grate on the critics a bit: they had a good time, but didn’t seem to love it more than they had expected to.
The critical response certainly didn’t rival that generated by Warchus’s reinvention of the farce genre in Boeing, Boeing. However, the largely positive reviews gave the thumbs up to a very stylish and well turned-out revival of a crowd-pleaser.
Most critical praise was reserved for the slick direction, the creative team’s efforts and the performances – namely Russell-Beale and Groff. The ladies, Claire Skinner and Estelle Parsons, fared less well.
Finally, everyone struggled to not spoil the plot: as Charles Spencer says in the Telegraph, “I love thrillers but they are the devil to review because of the entirely justified convention that one mustn’t give too much away.”
Read extracts from Deathtrap reviews from the Times, Guardian, Telegraph, Stage and Evening Standard below.
Book tickets to Deathtrap at the Noel Coward Theatre in London
Deathtrap opens tonight in London
September 7, 2010
Deathtrap opens tonight, 7 September, at the Noel Coward Theatre in London, and marks the first big premiere of the West End’s new autumn season.
Simon Russell Beale as Sidney Bruhl
The high-profile revival of Ira Levin’s comic murder thriller stars acclaimed actor Simon Russell Beale as best-selling author Sidney Bruhl, alongside Jonathan Groff (Glee) as Clifford and Claire Skinner (Outnumbered) as his wife Myra. The cast also includes legendary American actress Estelle Parsons (Bonnie & Clyde) as Helga.
The play is directed by Matthew Warchus, who won a Tony award last year for his production of God of Carnage, and has recently directed La Bete at the Comedy Theatre.
The producers of Deathtrap have gone all out to garner attention for the show, with a groundbreaking promotional video released that brings a big-screen suspense feel to the campaign (watch the trailer here).
There has also been much pre-opening hype about the shocking nature of the production, with people fainting in early previews, suggesting that Warchus is playing up the thriller elements of the show as much as the comedy (terrifying audiences is definitely the in thing, with Ghost Stories doing good business a few blocks further down St Martin’s Lane).
The 1978 thriller, which was made into a film starring Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve, sees good-looking young author Clifford turn up at Bruhl’s Connecticut home with a brilliant new stage thriller, at a time with Bruhl’s career has hit the skids. Much hilarious twisting and turning ensues.
Jonathan Groff as Clifford
Its author Ira Levin has written a number of celebrated screenplays and plays including The Stepford Wives, Rosemary’s Baby, The Boys from Brazil and A Kiss Before Dying.
Deathtrap is produced by David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers, producers of Brief Encounter, Equus and recent success Calendar Girls.
Book tickets to Deathtrap at the Noel Coward Theatre in London
CLAIRE SKINNER in Deathtrap
August 13, 2010
Outnumbered actress to star in Deathtrap
There is something very un-actressy about Claire Skinner, and we love her for that. Born in 1965 in Hemel Hempstead she clearly loves to work – and often works with very inspiring and challenging directors.
Her extensive TV, film, radio and stage credits include:
Film: Mike Leigh’s Life is Sweet; Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow.
TV: Claire in Life Begins, Sue in Outnumbered, Alice in Lark rise to Candleford and Fanny in Sense and Sensibility.
Stage: Mrs Affleck, A Winter’s Tale and Othello at the National Sam Mendes’ The Glass Menagerie (London Critic’s Circle and Time Out Best Actress winner).
From August she will star in Deathtrap at the Noel Coward Theatre alongside Simon Russell Beale, Jonathan Groff and Estelle Parsons.
Book tickets to Deathtrap at the Noel Coward Theatre in London
ESTELLE PARSONS in Deathtrap
August 13, 2010
Legendary Oscar-winning American actress to appear in Deathtrap
It’s never too late to try new things, as Estelle Parsons, 82, proves this August in making her West End stage debut in Deathtrap at the Noel Coward Theatre.
In the thriller Estelle plays Helga Ten Dorp, a nosy celebrity psychic literally smelling out murder around the home of playwright Sidney Bruhl (played by Simon Russell Beale). The part requires a delicious balance between comedy and authenticity, something that Ms Parsons has made a career out of.
Born in 1927, she studied law before starting as a TV production assistant and political news reporter. She didn’t make her professional stage debut until 1956, but from then on has worked consistently across TV, film and stage.
Theatre achievements include Tony Award nominations for The Seven Descents of Myrtle in 1968, Miss Reardon Drinks a Little in 1971, Miss Margarida’s Way in 1978 and Mornings at Seven in 2002. She recently appeared in August: Osage County on Broadway and tour, a role that Charles Isherwood in The New York Times said was, “one that may prove to be a crowning moment in an illustrious career.”
Film roles include an Oscar for Bonnie & Clyde and a nomination for Rachel, Rachel.
TV work has ranged from playing the mother of Roseanne on the hit US sitcom to HBO’s recent Empire Falls.
In addition to teaching acting at Columbia and Yale, Estelle Parsons served as the Artistic Director of the Actors’ Studio between 1996 and 2001.
Book tickets to Deathtrap at the Noel Coward Theatre in London
VIDEO: Deathtrap trailer released
August 13, 2010
With the opening of Deathtrap at the Noel Coward Theatre only days away, a promotional video has been released featuring Simon Russell Beale, Jonathan Groff and Claire Skinner.
Jonathan Groff as Clifford
Producers of the much-awaited revival of Ira Levin’s comic murder thriller Deathtrap at the Noel Coward Theatre have released a promotional video for the show (see below).
The trailer features acclaimed actor Simon Russell Beale, who plays best-selling author Sidney Bruhl in the thriller, alongside Jonathan Groff (Glee) as Clifford and Claire Skinner (Outnumbered) as his wife Myra. The cast also includes legendary American actress Estelle Parsons (Bonnie & Clyde) as Helga.
Deathtrap will start previews at the Noel Coward Theatre from 21 August, with an opening night on 7 September 2010.
The 1978 thriller, which was made into a film starring Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve, sees good-looking young author Clifford turn up at Bruhl’s Connecticut home with a brilliant new stage thriller, at a time with Bruhl’s career has hit the skids. Much hilarious twisting and turning ensues.
Simon Russell Beale as Sidney Bruhl
Its author Ira Levin has written a number of celebrated screenplays and plays including The Stepford Wives, Rosemary’s Baby, The Boys from Brazil and A Kiss Before Dying.
The play is directed by Matthew Warchus, who won a Tony award last year for his production of God of Carnage, and has recently directed La Bete at the Comedy Theatre.
Deathtrap is produced by David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers, producers of Brief Encounter, Equus and recent success Calendar Girls.
Book tickets to Deathtrap at the Noel Coward Theatre in London
VIDEO
Deathtrap
July 29, 2010
Simon Russell Beale and Jonathan Groff star in London revival of Deathtrap
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Jonathan Groff, star of Deathtrap
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David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers, producers of Brief Encounter, Equus and recent success Calendar Girls, present DEATHTRAP.
Deathtrap, the 1978 thriller which was made into a film starring Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve, is making a West End reappearance at the Noel Coward Theatre this summer, from 21 August.
Acclaimed actor Simon Russell-Beale, currently starring in London Assurance at the National Theatre, will lead the new production directed by Matthew Warchus.
Russell-Beale will play best-selling author Sidney Bruhl in Ira Levin’s comic murder thriller, and will be joined by an all-star cast that includes Anna Massey as nosey psychic neighbour Helga Ten Dorpe (Estelle Parsons), Claire Skinner (Outnumbered) as his wife, and star of Glee, Jonathan Groff, as Clifford, a talented young writer who befriends Sidney.
The thriller sees good-looking young author Clifford turn up at Bruhl’s Connecticut home with a brilliant new stage thriller, at a time with Bruhl’s career has hit the skids. Much twisting and turning ensues.
Warchus, who won a Tony award last year for his production of God of Carnage, is set for a busy year with his next project, La Bete at the Comedy Theatre, starring Mark Rylance (Jerusalem), David Hyde Pierce and Joanna Lumley. It will opens on 28 June before transferring to Broadway.
Heartthrob Groff will appear in the new series of Glee in the UK from Monday 19 April on E4 . He made his US debut in Glee on Tuesday and in the series plays Jesse St John, a student from a rival school who dates Glee diva Rachel. He has appeared in a number of Broadway shows including Spring Awakening and an early version of Hair, now playing at the Gielgud Theatre in London.
Book tickets to Deathtrap at the Noel Coward Theatre in London
CASTING
Simon Russell Beale – Sydney
Claire Skinner – Myra
Terry Beaver – Porter
Estelle Parsons – Helga
THEATRE
Noel Coward Theatre
St Martin’s Lane, London, WC2N 4AA
Noel Coward Theatre Seating Plan
Transport:
Underground: Piccadilly or Northern lines to Leicester Square
Trains: Charing Cross
Buses: 24, 29, 176
Parking: MasterPark at China Town and Trafalgar Square. NCP at Upper St Martin’s Lane.
Summer Theatre in the West End
June 28, 2010
New shows opening in London this summer
Spring and autumn may be the busiest times for new shows in London, but this summer will still pack quite a punch with some big names, high-profile directors and a few surprises in store.
A range of musicals and plays will open in the capital over the next few months, including classic musicals from Stephen Sondheim (Into the Woods) and Rogers & Hammerstein (State Fair); starry comedy, including David Hyde Pearce and Joanna Lumley in La Bete, Jeff Goldblum in The Prisoner of Second Avenue and Simon Russell Beal and Jonathan Groff in Deathtrap); dance spectaculars (Burn the Floor), new musicals (Wolfboy), ambitious children’s drama (The Railway Children) and a terrifying new play (Ghost Stories).
