Bette & Joan tickets at the Arts Theatre starring Anita Dobson and Greta Scacchi

Exclusive photo session with the stars of Bette & Joan at the Arts Theatre in London Last week in the Spectator, Lloyd Evans said that the "fascinating and hilarious show" Bette & Joan, the bio-stage play about Hollywood legends Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, "has the makings of a cult hit". That's certainly what the producer of Bette & Joan, Ann Pinnington, is hoping. Ann told westendtheatre.com this week at an exclusive photo shoot with the two stars of the show, Anita Dobson and Greta Scacchi, that a number of rival productions about the two Hollywood stars are circling London, but that she wanted her production to be the first to land. So earlier this month, the Arts Theatre got to host the world premiere of Anton Burge's new play, which tackles the long-running feud between Hollywood rivals Bette Davis and Joan Crawford and is set in the stars' dressing rooms on the back lot of Whatever Happened To Baby Jane, the 1961 cult movie they both starred in. Both Dobson and Scacchi put in extraordinary performances in the play. Scacchi's uncanny portrayal of Bette Davis goes much further than an impersonation of the infamously fiery actress, and is a surprisingly intense and emotional performance. Dobson manages to make sense of the complex, contradictory Joan Crawford, and imbues the role with an innate and skilful humour that delights from beginning to end. Whether Bette & Joan becomes a cult hit is to be seen but Anita Dobson and Greta Scacchi have certainly given the play a damn good start. Bette & Joan is directed by Bill Alexander and ends its run at the Arts Theatre on 25 June 2011. Photos exclusively for westendtheatre.com by Roy Tan. Roy Tan said: "When you shoot a two-hander like Bette & Joan, especially a play about two feuding divas, you brace yourself for some diva action of your own! That wasn't the case here. Anita and Greta are clearly enjoying every minute of appearing together and had great fun on the set of the show at the Arts Theatre during the shoot. Given that I shot them between a matinee and evening performance, they were more than happy to slap on the slap, which is an especially big ask for Greta who has to transform herself during every show into Baby Jane!" LINKS SPECIAL OFFER: Book tickets to Bette & Joan More News on Bette & Joan

Production photos for new play Bette & Joan, which tackles the long-running feud between Hollywood stars Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Bette & Joan, a play by Anton Burge, has had its world premiere at the Arts Theatre starring Anita Dobson and Greta Scacchi as the famous movie icons. The show is directed by Bill Alexander, whose credits include the RSC, National Theatre and annual West End Christmas show The Snowman. LINKS More News on Bette & Joan

A publicity still has been released for new play Bette & Joan, which will tackle the long-running feud between Hollywood stars Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Bette & Joan, a play by Anton Burge, will have its world premiere at the Arts Theatre from 5 May 2011 starring Anita Dobson and Greta Scacchi as the famous movie icons. The show will be directed by Bill Alexander, whose credits include the RSC, National Theatre and annual West End Christmas show The Snowman. The publicity still features Anita and Greta "on set" for Bette Davis and Joan Crawford's 1962 movie Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. LINKS More News on Bette & Joan

On the back of news that a new play is heading to the West End about Bette Davis and Joan Crawford and their time spent filming classic movie Whatever Happened To Baby Jane, Binkie thought it would be helpful to provide the producers with some alternative casting advice lest Anita Dobson or Greta Scacchi drop out! And so, we present, Maria Friedman as Baby Jane Hudson (played by Ms Davis), and the divine Tracie Bennett as Blanche (aka Joan Crawford)! Never let it said we don't help, even when help isn't required. LINKS Book tickets to Bette & Joan at the Arts Theatre in London [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Bette Davis (top) and Maria Friedman"][/caption] [caption id="" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Joan Crawford (top) and Tracie Bennett"][/caption]

Arts Theatre, London WC2 5th May – 25th June Renowned actresses Anita Dobson and Greta Scacchi will bring to life the legendary feud between screen divas and rivals Bette Davis and Joan Crawford in the world premiere of Anton Burge’s Bette & Joan, coming to the Arts Theatre from 5th May for a seven week season. Directed by acclaimed director Bill Alexander, the production portrays the stars at low points in their careers who meet on the set of the now classic film ‘Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, the high-risk shocker which became a surprise hit that propelled them back to stardom. It focuses on one day in the life of the screen goddesses, with an almost 30 year rivalry behind them, but who discover some surprising similarities that lead to a greater understanding of each other. It also reveals the shocking way in which women in the film business, even major stars like Davis and Crawford, were treated. Anita Dobson, probably best known for the role of Angie Watts in TV’s Eastenders, will play the legendary Joan Crawford, a glamorous, vulnerable and alcoholic star. She is joined by Greta Scacchi, who won an Emmy Award for her work as Empress Alexandra of Russia in the television film Rasputin. Greta will play great actress Bette Davis, funny, difficult but always supremely professional. Mig Kimpton, Arts Theatre Executive Director said “We are proud to host the world premiere of Bette & Joan - cast with two great theatrical talents, Greta Scacchi and Anita Dobson – an intriguing new play about Bette Davis and Joan Crawford by Anton Burge which promises to be a real insight into two of Hollywood’s greatest icons” Anita Dobson’s theatre credits include the title role in the UK tour of Hello Dolly and her 2004 Whatsonstage.com award-winning performance in Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Shaftesbury Theatre. She was last seen on stage in Tim Firth’s West End production of Calendar Girls. Greta Scacchi starred in Michael Blakemore’s West End production of Uncle Vanya and her other recent stage credits include the Peter Hall directed production of Bath Theatre Royal’s Private Lives. Film work includes Heat and Dust, The Ebony Tower, White Mischief and The Player. In 1996 she was nominated for a Golden Globe for Rasputin and she was also nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Broken Trail in 2007. Anton Burge is an actor and writer, whose first play, Whatever Happened to the Cotton Dress Girl?, also about Bette Davis, premiered in 2008 at the New End Theatre, starring Paula Wilcox. Other plays include Though I was a Wonderful Actress, No One Would Engage Me Twice, a study of the celebrated Edwardian actress Mrs. Patrick Campbell; the musical G & I~ Going into Battle with Gertrude Lawrence (New End); Fanny’s Burning, about the cookery writer Fanny Cradock and Lady Mosley’s Suite, a study of Diana Mosley’s time in Holloway prison, due to be produced in 2012. He is also at work on a biography of Bette Davis: A Life Lived in Melodrama and a book of interviews of actress’ interpretations of Queen Elizabeth I: Portraying Elizabeth. Bill Alexander is an award winning theatre director who began his career at the Bristol Old Vic, directing everything from the classics to innovative drama. He joined the RSC in 1977 and remained there as Resident and then Associate Director until 1992. He was Artistic Director of the Birmingham Rep between 1992 and 2001, when he left to pursue his freelance career. Recent freelance directing credits include Glamour (Nottingham Playhouse); The School of Night (revival - Mark Taper Forum, LA); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Zurich Ballet); King Lear (RSC, starring Corin Redgrave); Mappa Mundi and Frozen (both NT). Bill’s productions have won numerous awards including Best Director at the Olivier Awards for The Merry Wives of Windsor for the RSC. Bill has also lectured extensively on Shakespeare all over the world. His production of The Snowman is performed in London's West End every year. Release issued by: Arthur Leone PR LINKS Book tickets to Bette & Joan at the Arts Theatre in London

The world premiere of a new play based on the long-running feud between Hollywood movie stars Bette Davis and Joan Crawford is to come to London this Spring. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] Bette Davis and Joan Crawford in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?[/caption] Bette & Joan by Anton Burge will star Anita Dobson and Greta Scacchi as the famous movie icons, at the Arts Theatre from 5 May to 25 June 2011. The show will be directed by Bill Alexander, whose credits include the RSC, National Theatre and annual West End Christmas show The Snowman. Anton Burge is returning to a subject he covered in 2008 with his first play Whatever Happened to the Cotton Dress Girl?, which starred Paula Wilcox as Bette Davis at the New End Theatre. Bette & Joan is set during the making of their 1961 movie Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? and revisits their infamous fifty-year feud. A Radio 4 play, Bette and Joan and Baby Jane, ran last year starring Catherine Tate and written by Tracy-Ann Oberman and also told the story of the making of  Baby Jane and of the origins of their deep seated hatred. The play forms part of a new season at the Arts, with other shows including Park Avenue Cat by Frank Strausser, directed by Glen Watford. Current shows at the venue include Woody Sez, which ends its run this Saturday, 2 April 2011, and A Guide to Sexual Misery starring Wolfgang Weinberger.