Great Britain at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

Richard Bean’s hilarious, biting satire Great Britain transfers to the Theatre Royal Haymarket.

Richard Bean’s smash-hit comedy for the National Theatre gets a much-deserved West End transfer to the Theatre Royal Haymarket.

Bean follows his international hit play One Man, Two Guvnors with this biting satire about the press, police and politicians in modern British society.

Billed as an “anarchic and foul-mouthed satire”, the play has scooped rave reviews from the critics and resulted in a stampede to the box-office by audiences.

Highlighting the corrupt chain that unites the press, police and politicians in Britain, and covering major public scandals such as phone-hacking and MPs’ expenses, Great Britain is urgently topical, hugely funny play and an absolute must-see.

Great Britain will run at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 10 September 2014  to 10 January 2015.

THE STORY

Paige Britain is an ambitious young news editor of The Free Press, a tabloid newspaper locked in a never-ending battle for more readers. Paige’s desperation for a story results in her recruiting the police to help in nailing the supposed killer of two missing children, and work with phone-hacking private investigators along the way.

CAST

Lucy Punch (Bad Teacher, Hot Fuzz, Into The Woods) stars as Paige Britain alongside Ben Mansfield, Sarah Annis, Ross Boatman, Robert Calvert, William Chubb, Dermot Crowley, Jo Dockery, Robert Glenister, Ian Hallard, James Harkness, Scott Karim, Barbara Kirby, Nicholas Lumley, Ben Mansfield, Maggie McCarthy, Iain Mitchell, Miles Mitchell, Aaron Neil, Lucy Punch, Nick Sampson, Kellie Shirley, Kiruna Stamell, Harriet Thorpe, Rupert Vansittart, Joseph Wilkins and Andrew Woodall.

THE CREATIVES

Great Britain is written by Richard Bean, directed by Nicholas Hytner, designed by Tim Hatley, with video design by 59 Productions, lighting by Neil Austin, music by Grant Olding and sound by Paul Arditti.

Richard Bean’s One Man, Two Guvnors, also directed by Nicholas Hytner for the National Theatre and winner of the Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle Awards for Best New Play, is currently on its third UK tour following runs at the National Theatre, in the West End and on Broadway. His other plays for the National Theatre are England People Very Nice and The Mentalists. Bean has also written The Heretic (Evening Standard Award), Harvest (Critics’ Circle Award), Honeymoon Suite, Under the Whaleback and Toast for the Royal Court (the latter shortly to be revived at the Park Theatre); The Big Fellah for Out of Joint at the Lyric Hammersmith and on tour; and the forthcoming Pitcairn for Out of Joint, Chichester Festival Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe. He adapted David Mamet’s House of Games and wrote a new version of The Hypochondriac for the Almeida Theatre, and has written the book for the new West End musical Made in Dagenham.

Since he became Director of the National in April 2003, Nicholas Hytner has directed Henry V, His Dark Materials, The History Boys, Stuff Happens, Henry IV, Southwark Fair, The Alchemist, The Man of Mode, The Rose Tattoo (with Steven Pimlott), Rafta, Rafta… , Much Ado About Nothing, Major Barbara, England People Very Nice, Phèdre, The Habit of Art, London Assurance, Hamlet, Collaborators, Travelling Light, One Man Two Guvnors, Timon of Athens, People, Cocktail Sticks, Othello and Live from the National Theatre: 50 Years on Stage.

REVIEWS

★★★★ “A timely look at the tangled relationship between the press, politicians and the police. It’s barbed and very funny.” Evening Standard
★★★★ “Blessedly funny. Bracing topicality. Richard Bean doesn’t do things by halves.” Guardian
★★★★ “Laughter-making on an industrial scale. The NT is on exhilarating and exemplary form.” Independent
★★★★ “Terrific acting and slick direction. Bluntly entertaining comedy.” Telegraph
★★★★ “Astounding. The most detailed stage satire I have ever seen.” Financial Times
★★★★ “A good night for theatre, a bad night for red tops.” Independent
★★★★ “Irresistible” Evening Standard
★★★★★ “The laughs come thick and fast from the first minute.” Libby Purves

Show Information

Show Photos

Important Notes

Venue Information

First Look: Lucy Punch in Great Britain

A first-look photo of Lucy Punch, star of Great Britain at the Theatre Royal Haymarket The National Theatre has released a photo of Lucy Punch, who takes over from Billy Piper in the role of Paige Britain in the West End transfer of Great Britain. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Lucy Punch in Great Britain at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Photo by Johan Persson[/caption] Opening at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 9 September 2014,the show was a sell-out at the National Theatre and will run in the West until until 10 January 2015. Written by Richard Bean (One Man, Two Guvnors) and directed by Nicholas Hytner, the play is a fast and furious and foul-mouthed satire about the press, the police and the political establishment in Britain today. Lucy Punch plays Paige Britain, an ambitious young news editor of The Free Press, a tabloid newspaper locked in a never-ending battle for more readers. Other cast includes Ben Mansfield, Sarah Annis, Ross Boatman, Robert Calvert, William Chubb, Dermot Crowley, Jo Dockery, Robert Glenister, Ian Hallard, James Harkness, Scott Karim, Barbara Kirby, Nicholas Lumley, Ben Mansfield, Maggie McCarthy, Iain Mitchell, Miles Mitchell, Aaron Neil, Nick Sampson, Kellie Shirley, Kiruna Stamell, Harriet Thorpe, Rupert Vansittart, Joseph Wilkins and Andrew Woodall. The show is designed by Tim Hatley, with video design by 59 Productions, lighting by Neil Austin, music by Grant Olding and sound by Paul Arditti. Photo: Johan Persson

Casting announced for Richard Bean’s Great Britain at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

Lucy Punch to star in Richard Bean's Great Britain at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] Lucy Punch to star in Great Britain - transferring to the Theatre Royal Haymarket[/caption] Casting has been announced for the forthcoming West End transfer of Richard Bean's new play Great Britain at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Hollywood-based British actress Lucy Punch will star as Paige Britain in the West End transfer, taking over from Billie Piper who is currently starring in the play at the National Theatre. Lucy Punch's extensive film credits include the forthcoming Disney movie Into The Woods, plus Hot Fuzz, St Trinian’s, Bad Teacher, Being Julia, Are You Ready for Love and Dinner for Schmucks. Her television credits include Let Them Eat Cake,  Ben and Kate, Vexed and The Class. Lucy's theatre credits include The Graduate at the Gielgud Theatre, Boy Gets Girl for the Royal Court Theatre, and A Carpet, A Pony, and A Monkey for the Bush Theatre. Also joining the cast is Ben Mansfield, alongside original cast members Sarah Annis, Ross Boatman, Robert Calvert, William Chubb, Dermot Crowley, Jo Dockery, Robert Glenister, Ian Hallard, James Harkness, Scott Karim, Barbara Kirby, Nicholas Lumley, Ben Mansfield, Maggie McCarthy, Iain Mitchell, Miles Mitchell, Aaron Neil, Lucy Punch, Nick Sampson, Kellie Shirley, Kiruna Stamell, Harriet Thorpe, Rupert Vansittart, Joseph Wilkins and Andrew Woodall. Richard Bean’s fast and furious new play is an anarchic and foul-mouthed satire about the press, the police and the political establishment. Paige Britain is the ambitious young news editor of The Free Press, a tabloid newspaper locked in a never-ending battle for more readers. Great Britain received its world premiere at the National Theatre in June this year directed by Nicholas Hytner. The play opens at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 9 September 2014 and has a limited run until 10 January 2015. BOOK Book tickets to Great Britain at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

Richard Bean’s Great Britain to transfer to Theatre Royal Haymarket

Richard Bean's controversial satire Great Britain is to transfer into the West End's Theatre Royal Haymarket. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] Billie Piper in Great Britain - transferring to the Theatre Royal Haymarket[/caption] Nicholas Hytner’s acclaimed production of Richard Bean’s new satire Great Britain will transfer straight into the West End's Theatre Royal Haymarket following its current run at the National Theatre. Opening on 10 September 2014, public booking will open for the transfer on Friday 4 July. The show will run at the Theatre Royal Haymarket until 10 January 2015. Richard Bean, who scored a massive hit with One Man, Two Guvnors at the National Theatre, in the West End on tour and on Broadway, has written a powerful and bitingly funny satire about the state of the press, police and politics in Britain today. Casting for the West End run will be announced shortly although it is expected to include the current lead of Billie Piper, who plays cut-throat tabloid editor Paige Britain. Great Britain received its world premiere at the National Theatre on Monday and has enjoyed four star reviews from all of the major critics. LINKS Book tickets to Great Britain at the Theatre Royal Haymarket National Theatre website Great Britain - Reviews Round-Up

Photos: Great Britain at the National Theatre starring Billie Piper

Production photos of Great Britain at the National Theatre starring Billie Piper. Photos from Richard Bean's new play Great Britain at the National Theatre. Directed by Nicholas Hytner, the production stars Billie Piper, Oliver Chris, Robert Glenister and Harriet Thorpe. [ngg src="galleries" ids="324" display="basic_imagebrowser"] Photos by Johan Persson. LINKS Book tickets to Great Britain at the Theatre Royal Haymarket Reviews round-up of Great Britain National Theatre website

Reviews of Great Britain at the National Theatre

Reviews round-up of Great Britain at the National Theatre starring Billie Piper. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] Billie Piper in Great Britain[/caption] Richard Bean’s highly topical and furiously political new play Great Britain has been turned around at record speed by Nick Hytner at the National Theatre. Critics have had to scramble to make sure they attended the press night last night, Monday 30 June 2014, with only a few days notice. Hot on the heels of the phone hacking trial, this play is about as topical as you could get. This funny and at times very angry satire about three British institutions - the press, the police and the political establishment - sees Billie Piper in the lead role of Paige Britain, an ambitious young news editor of a tabloid newspaper locked in a never-ending battle for more readers. Other cast includes Oliver Chris, Robert Glenister and Harriet Thorpe. Great Britain is playing at the Lyttelton Theatre at the National Theatre until 23 August 2014. See reviews below from all major UK newspapers. LINKS Book tickets to Great Britain at the Theatre Royal Haymarket National Theatre website

New Richard Bean play Great Britain goes on sale at National Theatre

Richard Bean's controversial new play Great Britain to open at the National Theatre next week. Billie Piper to star, alongside Oliver Chris, Robert Glenister and Harriet Thorpe. New Richard Bean play Great Britain, starring Billie Piper, is to open at the National Theatre next week. The play is inspired by the current News of the World phone hacking scandal and trial, and covers the press, police and politics in Britain today. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Great Britain - controversial new Richard Bean play at the National Theatre[/caption] Directed by outgoing National chief Nicholas Hytner, the show will open at the National's Lyttelton Theatre next week, 30 June 2014, without any previews and days after the current phone hacking trial that is taking place at the Old Bailey. Written by One Man, Two Guvnors and Made in Dagenham author Richard Bean, the play is being described as an "anarchic satire" and stars Billie Piper as Paige Britain, a tabloid news editor. Other cast includes Oliver Chris, Robert Glenister and Harriet Thorpe, alongside Sarah Annis, Ross Boatman, Robert Calvert, William Chubb, Dermot Crowley, Jo Dockery, Ian Hallard, James Harkness, Scott Karim, Barbara Kirby, Nicholas Lumley, Maggie McCarthy, Iain Mitchell, Miles Mitchell, Aaron Neil, Nick Sampson, Kellie Shirley, Kiruna Stamell, Rupert Vansittart, Joseph Wilkins and Andrew Woodall. The play will run until 23 August 2014. LINKS Book tickets to Great Britain at the Theatre Royal Haymarket National Theatre - Great Britain

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