McQueen at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

McQueen starring Stephen Wight at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

Following a sold-out run at the St James Theatre, McQueen will transfer to the West End for a strictly limited season from 22 August 2015 until 17 October 2015 at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

Award-winning actor Stephen Wight reprises the title role with Carly Bawden taking over the role, originated by US actress Dianna Agron, of Dahlia.  The West End transfer has been refined with some scenes rewritten and an interval added.

STORY

McQueen is an unforgettable journey into the mind of British fashion’s most notorious and brilliant artist, Alexander McQueen.

McQueen (Stephen Wight) discovers a strange and beautiful girl (‘Dahlia’, played by Carly Bawden) lurking in the basement of his house. She says that she has been watching him from a tree in his garden for the last 11 nights. At first wary of this mysterious intruder, McQueen begins to believe that the girl might know him better than he knows himself. Together she and McQueen go on a wild trip through London at night, visiting the places and people (including fashion editor Isabella Blow, played by Tracy-Ann Oberman) that have shaped him, looking for redemption, love and, as always, inspiration.

CAST

Award-winning actor Stephen Wight reprises the title role of Lee McQueen, with Carly Bawden in the role of Dahlia, Tracy-Ann Oberman as Isabella Blow, Laura Rees as Arabella and Michael Bertenshaw as Mr Hitchcock. Also in the cast will be Harry Alexander, Sophie Apollonia, Amber Doyle, George Hill, Eloise Hymas, Amelia Jackson, Rachel Louisa Maybank, Jessica Buckby and Andrei Teodor Iliescu.

Stephen Wight was named Outstanding Newcomer at the Evening Standard Awards for his performances in Michael Grandage’s production of Don Juan in Soho and Samuel West’s production of Dealer’s Choice. Other theatre includes The Habit of Art at the National and Sean Foley’s production of The Ladykillers in the West End. On television, he has played Simon in Bluestone 42, Sam in The Paradise, Mitch in Threesome, Fletcher in Sherlock and Charles in the BBC mini-series Fingersmith. His films include Wilderness, Highlander: The Source, Weekender with Jack O’Connell, Henry Lloyd-Hughes and Zawe Ashton and Ashes with Jim Sturgess and Ray Winstone.

Carly Bawden’s theatre credits include Assassins, Pippin (Menier Chocolate Factory), Dead Dog in a Suitcase, Tristan & Yseult and The Beggar’s Opera for Kneehigh, My Fair Lady (Sheffield Crucible), The Umbrellas of Cherbourg(Leicester Curve and Gielgud Theatre), and the tours of Whistle Down the Wind and Evita.

Tracy-Ann Oberman played Chrissie in EastEnders, Yvonne Hartman in Doctor Who, Lizzie Clapham in Monroe, Aunty Val in Friday Night Dinner, Mrs Purchase in Toast of London and Diana in the film Filth starring James McAvoy and Jamie Bell. In theatre, she has acted with the Royal Shakespeare Company and at the National, including playing opposite Kenneth Branagh in Edmond.

Laura Rees’s theatre credits include Ophelia in Ninagawa’s Hamlet at the Barbican, Christopher Luscombe’s Comedy of Errors, Lucy Bailey’s Titus Andronicus and Kathryn Hunter’s Pericles at Shakespeare’s Globe, and Rupert Gould’s Macbeth and Philip Franks’s Twelfth Night at Chichester.

CREATIVE

McQUEEN will be directed by John Caird, with production design by David Farley, choreography by Christopher Marney, video design by Tim Bird, lighting design by David Howe, sound design by John Leonard, casting by Jayne Collins & Kate Plantin.

REVIEWS

Reviews for the West End transfer coming soon

Reviews for the St James theatre production

“John Caird’s production is suitably fabulous” Holly Williams, The Independent
“Absolutely fabulous” Georgina Brown, Mail on Sunday
“Christopher Marney’s choreography is sensual and menacing… David Farley’s design is elegant and evocative… a fabulous performance from Stephen Wight” Clive Davis, The Times
“Powerful and memorable” Christopher Hart, The Sunday Times
“Strikingly designed”, The Stage
“Excellent lead performance by Stephen Wight”, The Guardian
“Stephen Wight captures the tormented genius of Alexander McQueen” Henry Hitchings, Evening Standard

Show Information

Important Notes

Venue Information

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McQueen play closes 3 week’s early.

The West End transfer of McQueen will close 3 weeks early with a final performance on 17 October 2015. A play about British fashion designer Alexander McQueen is was described as "stepping into the fairy story landscape of McQueen's mind, the landscape seen in his immortal shows, where with a dress an urchin can become an Amazon, where beauty might just help us survive the night". The production originally opened at the St James Theatre with Glee star Diana Agron in the central female role however despite significant pre-advance ticket sales the show received lukewarm reviews. The West End production contained numerous changes including casting however despite the positive response to Stephen Wight’s, Tracy-Ann Oberman’s and Carly Bawden’s performances the show itself continued to receive poor reviews. With the announcement of the early closure the producers said it made “commercial sense” to allow another show to run at the venue. Written by James Phillips, the production is directed by John Caird, with set design by David Farley, lighting by David Howe, sound by John Leonard and choreography by Christopher Marney. Cast includes Stephen Wight (Lee Alexander McQueen), Carly Bawden (Dahlia), Tracy-Ann Oberman (Isabella Blow), Laura Rees (Arabella) and Michael Bertenshaw (Mr Hitchcock). McQueen will play until 17 October 2015 at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. BOOKING Book tickets to McQueen

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McQueen cancels first week of West End previews

[caption id="attachment_40135" align="alignright" width="300"] Tracy-Ann Oberman and Stephen Wight in McQueen at the St James Theatre[/caption] The producers of McQueen, a new play about Alexander McQueen, have cancelled the first week of previews of its West End transfer McQueen which had a sell-out run at the St James theatre earlier this year has cancelled the first week of previews for its West End transfer. The show will now begin previews on 22 August 2015 with the opening night continuing as planned for 27 August. The West End production of McQueen has seen quite a few changes with whole scenes rewritten and new members of the cast. The producers said “With all the changes that were being made to the production for the transfer to the Theatre Royal Haymarket, we needed a longer technical rehearsal period than we’d originally allowed in the schedule and, in order to be totally ready to present the production in front of an audience, we took the difficult decision to cancel the first few previews. The first preview performance will now be on the evening of Saturday 22 August.” Written by James Phillips and directed by John Caird, McQueen stars award-winning actor Stephen Wight in the title role alongside Tracy-Ann Oberman, Laura Rees and Carly Bawden as Dahlia, the role was originated at the St James by Glee's Dianna Agron. McQueen plays a strictly limited run from 22 August 2015 until 7 November 2015 at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. BOOK Book tickets to McQueen

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McQueen transfers to the West End’s Theatre Royal Haymarket

McQueen transfers to the West End’s Theatre Royal Haymarket [caption id="attachment_37647" align="alignright" width="300"] Stephen Wight[/caption] Following a sold-out run at the St James Theatre in May 2015, McQueen will transfer for a strictly limited season from 13 August 2015 until 7 November 2015 at the Theatre Royal Haymarket Written by James Phillips and directed by John Caird, the production stars award-winning actor Stephen Wight in the title role. Janet McQueen, one of Lee Alexander McQueen’s sisters, said of the play and the production at St. James Theatre, “It was as though the play and Stephen’s performance brought Lee back to me again. I felt as though he was real again for me.” Gary McQueen, Lee’s nephew, added, “It does really hit something in your heart.” Carly Bawden joins Stephen Wight in the West End run, taking over the role of Dahlia which was originated by US actress Dianna Argon. Reprising their roles as Isabella Blow and Arabella will be Tracy-Ann Oberman and Laura Rees respectively with Michael Bertenshaw joining the cast as Mr Hitchcock For the transfer to the West End, scenes have been rewritten and an interval has been added. James Phillips said, "I’m so delighted to have McQueen in the West End, and to take this opportunity to refine some things from the original production.” BOOK Book tickets to McQueen

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Reviews: McQueen at the St James theatre.

[caption id="attachment_37647" align="alignright" width="261"] Stephen Wight[/caption] A reviews round-up for James Phillip’s McQueen at the St James theatre. BOOK TICKETS > McQueen, James Phillips’ much anticipated new play starring Stephen Wight and Diana Argon opened at the St James theatre this week. Critics praised Stephen Wight's performance however on whole reviews have been pretty lackluster.  What was tipped as a journey into the visionary imagination and dark dream world of Alexander McQueen is, according to the Daily Mail  "style over substance." McQueen plays a strictly limited season from 12 May 2015 until 27 June 2015 at the St James theatre. BOOK TICKETS >

Diana Argon to make theatrical debut in McQueen

[caption id="attachment_35780" align="alignright" width="240"] Diana Argon[/caption] Glee star Diana Argon to make theatrical debut in world premiere of McQueen at the St James theatre. Diana Argon is to make her theatrical debut opposite award winning actor Stephen Wight in the world premiere of James Phillip's play McQueen. McQUEEN is a journey into the visionary imagination and dark dream world of Alexander McQueen, fashion's greatest contemporary artist. Set on a single London night, it is more than a bio-play. It is stepping into the fairy story landscape of McQueen's mind, the landscape seen in his immortal shows, where with a dress an urchin can become an Amazon, where beauty might just help us survive the night. A girl has watched McQueen's Mayfair house for eleven consecutive days. Tonight she climbs down from her watching tree and breaks into his house, to steal a dress, to become someone special. He catches her, but, instead of calling the police, they embark together on a journey through London and into his heart. [caption id="attachment_35781" align="alignright" width="240"] Stephen Wight[/caption] McQUEEN will be directed by John Caird, with production design by David Farley, choreography by Christopher Marney, video design by Tim Bird, lighting design by David Howe, sound design by John Leonard, casting by Jayne Collins & Kate Plantin. The full cast includes Stephen Wight in the title role of Lee McQueen, Dianna Agron who will play Dahlia,  Tracy-Ann Oberman plays Isabella Blow, Laura Rees plays Arabella, and David Shaw-Parker plays John Hitchcock, along with Sophie Apollonia, Amber Doyle, George Hill, Eloise Hymas, Jordan Kennedy, Rachel Louisa Maybank and Carrie Willis. McQUEEN  will run at St. James Theatre from 12 May 2015. BOOK Book tickets to McQueen

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