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Funnier than The Iceman Cometh, more chaos than Richard III, and without all the stupid, so-called ‘poetry’.
Money, sex, power, you only need one of them to see Bitter Wheat – at the Garrick.
The multi award-winning John Malkovich returns to the West End stage after nearly 30 years to play Barney Fein, a top dog Hollywood producer in Bitter Wheat, a new play by the legendary author, director and playwright David Mamet.
Bitter Wheat is booking from 7 June 2019 until 21September 2019 at the Garrick Theatre, London.
WHAT’S THE STORY?
Hollywood is a hell hole.
Everything in Hollywood is for sale except the awards, which are for rent.
Bitter Wheat is a play about a depraved Hollywood mogul. It rips the pashmina off the suppurating wound which is show business, and leaves us better human beings, and fitter to once more confront the horror of life.
Our hero, Barney Fein, is a bloated monster- a studio head, who, like his predecessor, the minotaur, devours the young he has lured to his cave.
His fall from power to shame is a mythic journey which has been compared to The Odyssey by people who claim to have read that book.
WHO’S IN IT? BITTER WHEAT CAST
John Malkovich, one of the world’s most revered actors, is best known for his many films including Dangerous Liaisons, Being John Malkovich, Con Air and Mulholland Drive. He recently received widespread critical acclaim playing Hercule Poirot in a new BBC TV Agatha Christie adaptation.
Doon Mackichan, who is well known for her extensive TV work which includes creating and starring in the hit comedy series Smack the Pony for Channel 4, Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge, Plebs for ITV2 and Two Doors Down for the BBC, will play Barney Fein’s assistant, Sondra.
Ioanna Kimbook will make her debut theatre performance in Bitter Wheat as Yung Kim Li.
CREATIVE TEAM
Written and directed by David Mamet, with Set & Costume Design by Christopher Oram and Lighting by Neil Austin.
REVIEWS
★★★★★ ’Skin-crawlingly magnificent. I was absolutely riveted to my seat. Mail On Sunday
★★★★ ‘Malkovich is rightly revolting in Mamet’s furious take on Hollywood’ The Sunday Times
‘I could have watched this captivating freak-show until midnight and beyond’ The Spectator
Show Information
Performance dates
Booking to 21 September 2019
Venue Information
Garrick Theatre, 2 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0HH
Nearest Tube or Train: Charing Cross (Northern line, Bakerloo line), Embankment (Northern line, Bakerloo line, District line, Circle line), Leicester Square (Northern line, Piccadilly line)
Nearest Buses: 3, 6, 9, 12, 13, 15, 24, 29, 30
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News about Bitter Wheat
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David Mamet’s Bitter Wheat announces full West End cast
Full casting has been announced for Bitter Wheat, David Mamet’s new West End play.
Joining previously announced John Malkovich (Dangerous Liaisons, Burn After Reading), Doon Mackichan (Smack The Pony) and Ioanna Kimbrook (Inside No. 9) are Alexander Arnold (Save Me, Skins), Teddy Kempner (Truly Madly Deeply), Matthew Pidgeon (Mary Queen of Scots) and Zephryn Taitte (Call the Midwife).
Malkovich returns to the West End stage after nearly 30 years to play top dog Hollywood producer Barney Fein, a depraved studio head, who preys on the young talent he lures into his sphere of influence with promises of stardom and threats of recrimination.
Malkovich described the play as "a black farce about a very badly behaved media mogul" and that Weinstein was "starting point" for the play and "a reaction to the all the news that came out" about him.
Written and directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, director and playwright David Mamet, Bitter Wheat has set & costume designs by Christopher Oram and lighting by Neil Austin.
Bitter Wheat is booking from 7 June 2019 until 14 September 2019 at the Garrick Theatre, London.
John Malkovich to star in Harvey Weinstein inspired play
Acting legend John Malkovich will star in Bitter Wheat, David Mamet's new play inspired by disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
Malkovich plays Barney Fein, a depraved studio head, who preys on the young talent he lures into his sphere of influence with promises of stardom and threats of recrimination.
The play will have its world premiere at the Garrick Theatre, London in June 2019.
Malkovich described the play as "a black farce about a very badly behaved media mogul" and that Weinstein was "starting point" for the play and "a reaction to the all the news that came out last year" about him.
Weinstein has been accused by numerous women of rape or sexual assault and the allegations have led to not only the #MeToo movement but a closer look at Hollywood and it's murky underbelly. Weinstein denies any claims of non-consensual sex and has described many allegations against him as "patently false".
Malkovich, who is best known for his film roles including Burn After Reading, Dangerous Liaisons, Being John Malkovich and In the Line of Fire has numerous stage credits to his name including Of Mice and Men, The Libertine, The Glass Menagerie, Big Mother and The Dumb Waiter.
He was most recently seen in the BBC adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel The ABC Murders, tv series' Billions and The New Pope and the Netflix film Bird Box.
Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, director and playwright David Mamet, the play is described as 'funnier than The Iceman Cometh, more chaos than Richard III, and without all the stupid, so-called ‘poetry’.
David Mamet has written some of the most iconic plays of the last 50 years including Sexual Perversity in Chicago, American Buffalo, Glengarry Glen Ross, Speed-the-Plow, and Oleanna.
The cast also includes Doon Mackichan (best known for Channel 4 series Smack the Pony, BBC1 sitcom, Beast, & Knowing me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge) as Barney's assistant Sondra and Ioanna Kimbook (Measure for Measure, Wanamaker Festival) as Yung Kim Li.
Find tickets to Bitter Wheat
Bitter Wheat is booking from 7 June 2019 until 14 September 2019 at the Garrick Theatre, London.
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