Florian Zeller's The Truth transferring to the West End

Following its run at the Menier Chocolate Factory, The Truth by Florian Zeller is transferring to the West End.

The Truth will open at the Wyndham’s Theatre on 27th June (previews from 22nd June) for a limited run to 3rd September. 

The play replaces Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill which was scheduled to open at the Wyndham’s in June; however, the show was postponed after its star Audra McDonald announced her pregnancy. 

Interview: Robert Portal, starring in The Truth

Robert Portal is currently playing Paul in the UK premiere of Florian Zeller's play The Truth. 

Directed by Lindsay Posner in a new version by Christopher Hampton, The Truth officially opens at the Menier Chocolate Factory tonight (16th March) for a limited run to 7th May. The cast also includes Alexander Hanson, Tanya Franks and Frances O’Connor.

Robert returns to the Menier where he previously appeared in Communicating Doors (also directed by Lindsay Posner) and The Common Pursuit. 

Just a few of Robert’s theatre credits include: Phileas Fogg in Around The World In 80 Days (St James), Paulais/Henri in Grand Guignol (Plymouth), Evelyn in This Was A Man (Finborough), Henri Paillardin in A Little Hotel on The Side (Bath), Walpole in The Doctor's Dilemma (National), Hannay in The 39 Steps (West End), Victor in Private Lives (Bath/UK Tour), Thomas MacGreevy in Calico (West End), Maurice in Tom And Viv (Almeida) and Gary Le Jeaune in Noises Off (West End). 

For the RSC he has appeared in Henry IV, The Rivals, Loves Labours Lost and The Merchant Of Venice. For television, Robert’s work includes Psychoville, In Love with Barbara, The Amazing Mrs Pritchard, Margaret and Ashes to Ashes; and for film, Six Days, Mr Turner, Kids in Love and My Week with Marilyn.

I recently spoke to Robert about what makes The Truth such a fascinating play…

Following the success of The Father and The Mother, everyone is talking about Florian Zeller. What were your first impressions when you looked at The Truth?

I loved it! I thought it was a really exciting play. It reads and plays very quickly – we’re doing it without an interval. It was a page turner, the audience are taken through twists and turns and don’t know where they are. It’s a play I would love to see… but sadly I can’t see it because I’m in it [laughs].

Tanya Franks & Alexander Hanson to star in Florian Zeller's The Truth

Casting has been announced for the UK premiere of Florian Zeller's The Truth.

The play opens at the Menier Chocolate Factory on 16th March (previews from 10th March) and runs until 7th May 2016 in a new version by Christopher Hampton.

Directed by Lindsay Posner, the play will star Tanya Franks (EastEnders/Broadchurch), Alexander Hanson (Stephen Ward/A Little Night Music), Frances O’Connor (Tom & Viv/Mr Selfridge) and Robert Portal (Around the World in 80 Days/Communicating Doors).

Review: The Mother at the Tricycle Theatre

The Mother 
Tricycle Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 27th January 2016
★★★★★

Following the tremendous success of The Father, Florian Zeller's play The Mother (translated by Christopher Hampton) has transferred to the Tricycle Theatre having played the Ustinov Studio in Bath last year. Whilst The Father centred around a man with dementia, The Mother is about a woman with depression who is struggling to let go of her son.

Interview: Richard Clothier, starring in The Mother

Richard Clothier is currently reprising his performance in The Mother which has transferred to the Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn following its acclaimed run at the Ustinov Studio in Bath.

Directed by Laurence Boswell, Florian Zeller’s play follows the success of The Father which last year transferred to the West End following its runs at the Tricycle and Ustinov Studio. The cast also includes Gina McKee, William Posthelwaite and Frances McNamee.

Just a few of Richard’s extensive credits include: Play Strindberg (Ustinov Studio), King Lear (National), A Midsummer Night’s Dream & The Merchant of Venice (UK/international tours), Enlightenment (Hampstead), The Way of the World (Chichester), Rose Rage (New York), The Tempest (Sheffield), King Lear, The Merchant of Venice & Hamlet (RSC) and Tango at the End of Winter (West End). 

On screen he has appeared in New Tricks, Henry V, Above Suspicion, Law & Order: UK, Spooks, Singularity, Hippie Hippie Shake, So This Is Romance? and Bye Bye Columbus. I recently spoke to Richard about why reading The Mother for the first time was a baffling experience, how the play is similar to The Father and what makes the piece so powerfully relevant… 

The Mother is transferring to London following the tremendous success of The Father…

When Laurence (Boswell, director) first asked me to look at it I wasn’t really aware of The Father! I wasn’t even aware of Florian Zeller.

Menier Chocolate Factory to stage The Truth by Florian Zeller

It has been announced that the Menier Chocolate Factory will stage the UK premiere of The Truth by Florian Zeller later this year. 

In a new version by Christopher Hampton, The Truth opens on 16th March (previews from 10th March) and plays until 7th May 2016.

Lindsay Posner directs with set and costume by Lizzie Clachan, lighting by Howard Harrison, sound by Gregory Clarke and original music by Matthew Scott.