Sunny Afternoon extends West End booking to October 2015

Sunny Afternoon has announced a further extension to its West End run. It is now booking until 24th October 2015 at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

The new musical, which tells the story of the early life of Ray Davies and the rise to stardom of The Kinks, recently celebrated its 100th performance.

Fifty years ago, The Kinks were sitting at Number One in the UK charts with their fifth single ‘Tired of Waiting For You’.  The cast of Sunny Afternoon includes John Dagleish as Ray Davies, George Maguire as Dave Davies, Ned Derrington as Pete Quaife and Adam Sopp as Mick Avory.

Review: Sunny Afternoon at the Harold Pinter Theatre

Sunny Afternoon

Harold Pinter Theatre

Reviewed on Saturday 25th October 2014

★★★★

Sunny Afternoon has hit the West End with a breath of fresh air. 

Following the rise of The Kinks with particular interest to Ray Davies' life story, Sunny Afternoon is loud, funny and utterly charming. The show premiered at the Hampstead Theatre earlier this year and is clearly ready for West End audiences; it's so nice to see a new musical open in the theatre capital of the world which isn't in need of a major revamp!

Sunny Afternoon confirms West End transfer

It has been confirmed (via the Standard) that Sunny Afternoon will transfer to the West End's Harold Pinter Theatre in October following its sell out run at the Hampstead Theatre. The production tells the story of the rise of The Kinks.

Previews begin on Saturday 4th October. Principal cast members including John Dalgleish and George Maguire will transfer with the show.

GOSSIP: Sunny Afternoon transferring to Harold Pinter Theatre?

According to the Daily Mail, Sunny Afternoon will open at the Harold Pinter Theatre in late September. It is thought producer Sonia Friedman is behind the transfer of The Kinks musical which premiered at the Hampstead Theatre earlier this year.

Further information to be announced.

Ray Davies’ extraordinary life story is told with Music and Lyrics by Ray Davies, a new Book by Joe Penhall, Direction by Edward Hall and Design by Miriam Buether. 

Neil Morrissey to join Caroline Quentin in Relative Values

Neil Morrissey will reunite with his Men Behaving Badly co-star Caroline Quentin in Relative Values.

He joins the production at the Harold Pinter Theatre from Monday 26th May until Saturday 21st June, taking over from Rory Bremner as Crestwell whose 10 week run ends on Saturday 24th May.

As well as playing Tony Smart opposite Quentin and Martin Clunes in Men Behaving Badly, Morrissey has starred in Paradise Heights, Murder in Mind, Carrie and Barry, Waterloo Road and Me & Mrs Jones.

On stage he was seen in the West End production of Victoria Wood's Acorn Antiques. Morrissey also played Nathan in Guys And Dolls and Fagin in Cameron Mackintosh's national touring production of Oliver.

Review: Relative Values at the Harold Pinter Theatre

Relative Values 
Harold Pinter Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 15th April 2014

Everything is going swimmingly inside Marshwood House in early July 1951 until it is revealed that the Hollywood film actress Earl plans to marry is the long-lost sister of his mother's favourite maid. Of course things begin to go downhill.

Casting announced for The Importance of Being Earnest at the Harold Pinter Theatre

Nigel Havers / ©ITV

It has been confirmed that a new production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest will open in the West End later this year. 

The play will open at the Harold Pinter Theatre on Thursday 17th July 2014 (previews from 27th June), running until Saturday 20th September 2014.

The Importance of Being Earnest will star: Rosalind Ayres (Outnumbered, New Tricks, God and Monsters), Niall Buggy (Translations, Dead Funny, Uncle Vanya), Nigel Havers (Downton Abbey, The Life Of Rock with Brian Pern, Coronation Street), Martin Jarvis (Endeavour, Law & Order: UK, Titanic), Christine Kavanagh (Basket Case, Vera, Manchild), Cherie Lunghi (Passion Play, Secret Diary of a Call girl, The Manageress) and Siân Phillips (Marlene, The Age of Innocence, Cabaret).

Leigh Zimmerman joins Patricia Hodge & Caroline Quentin in West End transfer of Relative Values

It has been announced that Leigh Zimmerman will join the cast of Relative Values next month when the comedy transfers to the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Zimmerman most recently won an Olivier Award for her portrayal of Sheila in the West End revival of A Chorus Line at the London Palladium. Her West End credits also include Chicago and The Producers. She will take on the role of Miranda Frayle in Noël Coward’s play about the uproarious culture clash between the glittering world of Hollywood and the stiff upper lip of the English aristocracy.

Relative Values opens at the Harold Pinter Theatre on Monday 14th April (previews from 19th March) and runs until 21st June 2014. Zimmerman joins the previously announced Patricia Hodge, Caroline Quentin, Rory Bremner and Ben Mansfield, all of whom starred in the play's run at the Theatre Royal Bath.

Simon Callow's Being Shakespeare returns to the West End for limited season

Simon Callow's production of Being Shakespeare is returning to the West End. The production will open at the Harold Pinter Theatre, where Mojo recently completed its run, for a limited three week season between Wednesday 26th February and Saturday 15th March 2014.

Mojo starring Rupert Grint extends West End run

Ian Rickson’s critically acclaimed West End revival of Jez Butterworth’s Mojo has announced a further two weeks of performances. Mojo will now complete its run on 8th February 2014 with its original cast - Brendan Coyle (Mickey), Rupert Grint (Sweets), Tom Rhys Harries (Silver Johnny), Daniel Mays (Potts), Colin Morgan (Skinny) and Ben Whishaw (Baby).

Colin Morgan (Skinny), Daniel Mays (Potts) and Rupert Grint (Sweets)

Designs are by Ultz with lighting by Charles Balfour, music by Stephen Warbeck and sound by Simon Baker. Mojo is produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions who also produced Butterworth and Rickson’s internationally-acclaimed Jerusalem. 

Photo Feature: Rupert Grint and cast rehearse for West End revival of Jez Butterworth’s Mojo

The producers of Mojo have released images of the cast and director rehearsing for the production. Mojo will open at the Harold Pinter Theatre on 13th November (previews from 26th October) and is scheduled to run until 25th January 2014.  Check out the images below (click on an image to enlarge).

Ian Rickson directs Brendan Coyle (Mickey), Rupert Grint (Sweets), Daniel Mays (Potts), Colin Morgan (Skinny), Ben Whishaw (Baby) and Tom Rhys Harries (Silver Johnny) in the major West End revival of Jez Butterworth’s award-winning play, reuniting director and writer who previously collaborated on the play’s world premiere at the Royal Court in 1995. 

Review: A Chorus Of Disapproval at the Harold Pinter Theatre

A Chorus Of Disapproval

Harold Pinter Theatre

Performance: Saturday 6th October 2012 (Evening)

'The Pendon Amateur Light Operatic Society’s production of The Beggar’s Opera is going off the rails, that is until a handsome but shy young widower Guy joins the group. An instant hit with the company’s ferociously zealous director Dafydd and the show’s leading ladies, including Dafydd’s wife Hannah, Guy soon gets more than he bargained for as he discovers that all the best action happens off-stage. Classic songs fill the air as the drama on stage is mirrored by the romantic rivalry and small town squabbles causing a stir in the wings of this ambitious local show.'

Spamalot to move to Playhouse Theatre from 14th November

The current West End run of Spamalot is moving from the Harold Pinter Theatre to the Playhouse, where it reopens on 14th November 2012. The production, which currently stars Marcus Brigstocke, Jon Culshaw, Bonnie Langford and Todd Carty continues its run at the Pinter until 9th September.

Rob Brydon to make his West End Debut in Alan Ayckbourn’s “A Chorus of Disapproval” alongside Nigel Harman and Ashley Jensen

Rob Brydon is set to make his long overdue West End Debut alongside Nigel Harmon and Ashley Jenson  in Alan Ayckbourn’s riotous comedy “A Chorus of Disapproval”, directed by Olivier and Tony award-winner Trevor Nunn. Joining the trio on stage will be Teresa Banham, Daisy Beaumont, Georgia Brown, Rob Compton, Matthew Cottle and Steven Edis, with further casting to be announced shortly.

The Pendon Amateur Light Operatic Society’s production of The Beggar’s Opera is going off the rails, that is until a handsome but shy young widower Guy (Harman) joins the group. An instant hit with the company’s ferociously zealous director Dafydd (Brydon) and the show’s leading ladies, including Dafydd’s wife Hannah (Jensen), Guy soon gets more than he bargained for as he discovers that all the best action happens off-stage. Classic songs fill the air as the drama on stage is mirrored by the romantic rivalry and small town squabbles causing a stir in the wings of this ambitious local show.

Not seen in London since the National Theatre’s hit production over 25 years ago “A Chorus of Disapproval” aims to steal the limelight once more in the West End this Autumn. Despite regularly appearing on TV chat and panel shows, it is his performance in Gavin and Stacey that excites me most about  Rob Brydon making his West End Debut. He is one of these people who is naturally funny so this show will be perfect for his West End Debut! Nigel Harman was most recently seen in Shrek The Musical for which he won an Olivier Award. I saw him twice in the role and he is also another naturally funny performer. He built up a fantastic relationship with the audience which always led to him receiving the biggest cheer during the bows. Ashley Jensen has previously appeared in Ugly Betty and Extras.

The play will run from 17th September 2012 until 5 January 2013 at the Harold Pinter Theatre where South Down/The Browning Version is currently on.

Visit http://achorusofdisapproval.com/ for more information.

Spamalot returning to the West End for a 7 weeks only!

The Monty Python musical Spamalot will return to the West End this summer for an exclusive 7 week run from 24 July until 9 September 2012 at the Harold Pinter Theatre. It will be the touring cast that will transfer with the production, including comedian Marcus Brigstocke as King Arthur, former EastEnder Todd Carty as Patsy and Bonnie Langford as The Lady of the Lake. 

Impressionist Jon Culshaw will play King Arthur from 2 August to 2 September, and then Marcus Brigstocke will return from 4-8 September. The musical has a book and lyrics by original Python Eric Idle, who also co-wrote the music with John Du Prez. The West End production, which ran at the Palace from 16 October 2006 (previews from 30 September) to 3 January 2009, reunited the Broadway creative team including director Mike Nichols and set and costume designer Tim Hatley.

The rest of the new West End Cast will also include Robin Armstrong as Sir Bedevere, Rob Delaney as Sir Robin, Adam Ellis as Prince Herbert, Kit Orton as Sir Lancelot and Jon Robyns as Sir Galahad, along with Amelia Adams Pearce, Tim Bonser, Michael Burgen, Rachel Knowles, Hannah Malekzad, James Nelson and Paul Bullion.

Visit http://www.spamalotontour.co.uk/book_now to find out more and to book tickets.

Review: South Downs & The Browning Version at The Harold Pinter Theatre

South Downs & The Browning Version

The Harold Pinter Theatre

Performance: Wednesday 25th May 2012

I really did not have a clue what to expect as I walked into the Harold Pinter theater, only 2 weeks after seeing the final performance of Absent Friends at the same theater, to see two, one act plays. The first is a new play called South Downs which was written David Hare, especially to go with Sir Terence Rattigan's play The Browning Version. Both focus on boys boarding houses set in the 1960s. My favourite play by far was South Downs. If the Browning Version been on first I think I would have enjoyed it more. Watch this video to find out more about the shows

Anna Chancellor was the best actor in the shows. Her experience shows as she delivered two faultless performances. Her scenes as Belinda Duffield were incredibly touching in South Downs. Then in the Browning version she really made me believe she was this horrible, wicked wife. Nicholas Farrell was also outstanding and again faultless, I completely understood every single emotion he went through despite not being a similar age or similar profession as his character. She had a fantastic entrance in South Downs, as she was the first woman in the play it felt strange to see her, I had kind of forgotten that females existed. 


Mark Umbers gave an interesting performance as Frank in The Browning Version. At first I liked him, then I loved him, then I didn't like him, them I liked him, then I hated him and then I ended up respecting him for doing the right thing. I like it when actors play their characters as human beings, who aren't stereotyped as one personality who always behaves the save way. We got to see how he behaves around students, colleges and lovers making him a much more relatable character. He also had great chemistry with all his fellow actors and I really do not know how... but he managed to pull off that outrageous white suit! I could not believe how experienced Jonothan Bailey is, still at such a young age. He was a very likable character and I would be interested to see his other work.  


And that brings me on to the actor everyone has been talking about... Alex Lawther. Firstly I do not know how he manages to balance A Levels with the West End. I had heard a lot about this actor. It did take me a while to warm to him, at first he was annoying but by the end of the show I was completely intrigued. You go on such a journey with him, slowly learning more about his character and why he is the way he is.

I would recommend this show to any actor, espiaclly training/aspiring actors. The acting is fascinating to study. I would suggest people of the older generation, especially those who went to boarding school should buy their tickets now. It has great characters and gives you the occasional chuckle. It's nice to see something different. To find out more and to book tickets http://www.browningversion.com/. TKTS also regulars has discounted tickets.