McQueen announces early West End closure

It has been announced that McQueen will end its West End close at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 17th October, cutting its run short by three weeks.

A statement from producers reads: "McQueen will close at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on Saturday 17 October. This allows another show to open at that theatre, which seemed the right thing to do and made commercial sense. 

“The producers of McQueen, which began life at St James Theatre on 12 May, are in preliminary discussions for a New York production next year and a DVD of the London production will be released in November.”

Competition: Win a pair of tickets to see McQUEEN!

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The winner will be randomly selected at 10am on Wednesday 30th September 2015 (entries after this time will not be included). The prize is valid for Tuesday to Thursday performances until 22nd October 2015.

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Press Night Pics: McQueen transfers to the Theatre Royal Haymarket

Last night the West End transfer of McQueen celebrated its official opening at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Check out images of the cast and VIP guests below (click image to enlarge).

Following its premiere at the St James Theatre earlier this year, McQueen runs at the Theatre Royal Haymarket until 7th November 2015. Scenes have been rewritten and an interval has been added. 

Production Pics: McQueen transfers to the Theatre Royal Haymarket

Production images have been released for the West End transfer of McQueen. Check out the pictures below (click image to enlarge).

Following its premiere at the St James Theatre earlier this year, McQueen opens to press at the Theatre Royal Haymarket tonight (27th August) for a limited run until 7th November 2015. Scenes have been rewritten and an interval has been added. 

Big Interview: Carly Bawden, starring in McQueen at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

Carly Bawden is starring as Dahlia in the West End transfer of McQueen by James Phillips, replacing Dianna Agron who played the role during the play’s premiere at the St James Theatre earlier this year. 

Most recently Carly starred as Squeaky opposite Catherine Tate in Jamie Lloyd’s revival of Assassins at Menier Chocolate Factory. In 2012 she received tremendous acclaim for starring as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady alongside Dominic West at the Sheffield Crucible. 

Carly’s theatre credits also include: Zenka in The Natives (Old Vic New Voices Festival), Polly Peachum in Dead Dog In A Suitcase And Other Stories (UK tour), Whitehands in Tristan & Yseult (UK/US tours), Polly/Lucy in The Beggars Opera (UK tour), Susan in The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe (Kensington), Catherine in Pippin (Menier Chocolate Factory), Genevieve in The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg (Leicester Curve/Gielgud), Bella in Sleeping Beauty (Wakefield), Castiza in Vice (Arcola), Swallow in Whistle Down The Wind (UK tour) and The Mistress in Evita (UK tour).

Her workshop credits include: Mandy Rice-Davies in Stephen Ward (Sir Richard Eyre), Exstasis in Paradise Lost: Shadows & Wings (Rupert Goold), Lydia/Mary/Anne in Pride & Prejudice (Laurie Samson) and Althea in The Light Princess (Marianne Elliot).

I recently spoke to Carly about why she’s so excited to be joining the cast of McQueen, her favourite Alexander McQueen creations, why she likes to be kept on her toes and which song she would want to belt out at the top of a tree on a desert island… 

What drew you to McQueen? Did you manage to see it at the St James?

Yes! I actually managed to catch it during its last week – I went to the final matinee and thought it was pretty amazing. Then, having a read of the script I just became instantly attracted to it and felt like I really wanted to give it a go. I was also just bowled over by everyone involved in the show, especially Stephen (Wight) who I’m very excited to be working with. It’s so exciting to now be a part of the company!

McQueen cancels first previews at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

The Stage has announced that McQueen has delayed the start of previews at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.

Following its premiere at the St James Theatre, the play was scheduled to begin performances in the West End on 13th August 2015; however, Georgia Snow reports that McQueen will now play its first performance on 22nd August 2015 as the show's rehearsal period has "overrun". Press night will still take place on 27th August 2015. 

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."

Sneak peek at... West End transfer of McQueen

First images have been released for the West End transfer of McQueen. Check out pictures from the cast read-through below (click image to enlarge).

Following its premiere at the St James Theatre earlier this year, McQueen opens the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 27th August (previews from 13th August) for a limited run until 7th November 2015. Scenes have been rewritten and an interval has been added. 

McQueen transferring to Theatre Royal Haymarket

Following its premiere at the St James Theatre earlier this year, it has been announced that McQueen is transferring to the Theatre Royal Haymarket.

The production will open on 27th August (previews from 13th August) for a limited run until 7th November 2015. 

Written by James Phillips and directed by John Caird, the production stars Stephen Wight in the title role. Carly Bawden is replacing Dianna Agron as Dahlia. Scenes have been rewritten and an interval has been added. 

Press Night Pics: McQueen at the St James Theatre starring Stephen Wight & Dianna Agron

Two press nights were held earlier this week for McQueen at the St James Theatre on 19th and 20th May 2015. Celebrity guests were in attendance as well as Alexander McQueen's family. Check out images below (click picture to enlarge).

McQueen stars Stephen Wight in the title role and Dianna Agron as Dahlia as well as Tracy-Ann Oberman as Isabella Blow, Laura Rees as Arabella and David Shaw-Parker as John Hitchcock. Sophie Apollonia, Amber Doyle, George Hill, Eloise Hymas, Jordan Kennedy, Rachel Louisa Maybank, James Revell and Carrie Willis complete the cast.

Production images released for McQueen

Production images have been released for the world premiere of James Phillips’ new play McQueen which is currently breaking box office records at the St James Theatre. Check out the pictures below (click image to enlarge).

McQueen stars Stephen Wight in the title role and Dianna Agron as Dahlia as well as Tracy-Ann Oberman as Isabella Blow, Laura Rees as Arabella and David Shaw-Parker as John Hitchcock. Sophie Apollonia, Amber Doyle, George Hill, Eloise Hymas, Jordan Kennedy, Rachel Louisa Maybank, James Revell and Carrie Willis complete the cast.

McQueen breaks box office record at the St James Theatre; check out promotional snaps

James Phillips’s new play McQueen begins previews at the St James Theatre tonight (12th May) with the highest grossing advance sales figure in the theatre’s history, including more than thirty shows which have previously played the main stage. 

The previous highest figure was recorded by the musical Urinetown in 2014. Directed by John Caird, McQueen opens to press next week and is currently booking until 27th June 2015. 

Producer Robert Mackintosh said, “An exciting cast in a highly-anticipated new play, combined with the current public appetite for Lee Alexander McQueen and his designs, have together led to an incredible buzz about McQueen opening in London. We are absolutely delighted that this has translated into record-breaking sales at St. James Theatre.”

Rehearsal images released for world premiere of McQueen

Rehearsal images have been released for the world premiere of McQueen by James Phillips. Directed by John Caird, McQueen opens at the St James Theatre on 19th May (previews from 12th May). Check out the pictures, which were taken on the first day of rehearsals, below (click image to enlarge). 

The cast includes Stephen Wight as Lee McQueen, Dianna Agron as Dahlia, Tracy-Ann Oberman as Isabella Blow, Laura Rees as Arabella and David Shaw-Parker as John Hitchcock. Sophie Apollonia, Amber Doyle, George Hill, Eloise Hymas, Jordan Kennedy, Rachel Louisa Maybank and Carrie Willis complete the company.

Casting announced for world premiere of McQueen

It has been announced that Stephen Wight will portray Lee McQueen in the world premiere of James Phillips’s play McQueen. Directed by John Caird, the production opens on 19th May (previews from 12th May).

The cast also includes Dianna Agron as Dahlia, Tracy-Ann Oberman as Isabella Blow, Laura Rees as Arabella and David Shaw-Parker as John Hitchcock. The cast is completed by Sophie Apollonia, Amber Doyle, George Hill, Eloise Hymas, Jordan Kennedy, Rachel Louisa Maybank and Carrie Willis.

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.

McQUEEN by James Phillips to premiere at the St James Theatre in May

It has been announced that the St James Theatre will host the world premiere of McQUEEN by James Phillips. 

The production opens on 19th and 20th May (previews from 12th May) and runs until 6th June 2015. John Caird directs. 

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.