Elton's Popcorn to Close in August

Ben Elton's black comedy Popcorn will be finishing its run at the Apollo Theatre in the West End at the end of August, a final date to be confirmed.

Popcorn satirically tackles the issue of film violence and its effect on people. A Tarantino-type director and his family are held hostage at gunpoint by his biggest fans, the notorious 'mall murderers', who hatch a televisual plot for shirking responsibility of their crimes.

Popcorn premiered at the Nottingham Playhouse in September 1996 (when the novel version was simultaneously published) before opening at the Apollo in April 1997. It won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and has been credited with drawing in new, younger audiences to the theatre.

Producers plan to take the production on a UK tour from September 1998. Dates, venues and cast details of the touring production have yet to be announced.

Spokesperson Cameron Duncan told What's On Stage that, after 15 months, the play had 'lived its useful life' in the West End. 'Final weeks' notices have now been posted at the theatre encouraging those who haven't yet seen Popcorn to catch it in the West End while they still can.

Elton's latest play Blast from the Past premiered in April 1998 at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. At the time, it was rumoured to be heading for the West End as well but nothing has yet been confirmed.

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