*Hall/Kenwright Tie-Up Strained, Not Broken
Date: 25 August 1998
Theatre director Sir Peter Hall and theatre producer Bill Kenwright, whose partnership has spanned seven years, are 'having a tiff' over Hall's new production of Peter Shaffer's Amadeus at the Old Vic. According to spokesperson for the show Chris Millard, the altercation arises from a misunderstanding about the exclusivity of the relationship.
Hall agreed to direct the revival of Amadeus for Peter Wilson (PW) Productions. Because of his long-standing relationship with Bill Kenwright, who produces the repertory season for the Peter Hall Company at the Piccadilly Theatre, Hall recommended that PW collaborate with Kenwright. Those negotiations never concluded and, in fact, broke down last week. Kenwright then demanded that Hall withdraw from the production but Hall refused. At that point, Kenwright threatened to withdraw funding for the Piccadilly season which is now beginning rehearsals for Eduardo de Filippo's Filumena, starring Dame Judi Dench.
Millard told What's On Stage that that threat has now been rescinded and that all current and future Peter Hall productions will be taking place as scheduled, including Amadeus which 'he always was and is directing'.
Amadeus, starring David Suchet as 'Salieri', is due to open 21 October 1998 (previews from 12 October). Peter Hall directed the world premiere of Amadeus at the National Theatre in 1979. That original production transferred to Broadway where it ran for 1,181 performances. The 1984 film version - directed by Milos Forman, co-scripted with Peter Shaffer and starring Tom Hulce as 'Mozart' and F. Murray Abraham as 'Salieri' - won Academy Awards for both picture and script, adding to the Tony and Evening Standard Awards already won by the stage play.
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