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Opening This Week: Badnuff & Festen in The Dark

Amongst the major London openings are premieres at three leading off-West End venues:

OPENING TONIGHT, Monday 22 March 2004 (previews from 18 March), Richard Davidson’s Badnuff opens at Soho Theatre, the first play of the year developed and presented by the in-house Soho Theatre Company. Set in a Pupil Referral Unit in northeast London, it explores the unlikely relationships that develop between teachers and students as they struggle with their own expectations, as well as those of society.

Soho’s Jonathan Lloyd directs a cast led by David Harewood (Peribanez) and Raquel Cassidy (TV's Teachers). Badnuff continues its limited season until 17 April 2004.

DON'T MISS our offer to get Badnuff tickets for just £10 - until 27 March - click here!

OPENING TUESDAY, 23 March 2004 (previews from 18 March), The Dark, the latest play by multi award-winning Humble Boy author Charlotte Jones, opens at the Donmar Warehouse, where it continues until 24 April 2004 (See News, 6 Jan 2004). John lives with his elderly mother and is helping the police with their enquiries. Brian and Janet’s teenage son only talks to strangers. Barnaby and Louisa have a new baby they can’t name. Three households live side by side in isolation. Then the lights go out…

Directed by Sheffield Crucible associate director Anna Mackmin, the cast of The Dark features Sian Phillips, Matt Bardock, Brid Brennan, Anastasia Hille, Roger Lloyd Pack, Stuart McQuarrie and newcomer Andrew Turner. Lez Brotherston designs.

Author Charlotte Jones won both the Critics Circle and the Whatsonstage.com Award for Best New Play for 2001's Humble Boy, which transferred from the National to the West End and Broadway. Her other plays include In Flame and Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis. Jones is also writing the book for Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical based on Wilkie Collins' novel The Woman in White, which premieres in September 2004 (See News, 12 Dec 2003).

OPENING THURSDAY, 25 March 2004 (previews from 18 March), David Eldridge's new stage version of the 1998 Danish Dogme film, Festen (The Celebration), premieres at the Almeida Theatre in Islington, north London (See News, 22 Jan 2004). Jane Asher, Johnny Lee Miller and Evening Standard Award winner Tom Hardy feature in Rufus Norris’ production, which runs until 24 April 2004.

In Festen, patriarch Helge Klingenfelt is celebrating his 60th birthday with his family at a magnificent old hotel in the Danish countryside. As the evening progresses, his son Christian feels compelled to break the silence surrounding a dark family secret.

DON'T MISS our Whatsonstage.com Outing to FESTEN this Wednesday 24 March! You’ll pay just £26 for your top-price ticket plus FREE drink at our post-show party with members of the cast! This event has SOLD OUT but you can sign up for returns - click here!

- by Terri Paddock

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