Griffiths, Hurt & Stott Star in Stoppard Latest, 18 OctDate: 26 May 2005
Tom Stoppard (pictured), recently voted ‘Greatest Living Playwright’ by Whatsonstage.com theatregoers in our Big Debate survey, will be back in the West End this autumn. He’s written a new English-language version of a hit French play by Gerald Sibleyras called Le Vent de Peupliers, which will receive its UK premiere at the West End’s Wyndham’s Theatre on 18 October 2005 (previews from 7 October).
Set in 1959, the play takes place in a veterans’ hospital where three men are planning their escape. The stellar cast – directed by Gate artistic director Thea Sharrock, whose production of Blithe Spirit finishes its extended season at the West End’s Savoy Theatre this weekend - are Richard Griffiths, John Hurt and Ken Stott.
Griffiths is still riding high after his three Best Actor wins – at the Evening Standard, Critics’ Circle and Olivier Awards – for his role in Alan Bennett’s The History Boys, which will be made into a feature film this summer. His other credits include: on stage, Art, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Luther and Katherine Howard; and on screen, Harry Potter, Chariots of Fire and Withnail and I.
Hurt was most recently seen in the West End in Afterplay and Krapp's Last Tape. He’s best known internationally for his long-running film career in which his credits include Alien, Little Malcolm, The Elephant Man, 1984, White Mischief, The Field, Crime and Punishment, Rob Roy and Love and Death on Long Island.
Stott’s many screen credits include television’s The Vice, Messiah, Uncle Adolf and The Singing Detective as well as films such as The Boxer, Shallow Grave, Fever Pitch, King Arthur and Lasse Halstrom’s upcoming Casanova. His stage credits include Faith Healer, The Misanthrope, Death of a Salesman, Hamlet and The Rose Tattoo. Stott was last at Wyndham’s Theatre nine years ago when another French three-hander, Art, had its West End premiere there.
Yasmina Reza’s multi award-winning comedy went on to play for eight years in the West End, finally finishing at the Whitehall Theatre in January 2003. Art producer David Pugh is also behind the new production - he assures Whatsonstage.com, “there’s not a white painting in sight!” The night before Le Vent de Peupliers’ premiere, and just next door at the Albery, Pugh will open The Right Size’s new comedy Ducktastic! (See News, 24 May 2005).
The Stoppard piece is designed by Robert Jones with lighting by Howard Harrison and music by Steve Parry.
- by Terri Paddock
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