Channel 4 Play Delays Previews, Swaps DirectorDate: 25 May 2006
The winning play of Channel Four’s The Play's the Thing competition will start preview performances at the West End’s New Ambassadors Theatre two days later than planned, and with a new director.
The unnamed play was due to begin previews on 12 June 2006 ahead of a 22 June opening, but director Steven Pimlott has fallen ill. Robert Delamere (Shoot the Crow, Thomas More, Whistling Psyche), who was already involved in workshops for the project, will now take over directorial duties. The world premiere production will now begin previews on 14 June, and open as planned on 22 June.
In association with West End producer Sonia Friedman, Channel Four announced The Play's the Thing a year ago and invited previously unproduced playwrights to send in proposed play synopses, along with sample scenes and character lists (See News, 11 May 2006). Over 2,000 aspiring playwrights entered the competition. Friedman narrowed the candidates down to 30 with the help of some professional play readers and the panel (including Friedman, playwrights’ agent Mel Kenyon and actor Neil Pearson) deciding on the final ten, who went through workshops before being whittled down to three, and finally one winner.
A spokesperson for The Play's the Thing said: “Regrettably, theatre director Steven Pimlott, who was directing the winning play in the forthcoming theatre production and Channel Four series, The Play's the Thing, has had to withdraw at very short notice mid-way through rehearsals due to serious ill health. Steven, who has played a vital role both as director of the winning play and mentor to the winning playwright, has overseen the play's development with producer Sonia Friedman and literary agent Mel Kenyon from the first draft through re-writes, workshops, casting, design and the start of rehearsals.”
As previously tipped (See The Goss 23 May 2006), Maxine Peake, Paul Hilton and Tom McKay are lined up to star in the winning play, although no official announcement can be made before the series airs on 12 June 2006.
Peake is best known for her roles in TV series Shameless, Messiah and Dinnerladies, but she has also starred in many stage productions including Miss Julie at the Haymarket, Mother Theresa is Dead at the Royal Court, and The Cherry Orchard and The Relapse at the National.
Hilton’s credits include Mourning Becomes Electra at the National, for which he received an Olivier Award nomination. He has also starred in the Wild Duck, President of an Empty Room, Three Sisters, Terrorism and As You Like It on stage, as well as The Family Man, Wire in the Blood and The Bill on television.
McKay has appeared on stage in Macbeth at the Almeida, and Henry V and Mother Clap’s Molly House at the National, as well as Gladiator Games in Sheffield, Simplicity in Richmond, The Arab Israeli Cookbook at the Gate, and Lord of the Flies with the RSC.
- by Caroline Ansdell
Related Content
