WOS TV: Vaclav Havel & Stars Discuss Rock ‘n’ Roll

A new play by Tom Stoppard is always a major event. A new play by Tom Stoppard directed by Trevor Nunn at the Royal Court - where both playwright and director are making their debuts as part of the theatre’s 50th anniversary celebrations - with a cast including Brian Cox, Sinead Cusack and Rufus Sewell is a not-to-be-missed event (See News, 11 Oct 2005). And so last night’s opening of Rock 'n' Roll proved to be – unmissable, and not just for the usual theatrical luminaries.

TO VIEW ROCK ‘N’ ROLL OPENING NIGHT TV FOOTAGE, JUST CLICK
ON THE "PLAY" ARROW > BUTTON TO THE LEFT OF THE TV SCREEN BELOW.

Set in Prague and Cambridge, Rock 'n' Roll spans the recent history of Czechoslovakia between the Prague Spring and the Velvet Revolution, with Marxism and music – including the Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd - providing the driving forces for plot and polemics. The subject matter drew the likes of former Czech president (and a playwright himself) Vaclav Havel, to whom Stoppard has dedicated the play, and rock gods Mick Jagger and Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour to the play’s world premiere.

Whatsonstage.com TV was on hand for Rock 'n' Roll’s opening night along with other attendees including Cate Blanchett, Kim Cattrall, Ian McKellen, Richard E Grant, David Tennant, Gillian Anderson, Richard Wilson, Patrick Marber, Harriet Walter, Janet Suzman, Miriam Stoppard, David Lan, Michael Attenborough, Dominic Cooke, Raine Spencer (stepmother of the late Princess Diana), Peter DeJersey and Christopher Hampton as well as famous family members of the company such as Trevor Eve (father of Alice Eve), Imogen Stubbs (wife of Trevor Nunn) and Alan Cox (son of Brian Cox).

At the post-show party, we spoke to some of the celebrity guests as well as playwright, director and cast members including Brian Cox, Sinead Cusack and Rufus Sewell to find out what they thought about the play. Following its sell-out season at the Royal Court, Rock 'n' Roll moves to the West End’s Duke of York’s Theatre where it runs from 22 July to 24 September (See News, 18 Apr 2006).

- by Terri Paddock

** DON’T MISS our Whatsonstage.com Outing to Rock 'N' Roll on 10 August 2006 - including our EXCLUSIVE post-show Q&A – all for only £25!! - click here for more details! **

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