WOS TV: C4 Isn’t the Only Footage of Play’s First

On the Third Day, the winning play of Channel 4’s reality TV playwriting competition, received its world premiere last night (22 June 2006, previews from 15 June) at the West End’s New Ambassadors Theatre (See News, 19 Jun 2006). The debut play by Kate Betts, a 51-year-old teacher at Chichester University, stars Maxine Peake, Paul Hilton and Tom McKay.

Set in modern London, On the Third Day centres on a young woman, alone and unattached, who catches the eye of a stranger in a bar. Before the night has ended, they have told each other secrets that will change their lives forever, taking us “from the depths of underground caves to the infinite reaches of the solar system and into the shattered heart of a broken family”.

TO VIEW ON THE THIRD DAY OPENING NIGHT TV FOOTAGE, JUST CLICK
ON THE "PLAY" ARROW > BUTTON TO THE LEFT OF THE TV SCREEN BELOW.

Over 2,000 aspiring playwrights entered the The Play’s the Thing competition. Friedman, literary agent Mel Kenyon and their fellow judge, actor Neil Pearson, decided on the final ten, who went through workshops before being whittled down to first three and then one winner. The final instalment, in which Channel 4 will show Betts experiencing “experience all the drama of public scrutiny and first-night nerves as the curtain goes up on press night, not only on her stage debut, but her West End debut”, on Saturday (24 June) at 8.15pm.

Ahead of that, you can tune into the first night atmosphere with Whatsonstage.com TV. Our crew was on hand for the curtain call at the New Ambassadors and the post-show party at Walkers of Whitehall, which was also attended by the company and those involved in the Channel 4 TV series, who talk to us about the winning play.

On the Third Day is directed by Robert Delamere (who took over after Steven Pimlott fell ill) and designed by Mark Thompson, with projections by Jon Driscoll, lighting by Paul Anderson and sound and music Adam Cork. It’s presented in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions and Channel 4.

- by Terri Paddock

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