1st Night Photos: Paxman Plays Politics with Nixon

Was Jeremy Paxman taking Newsnight notes on David Frost’s interviewing techniques last night (16 November 2006)? He was amongst the eclectically star-studded audience for the West End transfer of the Donmar Warehouse’s premiere production of Frost/Nixon, which has a limited season to 3 February 2007 at the Gielgud Theatre ahead of a Broadway transfer and film adaptation.

The debut stage play by Peter Morgan (The Queen, The Deal, The Jury, Colditz) is inspired by the bruising 1977 interviews in which British TV presenter David Frost tried to get the disgraced former US president Richard Nixon to apologise for his crimes. Welshman Michael Sheen (who was Tony Blair in The Deal) and American Frank Langella play the title roles, directed by Donmar artistic director Michael Grandage.

TO SCROLL THROUGH ALL OF THE FROST/NIXON 1st NIGHT PHOTOS,
JUST CLICK ON THE "NEXT >" LINKS BELOW THE FOLLOWING FRAME.

The rest of the cast, all reprising their Donmar performances, are: Elliot Cowan, Corey Johnson, Kate Roscoe, Rufus Wright, Amerjit Deu, Kerry Shale, Lydia Leonard and Vincent Marzello. The production is designed by Christopher Oram, with lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Adam Cork and video by Jon Driscoll.

Prior to the Gielgud, Frost/Nixon had a sell-out season from 21 August to 7 October 2006 (previews from 10 August) at the Donmar. Last week, it received three nods in this year’s Evening Standard Award nominations (See News, 9 Nov 2006): Best Play, Best Actor for Michael Sheen and Best Director for Michael Grandage (nominated jointly for it, Evita and The Wild Duck).

For last night’s 1st Night Photos, our Whatsonstage.com photographer was on hand for the post-show party at Mint Leaf, along with the author, director, members of the company and other first night guests including Eric Bana, Jeremy Irons, Rupert Graves, Ronnie Corbett, Richard Coyle, Georgia Mackenzie, Louisa Clein, David Eldridge, Susannah Constantine, Charlie Westenra and Norman Lamont.

- by Terri Paddock

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