Theatre News

Brandon Makes Stage Return in Cotton’s Weather

Michael Brandon will make his first return to the London stage since Jerry Springer – the Opera when he stars alongside Steve Furst in Oliver Cotton‘s debut play Wet Weather Cover at the King’s Head theatre later this month (28 January to 21 February 2010, previews from 20 January).

The play focuses on what happens when the filming of an epic movie is delayed by torrential rain whilst on location in Spain. Two actors are trapped in a leaking trailer. A Brit (Furst) and a Yank (Brandon) battle it out over issues of status, ego and assumptions of national identity.

Directed by Kate Fahy (making her directorial debut), designed by Tanya McCallin, with lighting by Emma Chapman and sound by Tim Middleton, the cast is completed by Pepe Balderrama.

Writer Oliver Cotton is best known from his acting work in productions at the National Theatre, RSC and in the West End. His recent theatre credits include The Grapes of Wrath (Chichester), Trevor Nunn’s The Royal Hunt of the Sun (National Theatre) and Richard II (Old Vic).

Michael Brandon rose to fame in the role of Dempsey in hit 80s TV series Dempsey and Makepeace. He played the original title role in the National Theatre’s acclaimed and controversial production of Jerry Springer the Opera in 2003, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award (See News, 11 Mar 2003).

Steve Furst is a comedy actor known to many for his alter ego Lenny Beige and his many appearances in the Orange cinema adverts.  He has appeared regularly in TV comedy series Little Britain and is about to appear in the forthcoming film St Trinian’s 2.