Photos

1st Night Photos: Hamiltons Toast Donkeys’ Years

Michael Frayn’s Donkeys’ Years galloped back into the West End last night (9 May 2006, previews from 27 April), 30 years after it first premiered. At the Comedy Theatre, Jeremy Sams’ anniversary revival is performed by a stellar ensemble including David Haig, Samantha Bond, James Dreyfus and Mark Addy.


TO SCROLL THROUGH ALL OF THE DONKEYS’ YEARS 1st NIGHT PHOTOS,
JUST CLICK ON THE “NEXT >” LINKS BELOW THE FOLLOWING FRAME.

Twenty-five years after graduation, six former students return to their university college for a reunion dinner. While their lives may have had varying degrees of success, all are connected by a common past. Locked in college for the night, the graduates begin to relive their youth, with all its chaotic friendships and feuds.

During the weekend’s antics, a scandalised cabinet minister (David Haig) drops his trousers, a priest (Michael Fitzgerald) becomes a nun and the master’s wife (Samantha Bond) may – or may not – have been murdered. The Donkeys’ Years company also comprises Mark Addy, James Dreyfus, Edward Petherbridge, Michael Simkins, Jonathan Coy and Chris Moran.

For 1st Night Photos, our Whatsonstage.com photographer was on hand at last night’s opening night party at Teatro, Shaftesbury Avenue, which was also attended by guests including Neil and Christine Hamilton, comedian Sean Hughes, Hayley Mills, Trudie Goodwin (The Bill), Bamber Gascoigne, Nanette Newman, Terry Johnson, Alexander Hanson as well as author Michael Frayn, director Jeremy Sams, producer Sonia Friedman and members of the cast.

– by Terri Paddock