Photos

1st Night Photos: Donmar Reunion, Mousetrap 56th

| London's West End |

26 November 2008

Our Whatsonstage.com photographer Dan Wooller had a busy time last night (25 November 2008), covering three events over the course of the evening. As well as the after-party of the Donmar’s The Family Reunion, the cast of Well held a thanksgiving gala ahead of their West End transfer next month, whilst across town The Mousetrap company were celebrating the record-breaking show’s 56th anniversary.

The Family Reunion forms the centrepiece of the Donmar’s TS Eliot festival, and features a cast including Penelope Wilton, Samuel West, Anna Carteret, William Gaunt, Una Stubbs, Hattie Morahan and Gemma Jones (See News, 18 July 2008).

After eight years absence, Harry (West) returns to the ancestral home to celebrate his mother’s birthday. Tormented by a dark secret, he confides in Aunt Agatha (Wilton) only to discover that the family too have its own hidden demons. The Family Reunion continues at the Donmar until 10 January 2009.

TO SCROLL THROUGH ALL OF THE FAMILY REUNION’s PHOTOS,
JUST CLICK ON THE “NEXT >” LINKS BELOW THE FOLLOWING FRAME.
PHOTOS BY DAN WOOLLER FOR WHATSONSTAGE.COM.

Also celebrating yesterday were the cast of Well, Lisa Kron’s semi-autobiographical 2006 Tony-nominated Broadway comedy, which received its British premiere at the Trafalgar Studios earlier this year and transfers to the Apollo theatre next month (30 December, previews from 29 December). The company is led by Sarah Miles and Natalie Casey, who will be joined in the West End by Green Wing star Oliver Chris (See News, 3 November 2008).

At yesterday’s Thanksgiving gala, the cast were joined by guests including Steve Guttenberg, Sarah Lark, Robert Powell and footballers David Bentley and Alan Hutton. Well opens at the Apollo Theatre on 30 December 2008 (preview 29 December) for a strictly limited season to 24 January 2009.

TO SCROLL THROUGH ALL OF THE WELL GALA PHOTOS,
JUST CLICK ON THE “NEXT >” LINKS BELOW THE FOLLOWING FRAME.
PHOTOS BY DAN WOOLLER FOR WHATSONSTAGE.COM.

The Mousetrap crept further into old age yesterday as the company celebrated the show’s 56th birthday. Agatha Christie’s grandson Mathew Prichard and producer Stephen Waley-Cohen took to the stage after the performance at St Martin’s Theatre to receive a certificate from Guinness World Records editor Craig Glenday, confirming the show’s unassailable status as the West End’s longest running show.

TO SCROLL THROUGH ALL OF MOUSETRAP BIRTHDAY PHOTOS,
JUST CLICK ON THE “NEXT >” LINKS BELOW THE FOLLOWING FRAME.
PHOTOS BY DAN WOOLLER FOR WHATSONSTAGE.COM.

– By Theo Bosanquet