Phill Jupitus Makes West End Debut as Lifecoach

Comedian Phill Jupitus (pictured) will make his West End acting debut this spring, taking the title role in Nick Reed’s new comedy Lifecoach, which receives its world premiere at Trafalgar Studios 2, where it runs for a limited season from 22 May to 14 June 2008 (previews from 20 May).

Wendy’s life is a mess. Her boss is losing patience, her boyfriend has no respect for her and she can’t speak up for herself. Wendy needs help. Unfortunately so does her life coach, Colin. Normally incisive and rational, Colin is quick to see where others are going wrong and quick to help them put it right. But what happens when Colin loses his way? What happens when the coach loses direction?

Phill Jupitus became a television personality in 1996, when he joined BBC2’s pop quiz Never Mind the Buzzcocks as a regular team captain. He was a regular on the national and London comedy circuits for 11 years. On screen, he’s appeared in Mike Bassett England Manager and, for five years until March 2007, he hosted the breakfast show on BBC6 Music. He is also a regular presenter for the BBC’s coverage of the Glastonbury Festival and occasionally sings with Ian Dury’s band The Blockheads, joining them as a guest vocalist for their 30th-anniversary tour.

Last year Jupitus also wrote and co-starred in his first play, Waiting for Alice, which was staged at the Edinburgh Festival. In Lifecoach, he’s joined by Amy Darcy (whose TV comedy credits include Spaced and A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Johnny Vegas) as Wendy. Also in the cast are Katarina Olsson and Tim Plester.

Lifecoach is written and directed by screenwriter Nick Reed, who is also making his West End debut with this premiere production. It’s designed by Jason Denvir, with lighting by Mike Robertson, and produced by Stuart Piper and Jason Haigh-Ellery.

– by Terri Paddock