Dateline 26th March, 2000
Hard Times at the Haymarket
London's Haymarket Theatre plays host to a new musical based on Dickens' novel Hard Times from 6th June. Written by Christopher Tookey, a journalist at the Daily Mail, and Hugh Thomas, the show will star Brian Blessed as both Dickens himself and Thomas Gradgrind, whilst Samuel Sleary and Mrs Pegler will be played by Roy Hudd.
New Berkoff play due
According to a report in The Stage, Steven Berkoff has been working on a new play, The Murder of Jesus Christ, which he hopes to open at Easter and then tour, including performances at the Edinburgh Fringe.
"It is a kind of passion play about Jesus and his feelings for his disciples and his warning about how people interpret him," said Berkoff. "I thought it would be an interesting subject."
New cast for Art
Richard Thomas will star as Yvan, Patrick Duffy as Serge and Paul Freeman as Marc in Yasmina Reza's hit Art at the Wyndham's from 25th April. This will be the play's fourteenth cast.
New booking period for Lady
Alan Bennett's Lady in the Van at the Queen's is now booking until 15th Jult, a seven week extension. Maggie Smith will continue to play the lead.
Other extended booking periods
The Woman in Black at the Fortune is now booking until 2nd September; Blood Brothers (at the Phoenix) has extended its booking period to 5th April, 2001.
Lawson to direct on the London Fringe again
After his success last year with his production of Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs, which starred his nephew Ewan MacGregor, Dennis Lawson returns to the Hampstead Theatre in April with a new play by Ron Hutchinson, Burning Issues.
The play, which deals with the world of publishing and racism, stars John Gordon Sinclair (best known for the 1981 film Gregory's Girl) and opens on 25th April (previewing from 14th). It will run until 3rd June.
Ken and Dobbo take to the stage
Tariq Ali, Howard Brenton and Andy de la Tour have collaborated on a satirical one-act play, Snogging Ken, based on the troubles within the Labour Party over the elections for Mayor of London. It will play at the Almeida (late-night) from 18th to 28th April, seven performances only.