Dateline 2nd July, 2000
Mendes announces Green Fields casting
Sam Mendes has announced that the lead for his first Donmar production since winning his Oscar, Nick Whitby's To the Green Fields Beyond, will be Ray Winstone. The play, which replaces Mendes' planned production of Twelfth Night, will run from 25th September to 25th November, previewing from 14th September.
The play deals with the experiences of a tank crew in the autumn of 1918.
House/Garden casting announced
The casting for the National Theatre production of Ayckbourn's House/Garden has been announced. In the leading roles will be Jane Asher and David Haig, and the rest of the cast consists of Suzy Aitchison, James Bradshaw, Charlie Hayes, Peter Laird, Alexandra Mathie, Adrian McLoughlin, Antonia Pemberton, Michael Siberry, Nina Sosanya and Sian Thomas. The two plays will be directed by Ayckbourn himself.
The plays will be presented simultaneously in the Olivier and Lyttelton theatres and look at the events of one day as they happen in both the house and the garden of the title.
Mindgame closing
Anthony Horowitz's new thriller Mindgame (Vaudeville) is to close on 8th July, although it had been booking to September and had had reasonably good reviews.
New Art cast
Yasmina Reza's hit Art will have its 15th cast on 18th July. It will consist of comedians Alistair McGowan (Serge) and Sean Hughes (Yvan), and actor Colin Buchanan as Marc. Buchanan is best known for his role as Peter Pascoe in the TV series Dalziel and Pascoe.
Note for non-Scots: the name Dalziel is pronounced "Dee-yell"!
Almeida to present Wederkind classic
The Almeida is to produce Frank Wedekind's classic play Lulu with Anna Friel in the lead. The new version, by Nicholas Wright, will be directed by Jonathan Kent. Further details are due to be announced later.
Possible transfer for Stones
Hit Irish comedy Stones in His Pockets may transfer to the Comedy when its run at the New Ambassadors finishes in August.