Dateline 8th July, 2001
Bates and Son together at Windsor
Alan and Benedick Bates are to appear together in Dorian Gray, the stage adaptation of Oscar Wilde's story, at the Theatre Royal Windsor from 17th July. Directed by Robin Phillips, the production moves to the Yvonne Arnaud at Guildford on 31st July, after which it is expected to transfer to the West End.
Also in the production, which is written by Trevor Baxter, are Margaret Tyzack and Rupert Frazer.
Storey revival at Chichester
The Chichester Festival Theatre is to revive David Storey's 60s play In Celebration. It opens on 11th July as part of the theatre's rep season.
"Scully" plans West End debut
In a "Sunday Times" interview X-Files star Gillian Anderson, who plays FBI agent Dana Scully in the cult TV series, has announced her intention of making her West End debut next summer. No announcement about the play has yet been made.
McCutcheon must cut down
Doctores have told Martine McCutcheon that she must cut down the number of performances she gives in the RNT's My Fair Lady from eight to six a week when the show tranfers to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Her involvement with the show has been dogged by illness and she has actually performed less than her understudies.
The show has taken £10m in advance bookings through to April next year.
No White Christmas this year
The stage version of the musical film White Christmas, promised for the Savoy Theatre in October, has been cancelled. Booking had opened in May. here is no word as to what will happen to the show now, although there are rumours that it may be revived next year.
No reason has been given for the cancellation but it is known that, although a chorus was in place, none of the principal parts had been cast.
James Bolam: Director
Actor James Bolam makes his directorial debut on 31st July at the Jermyn Street Theatre with Roy Smiles' new comedy Sick Dictators. The play deals with a certain General Ricochet, who is confined to a London hospital bed.
Doreen on tour
Tackle Out TC will be touring their production of Alan French's The Picture of Doreen around the country this summer. The play, about a light enetrtainment celebrity couple Martin and Doreen, visits Leicester (27/28 July), Portsmouth (30 July), Bournemouth
(31 July - 2 August), Brighton (5 - 10 August) and Manchester (24/25 August).
Flavour of the month?
Peter Nichols' Privates on Parade is to be revived at the Donmar Warehouse on 30th November, just a month after his A Day in the Death of Joe Egg opens at the New Ambassadors. Last year the Donmar had a successful run of Nichols' Passion Play.
Roger Allam and Malcolm Sinclair are to star in the new production of Privates.
Boston Marriage to transfer
The Donmar's production of Mamet's Boston Marriage, which ran until the end of March, is expected to transfer to the New Ambassadors in December with its original cast of Zoë Wanamaker, Anna Chancellor and Lyndsey Marshal.
Van Outen to stay on
Denise Van Outen's "strictly limited" sixteen week run as Roxie Hart in Chicago will be extended for another six weeks, until 15th September.
Beatles musical to close early
In spite of recently announcing an extension until March next year, the musical All You Need Is Love, based on the music of Lennon and McCartney, is to close on 1st September. reviews have been uniformly poor.
Pearson in Bristol's Stoppard tour
Neil Pearson is to play the lead in the Bristol Old Vic production of Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing, which opens in Bristol on 7th September and then tours nine other theatres through till December.
BITE:01
Theatre de Complicite's musical drama about the life of Shostakovich, The Noise of Time, has opened at the Barbican and plays to 15th July as part of the BITE:01 season.