Dateline 17th September, 2000
Branagh to play Heydrich
Kenneth Branagh is to play Reinhard Heydrich, Hitler's favourite, in a new film for American television. Conspiracy deals with the secret meeting in 1942 when Hitler authorised the "Final Solution", the murder of all the Jews in Europe.
According to one insider, Branag accepted the part because "he liked the challenge".
Four major premieres in Royal Court autumn season
The new season at the Royal Court contains four premieres by well-established writers, as well as Exposure, a season of new work by under-26 year olds, part of the Court's Young Writers programme.
The first premiere is My Zinc Bed written and directed by David Hare (Downstairs), with Julia Ormond, Steven Mackintosh and Tom Wilkinson. It is now open and runs until 28th October. The other premiere in the Theatre Downstairs is Stephen jeffrey's I Just Stopped by to See the Man, directed by TV actor Richard Wilson (opening 4th December after previews from 20th November.
Upstairs also see two premieres: Under the Blue Sky by David Eldridge, which stars Sheila Hancock (currently playing, and running until 7th October), and Caryl Churchill's Far Away, directed by Stephen Daldry and starring Linda Bassett (20th November to 22nd December).
Elton's Gasping goes on tour
Ben Elton's satirical comedy Gasping begins a short UK tour this week at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth. This is its second tour this year. The play tours to Bromley, Reading, Jersey, Poole, Belfast, Bradford and Salisbury.
The Graduate extends
The Graduate, starring Jerry Hall at the Gielgud, has extended its run and is now booking until 19th February, in spite of generally tepid reviews and rumours that Hall might leave the show.
And so does The King and I
The revival of The King and I at the London Palladium is now booking to 21st April.
Vivian Ellis Prize to be announced this week
The winners of this year's Vivian Ellis Prize for new musicals will be announced on Tuesday afternoon at a gala at the London Palladium.