17th October, 1999
RSC to stage Shakespeare history cycle
The RSC will stage eight of Shakespeare's history plays in chronological order over two seasons next year in all three of the Stratford theatres. Entitled Throne of Kings, the epic cycle covers 100 years of English history. The plays are:
Richard II
Henry IV Part I
Henry IV Part II
Henry V
Henry VI Part I
Henry VI Part II
Henry VI Part III
Richard III
The RSC intends to bring the full cycle to London in 2001.
Honk! for the National
The National Theatre's Christmas play this year, in the Olivier, will be Honk! The Ugly Duckling, a musical based on the Hans Christian Anderson story, with book and lyrics by Anthny Drewe and music by Goge Stiles. It will be directed by Julia McKenzie. She first staged the show - in a different production - at the Stephen Joseph in Scarborough. It will open on 16th December, previewing from 11th.
New third birthday cast for Art
Yasmina Reza's Art celebrated its third birthday last Friday (15th October) and will have its twelfth cast from Tuesday 19th. The new cast will be Edward Woodward as Marc, Peter Egan as Serge and Chris Langham as Yvan.
Millennium Dome film for Reeves
Comic Vic Reeves is to appear in a short so-called Ealing-style comedy The Good Ship Citizen which will support the main film to play in the Millennium Dome throughout 2000, Blackadder Goes Back and Forth. This is Reeve's second excursion into acting this year, after working on an updated Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) with his on-screen partner Bob Mortimer.
Josef Locke dies
Irish tenor Josef Locke, on whose life the film Hear My Song was based, has died, aged 82.
Paul Nicholas in TV comeback
Paul Nicholas makes a return to TV in the New Year when he joins the cast of Sunburn (BBC1), the drama about holiday reps. He joins Michelle Collins, who starred in the first series, and another newcomer to the show, Sean Maguire, another former EastEnders star.
Starring Jim Cartwright
Playwright Jim Cartwright is to star in the premiere of his latest play Prize Night at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. The play runs from 27th October to 20th November. Also in the cast is Anthony Booth.