The Ambassador Theatre Group
Infidelity Fun,frisson -the Pinter double bill After hours Poker with Patrick Marber Alfie Allen Living with Lily
HOTLIST! Cult beauty secrets High School Musical Spring days out Designer style for less
Spring 2008 Things to do,people to see
Jeff Goldblum Hollywood insider www.theambassadors.com
6 ▲
best
1
A must-have Spring miracle for turning back the clock - M Lab, the new anti-ageing secret weapon beloved of celebrities including Tom Ford, Christian Slater, Simon Cowell and Kylie. Harrods 020 730 1234. From £125.
▲ Discover gardens you never knew existed on 7/8 June when many secret London gardens and squares are open to the public. Book from May at www.opensquares.org
▲ 2007 was the best year ever for the West End - sample the thrilling atmosphere at a range of theatres this Spring from Grease at the Piccadilly to Dealer’s Choice at the Trafalgar Studios and Legal Fictions starring Edward Fox at The Savoy Theatre. ▲ The Duchamp, Man Ray, Picabia exhibition at Tate Modern (21 February - 26 May) will ▲ Celebrate the centenary of
include many breathtaking icons
the Society of London Theatre
an inspirational light lunch at
with a new Theatreland
the Tate Modern Cafe.
Walking Tour focusing on
wwwtate.org.uk
its colourful history. Tours
▲
of the
run from April. Book in
Hollywood heart-throb Charlie
advance on 020 7557 6700.
Cox (Stardust) now stars in
of modern art - follow this with
Harold Pinter’s The Lover and The Collection at the Comedy Theatre with Timothy West, Richard Coyle and Gina McKee.
The Ambassador Theatre Group
2 1 3
1 Ham House 2 Kylie Minogue 3 High School Musical
Love Interest
1
Back to School
Sex, infidelity, jealousy - Pinter’s
Teen dreams in
The Lover & The Collection
High School Musical
Art Versus Money
3
9
Style
What’s On in London
11
Luxury looks on a budget
Competition
12
Ways To Go
5 Theatre People
poker with Patrick Marber
Starry after-show parties
7
17
this Spring
Compulsive, addictive -
Naked Ambition
16
Delicious - out and about
Nutcracker!
A Winning Hand
15
Beauty secrets of the stars
A dream ticket - Jeff Goldblum and Kevin Spacey
Tips from the Top
13
A Toast to the West End 14
Alfie Allen dares to
100 years of the Society
bare in Equus
of London Theatre
AMBASSADOR GROUP PRODUCTIONS
AMBASSADOR THEATRE GROUP REGIONAL THEATRES Theatre Royal Brighton 08700 606 650 Churchill Theatre Bromley 0870 060 6620 Kings Theatre Glasgow 0870 060 6648 Theatre Royal Glasgow 0870 060 6647 Milton Keynes Theatre 0870 060 6652 Richmond Theatre 0870 060 6651 Regent Theatre & Victoria Hall Stoke-on-Trent 0870 060 6649 New Wimbledon Theatre & New Wimbledon Studio 0870 060 6646 Ambassadors Cinemas Woking 01483 545945 New Victoria Theatre & Rhoda McGaw Theatre Woking 0870 060 6645 Online booking at www.theambassadors.com Jessamy Hadley Editor Pat Westwell, Jasper Rees, Benedict Nightingale, Al Senter, Victoria Kingston, Kirsty Woodfield, Mark Shenton, Babette Kulik, Dan Hadley, David Bradbury Contributors SWD Design and Art Direction John Good Print The Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd 39 - 41 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H OAR
The views expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd.
Cover photography courtesy of Corbis
AMBASSADOR THEATRE GROUP LONDON THEATRES Comedy Theatre 0870 060 6637 Donmar Warehouse 0870 060 6624 Duke of York’s Theatre 0870 060 6623 Fortune Theatre 0870 060 6626 Phoenix Theatre 0870 060 6629 Piccadilly Theatre 0844 412 6666 Playhouse Theatre 0870 060 6631 Savoy Theatre 0870 164 8787 Trafalgar Studios 0870 060 6632
Interview
Love Interest Timothy West on power games and infidelities in Pinter’s The Lover and The Collection
Above: Richard Coyle, Gina McKee, Charlie Cox and Timothy West Interview by Jasper Rees Photography by 1 7
Sam Taylor-Wood
The Collection, conjoined at
younger man as a great friend
Theatre, when it was first staged.
the Comedy with The Lover,
living in the same house. Pinter
‘Michael Hordern played my part.
is one of Pinter’s compact early
is the most heterosexual thing
I thought of him as being quite
plays about power games and
ever but he understands
an old man when I saw it. He
sexual politics. Timothy West,
homoeroticism. Possibly the
must have been about 45, I
a seasoned Pinterian who
director has been clever in
suppose.’ He chuckles. ‘And
understudied in the original
casting me, because a
I’m now a much older man.’
production of The Birthday
considerably older man with
At 73, West has been part
Party, plays a character whose
an attractive younger partner
of the marrow of the thespian
jealous love for his younger
who is a little bit promiscuous
profession for more years than
housemate was more veiled in
is always wracked with worry
he’d care to remember. He’s had
1962 than it needs to be now.
about how it’s all going
no fewer than three stabs at
to develop.’
Lear, the first in 1971 when he
‘It was just before the
West distinctly remembers
was 37, the most recently in 2005
days it was just an older man
seeing The Collection, in which
for the English Touring Company.
who happened to have a
he is starring at the Comedy
‘The first time two things seemed
Wolfenden Report and in those
remarkably different. The first
say, ‘Oh you’ve never been
there’s a new production of it.
was the whole thing about
better.’ ‘Oh. Haven’t I? That’s
‘I know that play. Can we see a
madness. The general feeling
sad.’ I’ve deliberately tried in
new play?’ And they rarely get
then was, ‘Oh dear, it must be
my life not to do the same
the chance.’
awful to be mad.’ Now there’s
sort of thing next time.’
more a feeling of, ‘I’ve got a
One of the distinctive ways
This is not, of course, the case with Pinter, many of whose
mad chap living down my
in which he tried to be different
lesser-known plays for theatre
street.’ The other thing is the
was by running theatres, first
and television have been eye-
curtailment of his retinue. In
in Billingham in the north-east,
openingly revived in the past
those days they’d say, ‘Poor old
then the Old Vic. Is a job in
two years. ‘You can be sure
sod - he was king after all.’ Now
which you have to cauterise your
you’re not going to see a naff
the reaction is, ‘Well I can’t even
emotions really appropriate
performance. There is a sort of
get anyone to do my garden.’
for an actor who needs ready
Good Housekeeping seal of
access to them? ‘Not really,’
quality attaching to it. The great
famous king. Like his wife
he concedes. ‘It’s an exercise
thing about Pinter is that you’re
Prunella Scales, West is known
in banging your head against
an eavesdropper on a situation
to television audiences for a
a brick wall. You’ve got to have
about which you have no prior
Lear has not been his most
‘
The great thing about Pinter is that you’re an eavesdropper on a situation about which you have no prior knowledge, as you would be in real life if you broke into a room and two people you’d never met before were talking.
’
performance that captured the
an enormous amount of energy
knowledge, as you would be
public imagination. For her it
and an enormous amount of
in real life if you broke into
was Sybil Fawlty. For him it was
self-confidence to do that job.
a room and two people you’d
the Prince of Wales, latterly
It’s much more complex than
never met before were talking.
monarch, in ITV’s epic royal
being an actor or a director.’
What are they talking about?
saga, Edward VII. Is his gratitude
He is pretty buoyant about
Why are they arguing? How well
for the rewards it gave him
the health of theatre, with
do they know each other? Is one
adulterated by frustration at
reservations about the amount
of them lying? Are they both?
being identified with one role?
of new writing produced in the
A conventional dramatist would
West End. ‘I sense that audiences
tell you something beforehand.
chance to play one person from
have seen Shadowlands once,
Pinter wants you to find that
23 to 59 was a bit of a treat. I
they’ve seen The History Boys
out. I don’t know why it is that
looked at it not too long ago
once, they’ve seen Who’s Afraid
suddenly people have become
and it doesn’t look too bad. It’s
of Virginia Woolf? They’re not
aware that he is the major
happened with Pru a bit. People
really excited by the idea that
playwright of our day.’
‘It’s not adulterated at all. The
Timothy West
Comedy Theatre Harold Pinter’s
The Lover and The Collection Starring Richard Coyle, Gina McKee, Charlie Cox and Timothy West Box Office 0870 060 6637 It’s cheaper to book online www.theambassadors.com 2
Interview
Art versus Money Jeff Goldblum on the satirical wit of Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow
It has taken the star of the
opposite Billy Crudup in Martin
swayed him was learning his
three biggest-grossing films of
McDonagh’s play The Pillowman
co-star at the Old Vic would be
all time a while to get back
in 2005. Clearly he rediscovered a
Kevin Spacey.
to theatre. ‘As a kid,’ says Jeff
taste for it, because he is making
Goldblum, ‘I decided early on to
his London debut in Speed-the-
before. We’d met over the years.
be an actor. I’d seen movies but
Plow, David Mamet’s classic
I’d been a big fan of his work.
when I found myself in a theatre
excoriation of Hollywood.
I’d seen him onstage in London
I was very taken with it. I
Interview by Jasper Rees Photography by Ellis Parrinder and 3 7
Manuel Harlan
Goldblum plays Bobby Gould,
‘We’d never worked together
when he did Long Day’s Journey
remember being young and
a producer wrestling with his
into Night with Jack Lemmon.’
wildly curious.’
conscience about adding to the
The other magnet was the way
He had early successes in the
world’s schlockpile of fatuous
director Matthew Warchus talked
1970s in New York. But film - in
gun-toting blockbusters when
about the character. ‘He said
the shape of Robert Altman -
he could be filming a dark,
Bobby is something like Peter
sank its talons in, and he had
apocalyptic novel recommended
Pan. He said, ‘Maybe there’s an
not acted onstage for a quarter
by his serious but comely young
issue with growing up.’ I found
of a century when he was cast
secretary. One of the things that
myself getting kind of choked
Goldblum’s research took him to Germany and Israel. He also interviewed concentration camp survivors, studied the violin (he is an accomplished jazz pianist) and the behaviour of dogs. It’s certainly his biggest stretch since The Fly marked him out as Hollywood’s kookiest leading male in the late 1980s and cast him as the boffin who saves the planet in two Jurassic Park films and Independence Day. ‘I had a good experience on all those films,’ he says. ‘I never felt trapped casting-wise and even though there were dinosaurs around and I was playing a certain kind of part they were interesting experiences.’ Is there any rumour in the alluring prospect of Goldblum returning one last time in the putative Jurassic Park 4? ‘I hear a rumour,’ he says, ‘but I know nothing more about it than you do.’ As ever, it’ll be up to the producers to decide. up, just the way he was talking
about this and he said, ‘Phooey,
about it.’
that’s why I like writing for the
Of course it makes sense for
Old Vic Theatre
Speed-the-Plow Directed by Matthew Warchus Starring Jeff Goldblum, Laura Michelle Kelly and Kevin Spacey Booking until 26 April 2008 Box Office 0870 060 6628 Online booking at www.theambassadors.com
theatre, because nobody is over
actors who know the Hollywood
my shoulder wanting a little
system inside out to inhabit
more here and there.’ Hence Goldblum’s return to
the roles. On the basis of his extensive experience, film
the boards. There hasn’t been
producers are not as a breed
a huge amount to keep him
to Goldblum’s taste.
interested in film in recent years.
‘I think it’s a cliché to say that there’s only one kind of producer
The big roles he landed in The Fly, Earth Girls Are Easy and The Tall Guy two decades ago have
‘
I esteem people who can make lovely things, who spend their days being expressive and free-spirited in the world of the arts.
’
because in my experience it’s not
been thinner on the ground in recent years. And yet he has just finished filming what he describes as ‘hands down the most challenging and juiciest part I’ve ever had in the cinema’. Adam Resurrected was directed by Paul Schrader from a 1971 novel by the Israeli writer Yoram Kaniuk. ‘It’s about a mental institution
true. There are all sorts of other
for concentration camp survivors
types. The job description is
in Israel in the middle of the
liquid and some of them are
desert. In flashbacks you see
intelligent people of integrity,
that my character was a Jewish
passions, human interest, fine
entertainer, mind reader,
character. But I avoid places
violinist, animal impersonator
where cigar-smoking types are.
and big star in Berlin. I lose my
I don’t know anything about
family in the camps and lose my
the stock market, I’m not a
mind. One of the things that
gambler, I don’t esteem people
Willem Dafoe - who plays the
with money, I esteem people
camp commandant - makes me
who can make lovely things, who
do to survive is impersonate a
spend their days being expressive
dog for the year and a half.
and free-spirited in the world of
When I get to this institute I say
the arts. I told Martin McDonagh
I can never be around any dogs.’
4
Interview
A Winning Hand Playwright Patrick Marber goes back to poker school
Patrick Marber was on strike
Above: Ross Boatman, Malcolm Sinclair, Samuel Barnett, Roger Lloyd Pack, Stephen Wight and Jay Simpson Interview by Benedict Nightingale Photography by Nobby Clarke 5
and Dan Wooller
But perhaps that will give him
to finish it.’ Marber may be a sporadic
when we met for a chat about
more time for his greatest love -
his play Dealer’s Choice in a
the theatre. After all, a play is
dramatist but he’s also an
caff beside Barbican tube. He’s
overdue. Though his updating
exceptionally fine one, as Samuel
an accomplished screenwriter,
of Moliere’s Don Juan was a big
West’s revival of Dealer’s Choice
responsible for movies ranging
success at the Donmar in 2006,
at the Trafalgar Studios reminds
from Notes on a Scandal to
he’s had no original stage work
us. The play involves a poker
the movie version of his own
performed since Howard Katz in
school in a London restaurant,
brilliant Closer, and a member
2001. ‘For the last three or four
which makes its revival
of the embattled Hollywood
years I’ve been working on three
particularly apt, since it began
Screenwriters Guild. The moment
different ideas. And, yes, I’m
its current run in Southwark’s
they decided to defy the LA
blowing at them in the hope
little Menier, which has its own
producers, Marber stopped work
that one will catch fire and tell
excellent in-house eaterie and,
halfway through adapting Ian
me that it urgently insists on
in David Babani, an artistic
McEwan’s Saturday for the
being written. And then it’ll
supremo who has played poker
cinema.
take me only a couple of months
with Marber and approached
him for permission to restage the
dramatist made a pivotal change
piece. Nor do the connections
after the finished piece had been
end there. Ross Boatman, who
announced for the Cottesloe.
is still playing the chef Sweeney
Only then did the character of
at the Trafalgar Studios, is a
Ash, the professional poker-
professional poker whizz and
player (here played by Roger
Sam West once ran a poker
Lloyd Pack from Only Fools and
school whose members included
Horses), appear to bring a bit
Marber himself.
of plot to a play that was then
Marber says that the legend
a slice of life. And the result was
that he’s lost five-figure sums
a critically acclaimed success in
at the poker table (‘the most was
1995: ‘Originally I identified with
two grand’) is untrue and that
the son against the father, but 12
his addiction to the game isn’t
years on I see it from the father’s
what it was. But he still plays live
perspective. He can’t find a way
once a month and rather more
to make his son a better person
often online, and, he ruefully
and has to accept what I now
admits, is too ill-disciplined to
know is true. You don’t really
have had much success recently.
know your children. They’re
But the sums involved are now
people in their own right. You
relatively small, for he has three
can guide and steer, but finally
small children, has relocated
they own themselves.’
from London to East Sussex and
Marber is a pleasant, wry, wary
finds that his attitudes to poker,
43-year-old who, his friends say,
money and Dealer’s Choice have
has his aloof, inscrutable side.
changed with marriage,
In his time he’s been a stand-up
responsibility and country life.
comic and a serious depressive:
‘
All my characters are dreaming of breaking out of prison to some other life, some more soulful version of themselves that’s just out of reach. They’re seeking for something real, true and pure and find themselves stuck in the mire.
in all my work,’ he goes on ‘the recognition that you can’t escape yourself. All my characters are dreaming of breaking out of prison to some other life,
’
some more soulful version of themselves that’s just out of reach. They’re seeking for
which is perhaps why Dealer’s
something real, true and
his three original plays, brought
Choice is a comedy that, he says,
pure - and find themselves
as an idea to the National’s
takes a grimmer view of life than
stuck in the mire’.
Richard Eyre, who admired
he holds now. ‘The characters are
Marber’s scripts for Alan
all mugs, losers. They need each
he describes playwriting as
Partridge and other radio shows.
other and they need the game,
‘going into a sort of cave and
Eyre was aghast when the
they’re addicted to defeat. It’s
excavating dark things’ and
Dealer’s Choice was the first of
No wonder, perhaps, that Patrick Marber
rather wishes he’d adopted a pen name that would distinguish between Marber the gritty dramatist and Marber the happier man. ‘I feel them to be two slightly different people. They know each other and they’re not always on good terms.’ But he’s clearly far from displeased at successes, particularly with Closer, that have brought him international recognition. ‘I still can’t quite believe it’s happened. The gulf between being a kid out of college and eight years later being a performed playwright
Trafalgar Studios 14 Whitehall, London SW1A 2DY
Dealer’s Choice by Patrick Marber Starring Samuel Barnett, Ross Boatman, Roger Lloyd Pack, Jay Simpson, Malcolm Sinclair and Stephen Wight Directed by Samuel West Box Office 0870 060 6632
at the National seemed unbridgable. The theatre was like a citadel I couldn’t possibly
It’s cheaper to book online www.theambassadors.com
storm - but actually it has been very welcoming.’
6
Interview
Naked Ambition The Allen dynasty’s latest star - Alfie Allen
The young man threading
complexities of the role in what
scene. Her album, Alright, Still
his way through the Saturday
is his professional stage debut.
sold nearly two million copies
morning crowds appears
Interview by Al Senter Photography by 7
Uli Webber
Alfie certainly has a first class
as well as immortalising Alfie
indistinguishable from the other
show business pedigree. His
as a lazy lie-a-bed, a charge he
twentysomethings on this North
father Keith, the actor, Comic
indignantly denies. ‘At the time
London street. Yet no less an
Strip veteran, documentary-
the song was written, I was in
authority than Daniel Craig has
maker and notorious scallywag,
Canada learning to snowboard’
predicted a bright screen future
has most recently been
he points out, ‘But I suppose
for Alfie Allen, currently on
terrorising the nation’s children
that people will have that pre-
tour as the troubled teenager,
as the villainous Sheriff of
conception of me now, just in
Alan Strang, in Equus.
Nottingham in the BBC’s Robin
the same way that they seem to
Hood. Alfie’s mother, Alison
think that I’m trying to jump on
headed at all the attention
Owen, is a leading independent
Lily’s bandwagon. I'm not. I have
coming his way. He is
film producer and Alfie’s elder
always wanted to be an actor.’
concentrating on the task in
sister Lily is currently one of
hand - doing full justice to the
the hottest talents on the music
Alfie is refreshingly level-
It’s fair to say that Lily’s lyrics need updating. Alfie has been
up with the lark, reporting for
I was allowed to join the actors
duty on a succession of high
for a game of role-playing. It
profile television and film
was then that Matt’s character
engagements. For the BBC, he’s
of Dafydd, the only gay in the
completed Casualty 1907 and
village, was created. I remember
appeared in Joe’s Palace, one of
thinking then that I wanted
the two recent films by Stephen
to be an actor.’
Poliakoff. In the cinema he made
Alfie and girlfriend Jaime
a favourable impression in
Winstone, daughter of screen
Atonement and was reportedly
star Ray, have become something
spotted by Peter Shaffer, the
of a golden couple as far as the
author of Equus. ‘To test my
tabloids and the celebrity
punctuality, David Pugh, the
magazines are concerned. Does
producer of Equus, invited me
Alfie enjoy the media spotlight?
to the Wolseley to have breakfast
‘I hate it!’ he exclaims with
with him and Peter Shaffer at
obvious depth of feeling. ‘I’ve
eight o’clock one morning.’ he
always hated the West End club
‘
Lily always wanted to be a singer. But she wasn’t sure that she could write songs as well. Now she’s come on in leaps and bounds. My Dad has been a huge influence on me but I’d never work with him.
’
reports. ‘When they arrived at
scene. I’d much rather go down
the restaurant, they found me
the local with my mates or stay
sitting at the table. I’d already
in and watch a DVD.’
ordered.’ Alfie’s film career began when
Those hoping for the Allen dynasty to work together on
he made a fleeting appearance
a project may have to exercise
in his mother’s production of
a little patience. ‘Lily always
Elizabeth. ‘My most exciting
wanted to be a singer. But she
experience was seeing Eric
wasn’t sure that she could write
Cantona on the set. He played
songs as well. Now she’s come
for Manchester United, of
on in leaps and bounds. My Dad
life brings’ he says. ‘For me,
course, and I’m an Arsenal fan
has been a huge influence on me
acting is not about winning
but it was still a great moment.’
but I’d never work with him. For
prizes or making huge amounts
one thing, he’d always be telling
of money - although it’s great
father, however, that really
me what to do. For another,
to be comfortable. It’s about
crystallised his ambition to
he’d still be my Dad and I don’t
doing good work and earning
become an actor. ‘Dad would
know if I could accept him
the respect and appreciation
take me with him on his nights
as the character. I’d love to
of people who are close to
out and once I went with him
work with Jaime, though.’
you. Acting is where my heart
It was a weekend with his
when he was filming a pilot for
For Alfie, the future is an
is and I’m open to all ideas.
Channel 4’ Alfie recalls. ‘David
exciting but blank canvas; acting
With Equus, I now have a
Walliams and Matt Lucas (Little
will hopefully give it shape and
chance to prove myself.’
Britain) were in it and that night
substance. ‘I want to see what
Equus Theatre Royal, Glasgow 12 - 16 Feb 2008 Box Office 0870 060 6647
Milton Keynes Theatre 17 - 22 Mar 2008 Box Office 0870 060 6652
Theatre Royal, Brighton 21 - 26 Apr 2008 Box Office 08700 606 650
Richmond Theatre 19 - 24 May 2008 Box Office 0870 060 6651 Online booking at www.theambassadors.com 8
Backstage
Back to School The stage version of the smash-hit Disney phenomenon - High School Musical
Love is in the air, and it conquers
Feature by Victoria Kingston Photography by Joan Marcus and Tristram Kenton
newcomer. They discover a
rehearsals with the director,
shared passion for singing, but
fashion. The proof is the wild
Jeff Calhoun and stars Lorna
when they sign up for the lead
and enthusiastic acclaim heaped
Want and Ashley Day, who play
roles in the school musical, their
on the new stage version of
the high school sweethearts
peers don’t like it. The opposing
High School Musical, the first
Gabriella and Troy. They are
‘jocks’ and ‘brainiacs’ soon hatch
to tour Britain - and right now
both struggling with bad colds.
plans to break them up. But they
playing to packed houses across
‘We’re trying not to pass them
defy peer group pressure, risk all
the country. We’ve had the
on,’ laughs Laura. ‘We’ve been
for their dreams and each other -
Disney movie, the smash hit
pretending to kiss, but we still
and inspire other students to
CD soundtrack, the DVD - and
get pretty close, so I don’t think
make the leap. ‘It has integrity,’
the stage show has broken all
we’ve been that successful.’
says director Jeff. ‘It isn’t just for
The show is a contemporary
kids - it has an edge.’ The cast are
Photographs are from
records in America. Now it’s here
the national touring
- to the delight of pre-teen girls -
musical about Troy, a popular
so young, I point out. ‘I know,’
and some boys for that matter -
high school basketball star
Jeff laughs. ‘The oldest is 25 -
everywhere.
and Gabriella, a shy, academic
and I’m this really old guy in
production of Disney’s 9 7
I meet up during frantic
all and it never goes out of
High School Musical
his forties. But they need to be young and fit - there’s no let-up in this show. It’s a rollercoaster ride eight times a week.’ Both Lorna and Ashley were thrilled to get such coveted roles. ‘It didn’t sink in for ages,’ says Lorna. ‘It’s such a huge phenomenon.’ Ashley, rising to the challenge of a basketball hero, says: ‘I hadn’t given a thought to the ten-year-old girls who are in love with Troy from the movie but it’s a factor. Troy is a cool guy but there’s more to him than that - he’s sensitive. It’s hard for boys to talk about their feelings - it’s scary. You could lose all your friends in a second. But Troy bravely does just that. It’s a great part.’ Ashley has a lot in common with Troy. ‘I was at primary school, doing tap classes in the evening, scared of the other kids finding out. I wish I had seen this
the classics’ agrees Jeff. Lorna
an honest story with real people.
musical when I was ten because
has given this some thought.
Put that with the wonderful
its message is - it’s okay to do
‘Maybe it sounds cheesy, but it
songs and you have a
whatever you want to do. I
tells children, who have so many
sensational show.’
feel I’m playing someone close
questions about identity, that
to home.’
you can be your own person,
‘
‘In the United States, the soundtrack was number one
Troy is a cool guy but there’s more to him than that - he’s sensitive. It’s hard for boys to talk about their feelings - it’s scary. You could lose all your friends in a second. But Troy bravely does just that. It’s a great part.
’
not follow the crowd. Gabriella
record of the year,’ Jeff adds.
its setting of an American high
is clever, she loves school and
‘It topped record sales of the
school reminds us of Grease but
singing - and she rises above
Beatles. But without the
it also has a Romeo and Juliet
the cruel stereotype of being
compelling story, it wouldn’t
aspect to it, not to mention West
a ‘geek’. She meets Troy and
have taken off. In this cynical
Side Story. ‘It’s a smorgasbord of
he gives her confidence. It’s
world, when you keep reading
Disney’s
about rehab for all the stars, it’s
High School Musical
The musical has many echoes:
Lorna Want and Ashley Day
nice to think such an innocent world exists. This show is for the
New Victoria Theatre, Woking
poets, the idealists. It’s also very
17 - 29 Mar 2008 Box Office 08700 606 645
modern. Gabriella doesn’t have to change in order to attract Troy - he loves her as she is. No pretences. I like that.’ So, on the night, what do
Richmond Theatre 7 - 12 April 2008 Box Office 0870 060 6651
the trio hope the audience will
Milton Keynes Theatre
get from the show? ‘It will bring
9 - 14 June 2008 Box Office 0870 060 6652
young people to the theatre maybe for the first time,’ says Lorna. ‘And that’s a good thing.
New Wimbledon Theatre
hope they feel that.’ Jeff hopes
16 - 21 June 2008 Box Office 0870 060 6646
for something creative. ‘I want
Kings Theatre, Glasgow
them to leave the theatre with
4 - 16 Aug 2008 Box Office 0870 060 6648
Love keeps the world positive - I
more energy than when they came in. I want them to leave the theatre singing and dancing and feeling great. Yes, that’ll do.’
Online booking at www.theambassadors.com 10
What’s On
A
B
C
D
E
F
Ambassador Group London Theatres and Productions
COMEDY THEATRE 0870 060 6637
PICCADILLY THEATRE 0844 412 6666
The Lover & The Collection
Grease
By Harold Pinter Starring Richard Coyle, Gina McKee, Charlie Cox and Timothy West ★★★★ ‘Sex, lies and Pinter. Exquisite’ Evening Standard
Starring Danny Bayne as Danny and Susan McFadden as Sandy ‘It’s Electrifyin’. GO, GO, GO!’ Sky
DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE 0870 060 6623 G
H
I
J
A Grease B The Lover & The Collection C Ring Round The Moon D Blood Brothers E The Magic Flute F Dealer’s Choice G Legal Fictions H World’s End I The Woman in Black J The Man who had all the luck
Studio 2 has been made possible by a generous donation from Christina Smith
11
Mozart’s
The Magic Flute
Impempe Yomlingo ‘An explosion of joy from the townships of South Africa’ Daily Telegraph
DONMAR WAREHOUSE 0870 060 6624
The Man who had all the Luck By Arthur Miller From 28 Feb - 5 April
PLAYHOUSE THEATRE 0870 060 6631
Ring Round The Moon By Jean Anouilh Starring Angela Thorne, Belinda Lang and Leigh Lawson
SAVOY THEATRE 0870 164 8787
Legal Fictions A comedy by John Mortimer Starring Edward Fox Previews from 21 Feb
TRAFALGAR STUDIO 1 0870 060 6632 FORTUNE THEATRE 0870 060 6626
The Woman in Black
Dealer’s Choice
‘A brilliant spine-chiller’ The Guardian
By Patrick Marber Starring Roger Lloyd Pack ‘A fiercely good night out’ Daily Express
PHOENIX THEATRE 0870 060 6629
TRAFALGAR STUDIO 2 0870 060 6632
Willy Russell’s
Blood Brothers
‘Brings the audience to its feet and roaring its approval’ Daily Mail
World’s End A new play by Paul Sellar From 20 Feb - 8 Mar Full season details; www.theambassadors.com/trafalgarstudios
DeliciousDance forSpring
Competition
Win family tickets for a night of magical fantasy
4 family tickets to give away!
Matthew Bourne’s
Nutcracker! Milton Keynes Theatre 12 - 16 Feb 2008 Box Office 0870 060 6652
Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent 4 - 8 Mar 2008 Box Office 0870 060 6649
Theatre Royal, Glasgow 11 - 15 Mar 2008 Box Office 0870 060 6647
New Victoria Theatre, Woking 1 - 5 Apr 2008 Box Office 0870 060 6645
Churchill Theatre, Bromley 6 - 10 May 2008 Box Office 0870 060 6620 Online booking at www.theambassadors.com
New Adventures and
This delicious theatrical feast
To win a family ticket for
Ambassador Theatre Group’s
has family-sized helpings of
the show at the ATG venue of
much loved production of
Matthew Bourne’s trademark
your choice, simply answer the
Four winners will be drawn at
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker! is
wit, pathos and magical fantasy.
following question:
random after the closing date.
one of the most popular dance
Nutcracker! follows Clara’s
productions ever staged. In
bittersweet journey from a
Q: Who designed the sets and
ticket for four people (max. 2
December, the show returned
hilariously bleak Christmas Eve
costumes for Matthew Bourne’s
adults) for Matthew Bourne’s
to Sadler’s Wells for a
at Dr. Dross’ Orphanage, through
Nutcracker!?
recordbreaking fifth Christmas
a shimmering, ice-skating winter
season. Now Matthew Bourne’s
wonderland to the scrumptious
Please return your answer, not
Royal Glasgow, New Victoria
Nutcracker! is set to tour ATG
candy kingdom of Sweetieland.
forgetting your name, address,
Theatre Woking or The Churchill
telephone number and preferred
in Bromley and are subject to
venues throughout the UK this
Tchaikovsky’s glorious score and
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Each prize includes a family
Nutcracker! (Monday - Thursday performances) at the Regent Theatre Stoke-on-Trent, Theatre
Spring and we have four family
Anthony Ward’s unforgettable
venue to Kirsty Woodfield, The
availability. Winners will be
tickets to give away - one each
sets and costumes combine with
Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd,
notified by Friday 14 March
for The Regent Theatre Stoke-
sizzling choreography to create
24 Neal Street, London, WC2H
on-Trent, Theatre Royal Glasgow,
a fresh, hip and charmingly
9QW before Mon 10 Mar 08
value. Not open to employees of
New Victoria Theatre Woking
irreverent interpretation of
(Fri 29 Feb 08 for Regent
Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd.
and The Churchill in Bromley.
the traditional ballet favourite.
Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent).
Editor’s decision is final.
2008. Prize is non-transferable and non-redeemable for a cash
12
▲ ▲
(Clockwise from top left)
Dealer’s Choice party
Bob Geldof
(Clockwise from top left)
Nigel Harman
David Babani & Derren Brown
Prunella Scales
Jake Rudman & Felicity Kendal
& Timothy West
Ross Boatman, Malcolm Sinclair,
Emilia Fox
Samuel Barnett, Patrick Marber, Roger Lloyd Pack, Stephen Wight & Jay Simpson
▲
The Lover and The Collection party
Rent party (Clockwise from top left)
Graham Norton Rupert Everett Kylie Minogue Will Young
Theatre People The stars came out this winter for a trio of glamorous parties
In October, a packed A-list
Siobhan Donaghy and other
The Collection was held at the
gathering followed the opening
bright young things. In
fabulous Adam Street private
of Rent at the Duke of York’s
December, the Empire Casino
members club. Rock star and
Theatre. Director William Baker
was the fitting setting for the
campaigner Bob Geldof joined
welcomed pop princess Kylie
Dealer’s Choice after-show party
actors Charlie Cox, Nigel Harman,
Minogue and film star Rupert
where guests included Felicity
Timothy West, Stephen Mangan
Everett and they were joined
Kendal, Norman Pace and Derren
and Emilia Fox in the vaults of
by Will Young, Graham Norton,
Brown. And to open 2008 with
this atmospheric building that
Dan Wooller, and
Fearne Cotton and Duncan James
style, a first night party for
once boasted actor David
Limelight Studios
along with Denise van Outen,
Harold Pinter’s The Lover and
Garrick as a tenant.
Photography by 13
2008 is the centenary year of what is now known as the Society of London Theatre, the umbrella organisation of West End theatre owners and producers that make London unquestionably the theatrical capital of the Western world. There’s plenty to celebrate: the Society recently reported the West End’s biggest-ever turn-out last year with over 13.5 million people seeing a show there, 1.25 million more than previously - many of whom were first-time attenders. ‘The theatre capital of the world continues to come up with shows that the public want to see.’ says Rosemary Squire OBE, current President of the Society. ‘I’m delighted to preside over our centenary year and am looking forward to celebrating one of our country’s great success stories. Theatre in the
launched in 1997) to special
letter was issued to all theatre
capital has shown itself to be
promotions like the annual Kids
proprietors about the threat
a great survivor - continuing to
Week (taking place in August)
posed to them by the cinema.
enthral audiences and flourish
offering free and discounted
After 1923 there was an even
through good times and bad.’
tickets to West End shows for
bigger threat: the arrival of
AToast to the West End! The Society of London Theatre celebrates its centenary The Society does an exemplary job of ensuring that the public
the audiences of the future. In a constantly changing
a television in every household, which the theatres responded
gets to hear about what it has
world, the Society ensures
to by declaring their total
to offer from London theatre
that its theatres still take centre
opposition to the new BBC.
guides (the first of which was
stage. Just three years after the
published as long ago as 1922)
Society was founded in 1908,
initially resistant to progress,
and its well-trafficked website
it met its first challenge with
they also had to keep moving
(officiallondontheatre.co.uk,
the rise of ‘picture palaces’ - a
with the times, even as larger
However, if the theatres were
external threats were seen off. During the First World War adaptability was key - and shows were trimmed by 30 minutes in 1917 to save electricity and help the war effort. More recently, in 2001 the combined effects of 9/11 and Foot and Mouth led to
Rosemary Squire OBE Charles Wyndham
a disastrous fall in attendances but through the Society’s campaigns to put London theatre at the centre of the capital’s life, audiences returned. The Society promotes the best of the year’s theatre during the prestigious Laurence Olivier Awards every March. But it deserves its own pat on the back as it reaches its 100th anniversary
Piccadilly Theatre
Feature by Mark Shenton
since Sir Charles Wyndham -
Photography by
immortalised in the theatre
Stephanie Methven
that bears his name - founded it.
and Chris Ridley
14
Style
Tips from theTop Discover a gorgeous new you this Spring - with the help of these celebrity beauty essentials
1
2
3
1 Bobbi Brown ‘Long wear cream eye shadow’ £16 At last - an eye shadow that stays on and doesn’t crease! Fans - Jennifer Beale, Jennifer Aniston
2 Nars mascara £16
4
5
Faux Glow! A favourite with Madonna and Jennifer Lopez for that all-important sunkissed look, Fake Bake is the sun accessory
This lengthening mascara creates thick, lush lashes.
of the glitterati. This wonder-
Fan - Elle Macpherson
tan in a bottle moisturises and hydrates without a hint
3 Laura Mercier oil-free foundation £32 An Instyle award winner, this fabulous foundation is
of orange but best of all it smells divine! From £14.
oil-free and comes in natural yellow-based colours for Bobbi Brown
a ‘no make-up’ look. Fan - Eva Longoria
bobbibrown.co.uk Nars narscosmetics.co.uk
4 Aveda lip tint £10 In a fabulous range of colours, this not only gives a sheer tint for a natural look but moisturises too. Fan - Kate Hudson
Laura Mercier spacenk.co.uk
This lip-plumping product won the Good Housekeeping
aveda.co.uk
Seal of Approval. Fans - Jessica Simpson, Carmen Electra
Lip Fusion skinstore.co.uk
15
5 Lip Fusion micro-injected lip plumper £31.50
Aveda
6 Benefit Bad Gal eyeliner £12.50 For smouldering ‘come-hither’ eyes, this eyeliner is the
Benefit
best. Defines the eyes like no other, long-lasting with
houseoffraser.co.uk
a velvety finish. Fans - Kirsten Dunst and Katie Holmes
6
fakebakeonline.co.uk
Designer names for less Spotlight on the High Street - for serious Spring style
John Richmond top £30 and trousers £45 John Rocha dress £45 H&M scarf £7.99 H&M knitted purple dress £19.99 and necklace £5.99
Get set for a colourful and eclectic new fashion season on the High Street! If prints are your thing you’ll be spoiled for choice, if you like colour you won’t be disappointed - particularly if you’re partial to the odd designer item. This Spring H&M launches ‘Fashion Against Aids’ a delicious collection of clothes designed and inspired by the likes of Timbaland, Rufus Wainwright and Katherine Hamnett. Spring is in the air - so go snaffle a bargain!
Bags of style
£45
£14.9
£65
9
H&M John Richmond
John Rocha
H&M
0207 323 2211 hm.com
Psst... Cult Beauty
John Rocha and John Richmond at Debenhams
Be the first to know about the
debenhams.com
best beauty products with the
0844 561 6161
launch of this new online boutique. Billed as ‘the first true beauty
All prices quoted are given
democracy’ the site will be easily
as a guide only and may
navigable with searches by
be subject to change
product name, awards, best user
by individual retailers.
ratings, celebrity fans and editor
Feature by
accolades. cultbeauty.co.uk
Babette Kulik
16
Going Out
Kew Gardens
Ham House
Ways To Go Days out to discover this Spring
Green Spaces
Falling in Love Again
King Charles I escaped the
Kitchen, and regular columnist
Just the two of you, out in a
plague by moving to Richmond,
for the Independent on Sunday.
boat on the Serpentine Lake:
and you can still fill your lungs
At lunchtime you can find tea,
he pulls manfully on the oars,
with clean air here: it’s the great
cake, soup and sourdough bread
she trails a hand in the water -
outdoors for Londoners, but
in the Tea House - and there’s
you get the picture. Boat hire in
with transport and credit card
also a fabulous restaurant.
Hyde Park starts our trail of love
facilities.
Petersham Nurseries, as the
in the capital - or if it’s raining
name suggests, is heaven for
you could always catch one of
Ham House, a Stuart mansion
gardeners: with bulbs and
the temporary exhibitions of
on the banks of the Thames.
seasonal bedding, books, tools,
contemporary art in the
unusual herbaceous perennials
Serpentine Gallery.
Start at the National Trust’s
and ornamental trees on sale. From this northern corner of Richmond Park, head down to
romantic conversation so we
the river and take the Thames
suggest afternoon tea in The
Path around the edge of
Promenade at the Dorchester
Ham House and Garden
Richmond itself. A two mile walk
Hotel, voted top tiffin by the
Ham Street, Ham,
takes you to where Kew Gardens
Tea Council and surely one of the
meets the river: cut up to the
most special places to eat a scone
Kew Road and enter the gardens
in the world. It’s intimate, warm
by the Lion Gate. Spend the
and sophisticated, and you can
afternoon enjoying the spring
be sure that the yards of golden
Richmond-upon-Thames TW10 7RS 020 8940 1950 nationaltrust.org.uk petershamnurseries.com kew.org thedorchester.com
Richmond Theatre There is a sumptuous 17th century interior to see (complete
bulbs, the hothouses, and those fantastic Kew trees. And in the evening, one of
with resident ghosts), but
the most beautiful of Frank
perhaps more importantly for
Matcham’s historic theatres is
artscouncil.org.uk/
us, on this fine Spring day, a
not far away. Richmond Theatre
takeitaway/
beautiful formal garden and
welcomes around a quarter of
wilderness area where you
a million theatregoers to over
can stretch your legs.
40 outstanding productions
danacentre.org.uk lrbshop.co.uk thegate.tv 17
Vast meals are not necessarily the best accompaniment to
spachancerycourt.com
Petersham Nurseries is just up the road, and a great place for
every year. Join them to round off your day.
lunch. The head chef here is Skye Gingell, author of A Year in My
The Promenade, Dorchester Hotel
Petersham Nurseries
Renaissance Chancery Court spa
A Spring in Your Step drapery will hush any sweet
It’s a time of renewal - and you
its menu nevertheless leads
nothings you care to whisper.
too can put forth new shoots.
us into temptation: grilled
The Arts Council’s Take it Away
aubergine, for example, layered
you might want to end the
scheme aims to encourage
with cheese, pesto and peppers,
afternoon with a wedding
people of all ages to learn an
served with dauphinoise
(if you’re not married already).
instrument, by offering interest
potatoes and horseradish.
There are some fantastic
free loans towards the purchase
wedding venues in the capital -
of your chosen tool - be it piano,
couples can tie the knot in The
marimba or nose flute.
If things are going really well,
Science Museum, The Groucho Club - even Chelsea Football Club.
Or just think new thoughts. The Dana Centre in Kensington is a place for adults to think and talk about science and technology: it’s a stylish, purpose-built space, more café-
Richmond Theatre
bar than night school. Recent
Box Office 0870 060 6651
events include a discussion of the
Comedy Theatre
science of sleep, and even standup comedy. Evening events at the
The Groucho Club And at night? For witty and
The Gate
London Review Bookshop tend
And later on take part in
towards arts and social politics -
the revolution that’s shaking
or you could just read a book
the West End - enjoy fresh,
in their lovely new café.
stimulating approaches to
For bodily rejuvenation try
theatre by sampling one of
the spa at Renaissance Chancery
a selection of new productions
revealing insights into married
Court in Bloomsbury for a luxury,
at Trafalgar Studio 2 - just off
life visit the West End’s Comedy
Eastern-flavoured treat,
Trafalgar Square. Offerings
Theatre to see Harold Pinter’s
including massage, de-tox,
this season include Sweet
The Lover and The Collection
exfoliation, and ayurvedic
William starring Michael
starring Richard Coyle, Gina
treatments.
Pennington, World’s End by
McKee, Charlie Cox and Timothy West.
A vegetarian meal puts the
Paul Sellar, Snowbound by
seal on your newly attained well-
Ciaran McConville and Hello
being: especially at The Gate in
and Goodbye by Athol Fugard.
The Lover and The Collection by Harold Pinter Starring Richard Coyle, Gina McKee, Charlie Cox and Timothy West Box Office 0870 060 6637
Trafalgar Studios 2 14 Whitehall, London SW1A 2DY Box Office 0870 060 6632 Online booking at www.theambassadors.com
Hammersmith. The restaurant
Feature by
is in a converted church, but
Dan Hadley
18
THE No.1 GREATEST MUSICAL 100 GREATEST MUSICALS, CHANNEL 4
®
PICCADILLY THEATRE 0844 412 6666
(24hrs)
greasethemusical.co.uk
“THIS IS IT - THE PLAY
“IF YOU HAVEN’T
THAT WILL REMIND
YET SEEN THIS PLAY, YOU SHOULD NOW!”
YOU WHY WE GO TO THE THEATRE.
UNMISSABLE”
Evening Standard
Daily Telegraph
Direction Samuel West
Samuel Barnett
Ross Boatman
0870 060 6632
Design tom piper
Roger Lloyd Pack
Lighting neil austin
Jay Simpson
Malcolm Sinclair
Stephen Wight
IT’S CHEAPER TO BOOK ONLINE
bkg fee
www.dealerschoicetheplay.com
14 Whitehall, London SW1
'HILARIOUS... EDWARD FOX IS AN ABSOLUTE DELIGHT' Daily Mail
★★★★
‘SEX, LIES AND PINTER. EXQUISITE’ EVENING STANDARD
★★★★
‘EXPLOSIVELY FUNNY’ THE INDEPENDENT
★★★★
‘IMMENSELY SATISFYING. HUGELY ENJOYABLE’ EXPRESS
‘JET-BLACK COMIC THRILLER’ VARIETY
★★★★
‘SHARPLY COMIC’ THE GUARDIAN
★★★★
‘SEE THE PLAY, ENJOY IT. IMMACULATE’ THE TIMES
Edward Fox
Nicholas Woodeson
Polly Adams
in
A Comedy by John Mortimer ‘A REAL TREAT OF WIT AND HUMANITY’ Daily Telegraph
‘ EDWARD FOX’S PERFORMANCE IS PRICELESS’ Sunday Times
Savoy Theatre 0870 164 8787 www.theambassadors.com/savoy Opens 21st February 2008 Presented by Theatre Royal Bath Productions
RICHARD GINA CHARLIE COYLE McKEE COX AND TIMOTHY WEST
HAROLD PINTER’S THE LOVER THE
COLLECTION COMEDY THEATRE 0870 060 6637 IT’S CHEAPER TO BOOK ONLINE AT THEAMBASSADORS.COM /COMEDY