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Post by nottobe on Nov 14, 2023 16:46:27 GMT
Saw this posted on twitter and have a feeling we may get an announcement soon about the rumoured production of Henry IV with Ian McKellen. If this tweet is unrelated I am sorry.
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Post by mattnyc on Nov 14, 2023 17:02:56 GMT
Wouldn’t surprise me. The man will live to be 200 and will still be doing 8 shows a week. He’s incredible.
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Post by teamyali on Nov 14, 2023 17:36:18 GMT
Is this the one that will be helmed by Robert Icke? (Is he still doing Oedipus Rex?)
Saw ATG’s IG stories so this is going to be at an ATG venue. Predictions on where it will be held? Thinking between the Harold Pinter Theatre or Duke of York’s, or Phoenix.
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Post by Fleance on Nov 14, 2023 17:40:53 GMT
Based on his recent Hamlet, I assume he will be playing Prince Hal!  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2023 18:06:17 GMT
Sir Ian at 84 years old is amazing, played that long panto tour, now the two hander in the West End and returning to demanding Shakespeare roles if rumour is true.
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Post by marob on Nov 14, 2023 18:07:21 GMT
Based on his recent Hamlet, I assume he will be playing Prince Hal! And after Hamlet he played Caroline Goose, so maybe we’ll get his Mistress Quickly. 😂 |
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Post by bordeaux on Nov 14, 2023 18:21:27 GMT
I see him more as Henry IV than Falstaff...
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Post by cirque on Nov 14, 2023 18:48:23 GMT
Had hoped this may be part of RSC season under new AD s with Icke directing,
Guess not….would have been excellent statement of intent and then transfer to west end.
Ah well.,,..wait and see.
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Post by Jan on Nov 14, 2023 19:05:46 GMT
I see him more as Henry IV than Falstaff... I see him more as Justice Shallow (a part Olivier famously played). Depends what Robert Icke has in mind of course. |
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Post by Jon on Nov 14, 2023 19:30:35 GMT
Is this the one that will be helmed by Robert Icke? (Is he still doing Oedipus Rex?) Saw ATG’s IG stories so this is going to be at an ATG venue. Predictions on where it will be held? Thinking between the Harold Pinter Theatre or Duke of York’s, or Phoenix. The Phoenix and Harold Pinter won't be available for a while so I don't think it'll them unless it's summer or late 2024. The Ambassadors is free from March but perhaps too small, the Duke of York's is available from April. |
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Post by gfco on Nov 14, 2023 19:45:14 GMT
Original rumour regarding the venue was the Noel Coward.
There's a separate rumour that Kit Connor from Heartstopper is involved, as is David Pugh. It'll be interesting to see what winds up coming together.
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Post by dr on Nov 14, 2023 19:45:58 GMT
The Duke of York's after "An Enemy of the People" is probably the best bet - they're more than used to carrying star vehicles with auteur directors. This will certainly be a hot ticket, and a likely comparison to Brian Cox's "Long Day's Journey into Night," which will be running at a similar time (if this does follow "Enemy.") I think Icke could do something really quite magical with McKellen - hopefully this is announced tomorrow.
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Post by NorthernAlien on Nov 14, 2023 20:38:09 GMT
Original rumour regarding the venue was the Noel Coward. There's a separate rumour that Kit Connor from Heartstopper is involved, as is David Pugh. It'll be interesting to see what winds up coming together. This entire set of rumours is what I tried to subtly enquire about on the 'what's next for' thread a few months ago - trust me when I say that the Heartstopper fandom will be *extremely excited* if this happens... |
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Post by marob on Nov 14, 2023 22:19:01 GMT
Hmm… if that means a ginger prince Henry that’ll make trying to get tickets a nightmare.
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Post by Fleance on Nov 15, 2023 0:06:58 GMT
Just to digress for a moment, I'll never forget the first time I saw Ian McKellen. It was in the Actors Company production of The Wood Demon, in Edinburgh. I was very young, and he inspired my love of Chekhov with that role. He played the role of Kruschov, the Wood Demon, which would morph into the role of Astrov in Uncle Vanya.
I would certainly love to see McKellen in Henry IV, in whatever role he chooses to play.
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Post by theatrefan77 on Nov 15, 2023 1:12:43 GMT
Hope this doesn't end up in an ATG venue. It'd be great at the Noel Coward
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Post by oxfordsimon on Nov 15, 2023 1:33:39 GMT
When I directed these plays (cut together in one play), we doubled Northumberland with Shallow. That would work well for SirIan.
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Post by gfco on Nov 15, 2023 3:28:34 GMT
Sir Ian McKellen is to appear in a new play which blends parts one and two of Shakespeare's Henry IV. The actor will play John Falstaff, a character he has never portrayed despite appearing in a huge number of Shakespeare plays throughout his life. Director Robert Icke's production of Player Kings will play in Manchester and London next year. The production will open in March, playing at the New Wimbledon Theatre and Manchester Opera House, before transferring to the West End for a 12-week run at the Noël Coward Theatre from April to June. www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-67401742 |
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Post by Jan on Nov 15, 2023 7:43:32 GMT
When I directed these plays (cut together in one play), we doubled Northumberland with Shallow. That would work well for SirIan. Olivier doubled Hotspur in Part I and Shallow in Part II. Another time he played Mr Puff in Sheridan's "The Critic" and Oedipus Rex in the same evening. We don't get actors doing flashy doubling like that now - Bertie Carvell should revive the tradition. The plays were famously combined into one by Orson Welles for his film Chimes at Midnight. It worked OK. |
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Post by bordeaux on Nov 15, 2023 7:57:50 GMT
Chimes at Midnight is superb - with a great battle scene even though there were probably a relatively small number of extras.
With any luck, with Icke and McKellen on board, other actors of quality will be attracted.
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Post by mistressjojo on Nov 15, 2023 8:15:53 GMT
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Post by zahidf on Nov 15, 2023 8:17:27 GMT
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Post by Jan on Nov 15, 2023 9:24:16 GMT
Chimes at Midnight is superb Yes it is. As an adaptation of the plays it is OK - it cuts out various quite dull rebellions and so on which give the wider political context and focusses on the main characters and their relationships. As such it is a little bit like the cut versions of Hamlet that we almost always get. |
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Post by Rory on Nov 15, 2023 9:38:23 GMT
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Post by Dave B on Nov 15, 2023 9:39:01 GMT
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Post by parsley1 on Nov 15, 2023 9:41:30 GMT
4 hours with a start time of 18:30
🫣
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 15, 2023 9:41:53 GMT
Manchester Opera House 14-23rd March
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 15, 2023 9:43:33 GMT
Saturdays are matinees only.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Nov 15, 2023 9:56:47 GMT
4 hours is only losing about 40 to 50 minutes of material. That isn't a cut, it is a light trim.
Given how repetitious the plays are, there is no reason why the run time for a cut version should exceed 2hrs 30 including interval. 80 minutes for part one and 60 for part two.
4 hours is cruel on audiences and actors.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Nov 15, 2023 9:59:43 GMT
When I directed these plays (cut together in one play), we doubled Northumberland with Shallow. That would work well for SirIan. Olivier doubled Hotspur in Part I and Shallow in Part II. Another time he played Mr Puff in Sheridan's "The Critic" and Oedipus Rex in the same evening. We don't get actors doing flashy doubling like that now - Bertie Carvell should revive the tradition. The plays were famously combined into one by Orson Welles for his film Chimes at Midnight. It worked OK. I was very much aware of that famous doubling but the project came about when I was chatting to the actor who was playing Lear for me and he said he always wanted to be Shallow and hence the production started to be shaped. A certain Ed Holcroft was the Hotspur in the production... Wonder what happened to him?!! |
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