Judi Dench will return to the Theatre Royal Haymarket – her third production there in five years – to star in Noel Coward's Hay Fever, directed by Sir Peter Hall. The two theatrical legends previously collaborated on The Royal Family in 2001, and Dench returned to the Haymarket for David Hare's The Breath of Life the following year. Amongst her many awards include an Oscar, two Golden Globes, ten BAFTAs, seven Oliviers and a Tony. Her last West End appearance was in All's Well That Ends Well in early 2004. According to the Daily Mail, Peter Bowles and Belinda Lang will join her on stage next spring, with exact dates yet to be confirmed. The plot of Coward's play concerns an actress and her husband as various guests descend on their country house one weekend.
Jerry Springer the Opera has bounced back from its Christian criticism to announce that the proposed UK tour will still go ahead, albeit with a few less venues than before. Originally theatres were threatened by protests from several Christian groups, and as a result 11 pulled out following the television screening in January, when a supposed 50,000 people complained. However 21 regional theatres have now united together with Avalon, the producers, to save the tour after the Arts Council said it wouldn't provide any funding. Composer/co-writer Richard Thomas said 'I am overjoyed Jerry Springer – The Opera is going on tour in spite of such extreme protest. I am also buying a flak jacket. And sticking close to shadows'. The seven-month tour kicks off in Plymouth in January. It is released on DVD on November 14th.
On the Ceiling, with Ralf Little and Ron Cook, has announced a swift closure at the Garrick Theatre. After receiving almost entirely one/two star critiques, with lots of opportunities for mocking puns ('aspires to the ceiling but rarely gets off the ground' - The Guardian), days later it announced its limited season until December 17th would be cut off on October 1st. Penned by Nigel Planer, who starred in the original cast of We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre, and is best known for TV's The Young Ones, the play had an out-of-town tryout in Birmingham, where negative reports were clearly failed to be picked up on. The two-hander is about the painting of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. No further productions have been announced for the Garrick, but with many touring plays looking for West End houses, no doubt something will come along soon.
Mike Leigh's new play Two Thousand Years is to tour the UK after its season at The National Theatre. The play, about a Jewish family living in London, is completely sold out at the Cottesloe, where critics hailed it a great success – 'vintage Leigh' said the Telegraph. Due to its largely improvised rehearsal process, the play was so up to date on opening night it included references to Hurricane Katrina. Apart from day tickets, the only way to get tickets is on eBay, where they're going for almost double their face value. Considered a play focussing on character rather than plot, it will now tour to six venues in 2006, starting in Bath and concluding in Cambridge. Photos of the production can be viewed on the National's website.
And finally, lots of performer news! Frances Ruffelle is to join Joanna Riding for Jason Robert Brown's solo concerts at the New Player's Theatre in December, Wonder Woman Linda Carter has begun performances as MamaMorton in Chicago at the Adelphi until November 22nd, Simon Russell Beale – currently in The Philanthropist at the Donmar - is going to play King Arthur in Spamalot on Broadway, and Nicole Kidman wants to play HeddaGabler in London, despite the fact there has been a very recent, and very successful, West End production.
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