Exit the King marks the first time Eugène Ionesco work has been performed at the National. Playing on the vast Olivier stage, this absurdist play features a cast of just six actors, an intimate staging.
One of those is actress Debra Gillett, making her return to the National. With the production opening tomorrow, Debra shares how rehearsals have been going and looks ahead to how Exit the King will resonate with audiences and actors alike.
The great tragicomedy EXIT THE KING is brought to life on the Olivier stage this summer, the first time Eugene Ionesco's work has been performed at the National Theatre. Patrick Marber (Three Days in the Country, Hedda Gabler) directs his new version of Exit the King with Rhys Ifans (A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic) in the title role and Indira Varma (Man and Superman) as his first Queen.
To accompany the new season of productions, a programme of talks and events will begin with a series relating to Exit the King. Philosopher Julian Baggini will explore the concept of free will in his talk Free Will: Do We Have a Choice?, blending philosophy, neuroscience, sociology and cognitive science. Exploring Exit the King will explore the current production, focussing on the practicalities of putting the show together with insights from cast members and theatre-makers. On 6 September, actors Rhys Ifans and Indira Varma will reflect on the challenges and rewards of playing King Berenger and Queen Marguerite, a talk will explore Three Perspectives on Dying and finally Director and Adapter Patrick Marber will talk about his new production. A combined ticket will also be available for these three talks.
According to Deadline, Helen Mirren and Danny DeVito have signed on to join the voice cast of the upcoming THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN. The new Disney film is set to be a hybrid of live action and CGI. The two join the cast already consisting of Bryan Cranston, Ramon Rodriquez, Arianna Greenblatt, Indira Varma, Eleanor Matsuura, Angelina Jolie, Sam Rockwell, and Brooklynn Prince. Read more about it from Deadline here!
Production has commenced at Pinewood Studios outside London on “The One and Only Ivan,” a live-action/CG hybrid adaptation of the children's book by Katherine Applegate directed by Thea Sharrock (“Me before You”). The screenplay is by two-time Independent Spirit Award winner Mike White (“Pitch Perfect 3,” “The School of Rock”) based on Applegate's award-winning book and the producers are Oscar® and three-time Golden Globe® winner Angelina Jolie (“First They Killed My Father,” “Maleficent”), the late Allison Shearmur (“Solo: A Star Wars Story,” “Cinderella”) and Brigham Taylor (“Christopher Robin,” “The Jungle Book”).
Last night, Showtime hosted the premiere of the new limited series PATRICK MELROSE. The screening was held at the Linwood Dunn Theater at the Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study and was followed by an after party at Beauty and Essex.
SHOWTIME has unveiled a new video teaser for its new five-part limited series PATRICK MELROSE starring Oscar nominee and Emmy(R) winner Benedict Cumberbatch. Based on the acclaimed Patrick Melrose series of semi-autobiographical novels written by Edward St. Aubyn, the series will premiere on Saturday, May 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. PATRICK MELROSE is an acerbic and fearless look at the protagonist's harrowing odyssey from a deeply traumatic childhood to his remarkable survival as an adult. In scheduling PATRICK MELROSE for five consecutive Saturdays, SHOWTIME is expanding to a new night of original programming, joining the network's existing sports and movie offerings on Saturday nights.
SHOWTIME has unveiled a new teaser limited series PATRICK MELROSE starring Oscar nominee and Emmy® winner Benedict Cumberbatch. Based on the acclaimed Patrick Melrose series of semi-autobiographical novels written by Edward St. Aubyn, the series will premiere on Saturday, May 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. PATRICK MELROSE is an acerbic and fearless look at the protagonist's harrowing odyssey from a deeply traumatic childhood to his remarkable survival as an adult. In scheduling PATRICK MELROSE for five consecutive Saturdays, SHOWTIME is expanding to a new night of original programming, joining the network's existing sports and movie offerings on Saturday nights.
In a tour de force role, Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game, Sherlock), who also executive produces the new series, plays the titular character who struggles to overcome the damage inflicted by a horribly abusive father and the mother who tacitly condoned his behavior. Academy Award® nominee Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight) and Screen Actors Guild® winner Hugo Weaving (The Matrix trilogy) also star as Patrick Melrose's parents. Rounding out this accomplished cast are Anna Madeley (The Crown), Blythe Danner (Meet the Fockers), Allison Williams (Get Out), Pip Torrens (The Crown), Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife), Prasanna Puwanarajah (Doctor Foster), Holliday Grainger (THE BORGIAS, Bonnie & Clyde), Indira Varma (Game of Thrones) and Celia Imrie (Bridget Jones's Baby). Each episode, devoted to one of the five novels, is written for television by BAFTA Award®nominee David Nicholls (Far from the Madding Crowd, One Day) and directed by celebrated film director Edward Berger (Deutchland 83, Jack). A co-production between SHOWTIME and Sky Atlantic, this gripping and humorous saga encompasses the South of France in the 1960s, New York in the 1980s and Britain in the early 2000s.
SHOWTIME has announced that its new, five-part limited series PATRICK MELROSE starring Oscar® nominee and Emmy® winner Benedict Cumberbatch will premiere on Saturday, May 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Based on the acclaimed Patrick Melrose series of semi-autobiographical novels written by Edward St. Aubyn, PATRICK MELROSE is an acerbic and fearless look at the protagonist's harrowing odyssey from a deeply traumatic childhood to his remarkable survival as an adult. In scheduling PATRICK MELROSE for five consecutive Saturdays, SHOWTIME is laying the groundwork to expand to a new night of original programming, joining the network's existing sports and movie offerings on Saturday nights.
The record-breaking phenomenon is back with a season that proved to be well worth the wait! Action-packed from start to finish with the series' most epic battles yet, the HBO drama series Game of Thrones: The Complete Seventh Season will be available for Digital Download September 25th and on Blu-Ray and DVD December 12th.
Daenerys Targaryen has finally set sail for Westeros with her armies, dragons and new Hand of the Queen, Tyrion Lannister. Jon Snow has been named King in the North after defeating Ramsay Bolton in the Battle of the Bastards and returning Winterfell to House Stark.
Daenerys Targaryen has finally set sail for Westeros with her armies, dragons and new Hand of the Queen, Tyrion Lannister. Jon Snow has been named King in the North after defeating Ramsay Bolton in the Battle of the Bastards and returning Winterfell to House Stark.
Martin Crimp's 1993 play feels sharply contemporary in this slick revival from Lyndsey Turner, with its layered deconstruction of the way that we treat both art and life as commodities - and how we mistreat one another - opening up industry satire into a far-reaching portrait of social malaise.