Matthew Byam Shaw News

The producers of The Audience today announced Robert Hardy's decision to withdraw from the production. Hardy, 87, recently suffered a fall and cracked some ribs, yet continued to perform at all of the preview performances last week. Over the weekend he has decided that a schedule of eight performances a week over a long run is not sustainable and he has therefore reluctantly decided to stand down. The Producers would like to thank Robert Hardy for his extraordinary contribution to the production and they wish him a speedy recovery.

Internationally acclaimed actress Helen Mirren's performance as The Queen in the world premiere of Peter Morgan's THE AUDIENCE, directed by Stephen Daldry, will be seen by cinema audiences worldwide when National Theatre Live broadcasts the play live from London's Gielgud Theatre on June 13, 2013, with varying dates internationally and encore screenings throughout the summer. THE AUDIENCE reunites Mirren and Morgan after collaborating on the 2006 film The Queen, in which Mirren also portrayed Elizabeth II, winning the Academy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and BAFTA Awards for Best Actress for her performance.

According to the Daily Mail, The Audience, which just began performances in the West End starring Helen Mirren, will be filmed and broadcast live from the Gielgud Theatre for National Theatre Live on June 13, 2013. The production has already brought in nearly £4 million in ticket sales before its opening on March 5. The play is running through June 15.

Joining Helen Mirren as The Queen in the world premiere of THE AUDIENCE are Michael Elwyn as Anthony Eden, Haydn Gwynne as Margaret Thatcher, Robert Hardy as Winston Churchill, Richard McCabe as Harold Wilson, Nathaniel Parker as Gordon Brown, Paul Ritter as John Major and Rufus Wright as David Cameron. The Equerry is Geoffrey Beevers and the role of Young Elizabeth will be played by Bebe Cave, Maya Gerber and Nell Williams.

Joining Helen Mirren as The Queen in this world premiere are Michael Elwyn as Anthony Eden, Haydn Gwynne as Margaret Thatcher, Robert Hardy as Winston Churchill, Richard McCabe as Harold Wilson, Nathaniel Parker as Gordon Brown, Paul Ritter as John Major and Rufus Wright as David Cameron. The Equerry is Geoffrey Beevers and the role of Young Elizabeth will be played by Bebe Cave, Maya Gerber and Nell Williams.

The Audience will preview at the Gielgud Theatre from 15 February 2013, with press night on 5 March 2013 and is currently booking to 15 June 2013. Designs are by Bob Crowley with lighting by Rick Fisher, sound by Paul Arditti, music by Paul Englishby and video by Ian William Galloway. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at rehearsals below.

According to the Daily Mail, Helen Mirren has begun rehearsals for Peter Morgan's The Audience, about Elizabeth II. The play has already drawn a box office advance of £2 million, but regardless of popularity, The Audience must end its engagement on June 15 due to the Chichester Festival Theatre production of Private Lives, set to begin at the Gielgud Theatre on June 22.

Two further preview matinee performances (16 and 27 February 2013 at 2.30pm) have been scheduled for Stephen Daldry's production of Peter Morgan's The Audience.

Principal casting has now been announced for the third UK tour of Jonathan Lynn and Antony Jay's hit stage version ofYes, Prime Minister. Michael Fenton Stevens (recognisable as Sir Henry in ITV's Benidorm) will take on the role of beleaguered PM Jim Hacker, while opposite him Crispin Redman (known as Judge Richards in Law & Order: UK) will play Sir Humphrey Appleby and West End star Michael Matus (Taboo, Lend Me A Tenor) will perform the role of Principal Private Secretary, Bernard Woolley.

Joining Helen Mirren as The Queen in the world premiere of Peter Morgan's The Audience are Michael Elwyn as Anthony Eden, Nathaniel Parker as Gordon Brown and Rufus Wright as David Cameron, alongside the previously announced Haydn Gwynne as Margaret Thatcher, Robert Hardy as Winston Churchill and Paul Ritter as John Major. Final casting will be announced shortly.

According to the Daily Mail, Nathaniel Parker has been cast as Gordon Brown opposite Helen Mirren as the Queen in Peter Morgan's play The Audience at the Gielgud Theatre. Preview performances begin Feb. 15, with the show's opening slated for March 5, and the run ending June 15, 2013.

Opening at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford on 7th February 2013, the widely acclaimed production of Yes, Prime Minister will then tour to: Cornwall, Bromley, Cheltenham, High Wycombe, Brighton, Salisbury, Bradford, Durham, Ipswich, Sheffield, Wolverhampton, Richmond, Bristol and Tunbridge Wells. This will be the final chance to see one of the twenty-first century's most successful new stage comedies at regional venues across the UK.

According to the Daily Mail, Haydn Gwynne has been cast as Margaret Thatcher opposite Helen Mirren as the Queen in Peter Morgan's play The Audience at the Gielgud Theatre. Preview performances begin Feb. 15, with the show's opening slated for March 5, and the run ending June 15, 2013.

Mark Goucher, Wimpole Theatre and Matthew Byam Shaw for Playful Productions present the award-winning comedy YES, PRIME MINISTER which will extends its 3rd West End season at Trafalgar Studios to 30 March 2013! Also, Antony Jay and Jonathan Lyn film six new television episodes, to air in early 2013!

Robert Daws will play Prime Minister Jim Hacker alongside Michael Simkins as Cabinet Secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby in the triumphant return of Yes, Prime Minister to the West End. Bringing politics back to Whitehall, the popular political comedy will begin an open-ended run at Trafalgar Studios - formerly the Whitehall Theatre, on 6 June 2012.

Howard Davies' five star critically celebrated production of Noël Coward' Hay Fever - the sublime comedy of bad manners - must end its limited run at the Noël Coward Theatre on 2 June 2012 as previously announced.