Dr Strangelove
Closing: January 25, 2025Dr Strangelove - West End History , Info & More
Noel Coward Theatre
85-88 St Martin's Ln, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4AP, United Kingdom London
Steve Coogan stars in the first ever adaption of Stanley Kubrick’s iconic Dr. Strangelove, as the world premiere stage production prepares for a strictly limited run at London’s Noël Coward Theatre from 8 October 2024.
This jet-black comedy masterpiece, about a rogue U.S. General who triggers a nuclear crisis, is brought to the stage by acclaimed, BAFTA and Emmy Award winner Armando Iannucci and Olivier Award winner Sean Foley, in an explosively funny satire of mutually assured destruction.
Coogan, who will play multiple roles in the production, said: “The idea of putting Dr Strangelove on stage is daunting. A huge responsibility. It’s also an exciting challenge, an opportunity to bring this timeless classic to a new audience. Knowing that I will be part of a creative team led by Sean Foley and Armando Iannucci means I will be working with the best people. Sean is a master of stage comedy and Armando and I started working with each other over 30 years ago. We made some memorable comedy together so it’s great to be collaborating with him once again.”
__Assisted Performances__
Audio Described Performance - Thursday 21st November 7.30pm
Captioned Performance - Thursday 28th November 7.30pm
BSL Signed Performance - Thurday 5th December 7.30pm
Dr Strangelove - - West End Cast
FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Dr Strangelove
Comes off as more of spoof than a satire
8 / 10
There is a great deal of silliness and some very funny running gags, and if possible, the characters seem even more exaggerated than in the original. Steve Coogan takes on the multiple roles played by the unforgettable Peter Sellers (Dr. Strangelove, Captain Mandrake and President Muffley), and he also adds that of Major TJ Kong to his repertoire, a character which Sellers ended up not playing in the original film. Coogan's versatility is impressive, and while he manages to individuate each of these personae, it is his performance as the ex-Nazi scientist, Dr. Strangelove, that really stands out. As the blustering and belligerent General Ripper, who orders the crazy pre-emptive nuclear strike because he thinks that water fluoridation has been polluting his bodily fluids, John Hopkins also puts in a wonderfully over-the-top performance.
Steve Coogan impresses but it’s oddly stolid
6 / 10
It’s a reboot that will appeal most of all to Coogan fans who aren’t familiar with the film, which celebrated its 60th birthday this year. If you do know the original, it’s fun to hear some of the slivers of extra dialogue added by Iannucci and Foley after scrolling through Kubrick’s notebooks and drafts. All the same, set designer Hildegard Bechtler’s war room is never going to look as imposing as Ken Adam’s James Bond-like screen creation. And if the scale model of the B-52, flying high over a video backdrop, gives the second half of the show an undeniable kick, the rest of the production looks cramped in the confines of the Noël Coward.
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Dr Strangelove History
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