THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN Opens At Corn Exchange Newbury

THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN, the new comedy by award-winning writers Brian Mitchell and Joseph Nixon, will open at the Corn Exchange Newbury on Thursday 4th February prior to a 4 month tour, including London, in the UK until Sunday 16th May 2010.

C.P. Hallam will play Alcock and Richard Earl will play Brown. It is directed by New Perspectives Artistic Director Daniel Buckroyd. Design is by Helen Fownes-Davies with lighting by Mark Dymock and sound by Tom Lishman.

Captain John Alcock (1892 - 1919), dashing WW1 fighter pilot, and Lieutenant Arthur Whitten Brown (1886 - 1948), navigational genius with a damaged leg, two British pioneers entered the £10,000 world competition created by Lord Northcliffe, to make the first ever non-stop transatlantic flight in June 1919. The play describes their battle against the elements in the tiny timber and canvas cockpit of their converted Vickers Vimy biplane. They were knighted immediately on their return by George V. The Daily Mail prize was presented to them by Winston Churchill.

Their Vickers Vimy biplane is at the Science Museum and there is a Statue of them at Heathrow. There will be a special performance at East Midlands Airport on Monday 26 April.

C.P. Hallam's recent stage roles include Heidi with Northern Broadsides and national tours of Round The Horne, while his TV work includes Longford with Andy Serkis. Richard Earl's recent stage credits include The Rover, Time Out Critics' Choice last year. He has recently been in Alan Bennett's Enjoy at the Theatre Royal York.

Brian Mitchell and Joseph Nixon are the creators of BBC TV's The OrNate Johnsons Edwardian Spectacular and comedy shows at many Edinburgh Festivals including with Jo Caulfield and Joanna Neary. They have been commissioned to write a new project for the BBC in April for Joanna Neary. Those Magnificent Men has been commissioned by New Perspectives in association with East Midlands Airport's New Horizons programme.