'PLAGUE OVER ENGLAND' Moves To The Big Screen; De Jongh Pens Adaptation

Former Theatre Critic-turned-Playwright Nicholas de Jongh's first full-legth play, PLAGUE OVER ENGLAND - currently running at the Duchess Theatre through May 2 - will be moving to the big screen. de Jongh will be penning the adaptation, which will be produced by BK Films, the film divison of theatre producer Bill Kenwright. PLAGUE OVER ENGLAND was brought to the West End stage, after a prior run at the fringe Finborough Theatre in 2008, by Kenwright.

de Jongh recently announced that he is leaving his post as chief theatre critic of the Evening Standard after 18 years with the newspaper. He will now focus on the screenplay as well as other creative projects, including a novel. In a press statement, de Jongh stated, "Plague Over England has been the most transformative experience of my life and I hope the film version will be a huge success. I am incredibly grateful to Bill Kenwright for making it happen." de Jongh is the author of Politics, Pruderies and Perversions, which won the Society of Theatre Research Prize in 2001, and Not in Front of the Audience, a history of homosexuality on stage.

Independent film company BK Films have previously produced "The Day After The Fair," "Stepping Out" and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." Their latest feature, "Cheri," starring Michelle Pfeiffer and directed by Stephen Frears, will premiere in the UK in May 2009.

PLAGUE OVER ENGLAND is based on the real-life incident in 1953 when the late John Gielgud, then at the height of his fame as an actor, was arrested in a public lavatory in Chelsea, and pleaded guilty in court for the charge of persistently importuning men for immoral purposes. His conviction caused a sensation and threatened the continuation of his career - but it also helped break the great taboo upon the general discussion in the national press of homosexuality, which was then an illegal practice in Britain.

The current cast consists of David Burt, Simon Dutton (as producer Binkie Beaumont), Celia Imrie, Hugh Ross, John Warnaby, Michael Brown, Steven Hansell, Sam Heughan and Leon Ockenden.

The play is directed by Tamara Harvey, who directed the acclaimed tHe dYsFUnCKshOnalZ! at the Bush Theatre. The production is designed by Alex Marker with lighting by James Farncombe, sound design by Theo Holloway and original music by Alexander S. Bermange. The West End run is produced by Bill Kenwright and Ambassador Theatre Group.

To book tickets contact the box office at 0844 412 4659 or visit www.nimaxtheatres.com.

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