Press Releases

Betty Blue Eyes - 2011

Full Casting Announced for
Cameron Mackintosh’s New Musical Comedy “BETTY BLUE EYES”
Based on the Alan Bennett/Malcolm Mowbray/Handmade Film
‘A PRIVATE FUNCTION’ Previews From 19 March

Cameron Mackintosh announced today full casting for the NEW MUSICAL COMEDY BETTY BLUE EYES, based on the Handmade Film “A PRIVATE FUNCTION” by ALAN BENNETT and MALCOLM MOWBRAY. BETTY BLUE EYES is the first original musical Cameron Mackintosh has produced in ten years. Now in rehearsal, it will start previews at the NOVELLO THEATRE in the West End on 19 March with a press night on 13 April. Preview prices will be an austere £10 - £40 (£10 - £50 on weekends) and available from the Box Office 0844 482 5170 or www.bettyblueeyesthemusical.com

Joining the previously announced SARAH LANCASHIRE, who will play ‘Joyce’ and REECE SHEARSMITH who will play ‘Gilbert’ are ADRIAN SCARBOROUGH as ‘Wormold’, DAVID BAMBER as ‘Swaby’, JACK EDWARDS as ‘Allardyce’, ANN EMERY as ‘Mother Dear’ and MARK MEADOWS as ‘Lockwood’ and of course Betty the pig in the title role.

Adrian Scarborough can currently be seen in the critically acclaimed film “The King’s Speech”. Over Christmas he starred as ‘Mr Pritchard’, the butler in the BBC’s “Upstairs Downstairs”. His other television credits include ‘Pete’ in “Gavin and Stacey” and ‘Charlie’ in the latest series of the BBC’s “Miranda”. His other film credits include “Vera Drake”, “Notes on a Scandal”, “The History Boys”, “The Madness of King George” and “Gosford Park”. His extensive theatre credits include most recently lead roles in “After The Dance” and “The Habit of Art” at the National Theatre as well as many roles at the Almeida Theatre. David Bamber has also featured in “The King’s Speech” and he recently played Adolph Hitler in the film “Valkyrie”. His many stage credits include ‘Guy’ in “My Night With Reg” for which he won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor. His television credits include ‘Mr Collins’ in the hugely successful “Pride and Prejudice” and ‘Marcus Tullius Cicero’ in the HBO/BBC2 epic drama “Rome”. Jack Edwards was most recently seen in “Sweet Charity” at the Haymarket Theatre. His other West End theatre credits include ‘Nicely-Nicely Johnson’ in “Guys and Dolls” at the Piccadilly Theatre. Ann Emery is currently the West End’s longest running leading lady. Now in her ninth decade she has just completed 5 ½ years as the original ‘Grandma’ in Stephen Daldry’s “Billy Elliot”. In her fabulous career, she has also appeared at the National Theatre and featured in many West End shows as diverse as “My Fair Lady” and the original production of “Cats”. Mark Meadows recently appeared in “Mary Poppins”. His other theatre credits include “The Three Musketeers”, “High Society” and “White Christmas”.

Since playing the loveable ‘Raquel’ in “Coronation Street”, Sarah Lancashire has starred in many TV dramas. For the BBC she has appeared in “Clocking Off”, “Cherished”, “Five Daughters”, “Murder Most Horrid” and most recently “All The Small Things”. For ITV she has appeared in three series of “Where The Heart Is”, two series of “Rose and Maloney”, “Seeing Red”, and “The Cry”. For Channel 4 she played ‘Mary Miles’ in “Skins”. Sarah last appeared in the West End as ‘Miss Adelaide’ in “Guys and Dolls”. Reece Shearsmith first came to prominence by co-writing and starring in “The League of Gentlemen” on TV, film and stage. He is also co-writer and star of the BBC’s “Psychoville”. He has appeared as ‘Leo Bloom’ in “The Producers” and “Art” in the West End and was most recently seen in “Ghost Stories” at the Duke of York’s Theatre.

The company also includes Rachael Archer, James Barron, Dan Burton, Ian Conningham, Holly Dale-Spencer, Neil Ditt, Victoria Hay, Kirsty Hoiles, Chris Howell, Howard Jones, Robert Kershaw, Rebecca Louis, Andy Mace, Claire Machin, Laura Medforth, Annalisa Rossi, Hollie Taylor and Gemma Wardle.

Cameron Mackintosh said “I first read this musical about a year ago and immediately felt it was one of the funniest and most original pieces I had come across in years. I was already a great fan of Alan Bennett’s hilarious film “A Private Function” so I could see how brilliantly the American writers Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman had adapted and extended the original, incorporating a joyously infectious score by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.

When I agreed to produce “Betty” I certainly didn’t imagine that this unique musical tale set in 1947 would be so topical. From its opening number “Goodbye Austerity Britain”, with a Government mantra of “Fair Shares For All”, greedy local Councillors lauding it over a hungry belt-tightened population on rations, the worst winter in living memory and even a Royal Wedding (Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s!) time seems to have stood still. But most great stories are timeless and this one revolves around an adorable pig called Betty who is secretly being raised to be the main course at a very private function to celebrate the Royal Wedding. To find out what happens you need to trot to the Novello Theatre.”
Adapted from Alan Bennett and Malcolm Mowbray’s hilarious comic film “A Private Function”; a tale that centres around Betty, an adorable pig who is being illegally reared to ensure that the local dignitaries can celebrate the forthcoming Royal Wedding with a lavish banquet while everyone else makes do with Spam. This utterly British musical, full of eccentric characters, has a deliciously witty score by Stiles and Drewe, a marvellous cast of great British actors and, of course, Betty as Herself.

BETTY BLUE EYES has a book by Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman adapted from an original story and the Alan Bennett /Malcolm Mowbray/Handmade film “A Private Function”. Music is by George Stiles and lyrics are by Anthony Drewe. It is directed by Richard Eyre with musical staging by Stephen Mear. Designed by Tim Hatley with lighting by Neil Austin and sound design by Mick Potter. The musical director is Richard Beadle, musical supervisor Stephen Brooker and orchestrations are by William David Brohn.

Reece donates his "paw" for Cats Protection - 2010

Celebrity ‘paws’ sold to help cats!

Reece Shearsmith is showing his support for unwanted moggies by kindly donating his ‘paw print’ to raise money for the UK’s leading feline welfare charity, Cats Protection.

He is joined by Steve Pemberton and other well-known faces such as film star Michael Sheen, TV personality and performer John Barrowman, comedian Ronnie Corbett, film and TV actress Alison Steadman, actress and comedienne Maureen Lipman, Bo Selecta’s Leigh Francis, Twilight star Kellan Lutz, The It Crowd’s Katherine Parkinson and Gavin and Stacey actress Joanna Page are among the large list of purr-sonalities who are taking part in this year’s Celebrity Paws auction, which will run this December.

Now in its fourth year, Cats Protection’s Celebrity Paws Auction raises much needed funds for the charity, which helps over 215,000 cats and kittens per year. Celebrities were asked to draw around their hand, sign it, and style it in their own unique way. The drawings will be auctioned on eBay starting on 1 December. Last year’s auction raised around £2,500 for the charity.

Kate Bunting, PR Manager for Cats Protection said: “We are incredibly grateful to all our celebrity supporters who have been very creative with their works of art this year. Each drawing is totally unique and completely authentic so we hope bidders will be keen to bag a bargain while helping to raise money for the thousands of unwanted cats and kittens in our care.”

For the chance to get your hands on these works of art and to find out who else has donated their paw print to Cats Protection, please visit www.cats.org.uk/celebrity-paws

To make a donation to help the charity continue its cat welfare work, please call Cats Protection’s national Helpline on 03000 12 12 12

Ghost Stories - 2010

REECE SHEARSMITH TO TAKE OVER LEAD ROLE IN WEST END SHOW GHOST STORIES
The League of Gentlemen star replaces Andy Nyman from November 2010.
Reece Shearsmith will take over the lead role in hit West End show Ghost Stories from Tuesday 9th November. Best known for his role in The League of Gentlemen, Reece will replace Andy Nyman as Professor Philip Goodman in the critically acclaimed show at the Duke of York's Theatre for two months, from Tuesday 9th November until Sunday 9th January 2011. Ghost Stories, which is totally unique to the West End, comes from the talented and dark minds of Jeremy Dyson, who co-wrote The League of Gentlemen, and Andy Nyman, co-creator and director of Derren Brown’s television and stage shows and star of Dead Set and Severance.
Reece, who also stars in Psychoville and film Shaun of The Dead, said: “I’ve been to see Ghost Stories a number of times and it’s absolutely fantastic. It’s really dark and scary but full of laughs as well so it’s exactly my sort of show. Jeremy and I have known eachother for years from The League of Gentlemen and it’s great to be working with him again. I’m really looking forward to taking over the role and being part of such a unique and entertaining West End show.”
Having broken all box office records and following sell-out seasons at the Lyric Hammersmith and Liverpool Playhouse, Ghost Stories transferred to the West End in June and has played to packed audiences, terrifying over 100,000 people to date. The show recently extended its run due to popular demand and is now booking until Saturday 19th February 2011. There will also be a special midnight performance to celebrate Halloween in its own unique style on Saturday 30th October.The spooky midnight performance for Halloween will be the hottest ticket in town for those who really want to get into the scary spirit. The Duke of York’s is reputed to be haunted, so audience members are advised to heed the show’s warning signs and think carefully before coming along. Those who are brave enough are encouraged to don their scariest costumes for the event.
Ghost Stories also stars Nicholas Burns (Fat Pig, Comedy Theatre and E4’s Misfits); David Cardy (Treasure Island, Rose Theatre and BBC’s Silent Witness) and Ryan Gage (Royal Shakespeare Company’s Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream)Reece Shearsmith is one quarter of the award-winning comedy team The League of Gentlemen and has appeared in a variety of TV shows including Psychoville, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), Spaced, Max And Paddy’s Road To Nowhere and Shaun of The Dead. Forthcoming roles include Burke and Hare with Andy Serkis and Simon Pegg and a Psychoville Halloween special. Stage credits include Comedians at the Lyric Hammersmith, The Common Pursuit and As You Like It. Jeremy Dyson has won numerous awards as the co-writer of the hilariously bleak The League of Gentlemen; including a Perrier Award, BAFTA Award for Best Comedy and the Golden Rose of Montreux. The stage show he co-penned, A Local Show for Local People, was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2002.Andy Nyman is the award-winning co-writer and co-creator of the acclaimed TV productions Derren Brown - Mind Control and Trick of the Mind. He co-wrote and co-directed Derren Brown Live, An Evening of Wonders and Derren's most recent live show - Enigma. Andy also won the Best Entertainment Olivier Award in 2005 for Something Wicked This Way Comes. Andy’s acting credits include Channel 4’s BAFTA nominated Dead Set and the horror-comedy directed by Christopher Smith Severence.What the critics have said: “Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman’s horror play does a fine job of intriguing, amusing,unsettling and, yes, scaring the willies out of you” – The Times “An immaculately crafted evening of entertainment” – Time Out Critics’ Choice “I had to sleep with the lights on. A top night out” – Metro“Brilliantly scary” – Daily Express “A pant-wetter of a night. It’s terrifying!” – Daily Mail “I suspect that Ghost Stories may prove a cult success” – Evening Standard “Brilliant and deeply unsettling” – Daily Telegraph
LISTINGS & BOOKING INFORMATIONWARNING Please be advised that Ghost Stories contains moments of extreme shock and tension. The show is unsuitable for anyone under the age of 15. We strongly advise those of a nervous disposition to think very seriously before attending. Written by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman
Directed by Jeremy Dyson, Sean Holmes and Andy Nyman Design by Jon Bausor Lighting Design by James Farncombe Sound Design by Nick Manning Special Effects by Scott Penrose
Movement Direction by Lewis Peploe
A Lyric Hammersmith and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse ProductionGhost Stories is produced in the West End by the Lyric Hammersmith and Phil McIntyre Entertainments. Duke of York’s Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4BG
Booking until Saturday 19th February 2011 Halloween weekend performances Friday 29th October: 7pm and 9.30pm Saturday 30th October: 7pm, 9.30pm and 12midnight.Sunday 31st October: 8pm

Morecambe and Wise - 2010

From children's variety stars to national treasures, this single drama conceived by Victoria Wood and written by Bafta Award-winner Peter Bowker (Occupation, Desperate Romantics, Blackpool) for BBC Two is about the early years of one of the best comedy double acts of our time, Morecambe and Wise, and the formative influence of Eric's mother, Sadie.

Starring Victoria Wood as Sadie and Jim Moir (Vic Reeves) as Eric's father, George, the drama, currently filming in the North West of England, is a BBC Wales Drama Production in association with Blue Door Adventures for BBC Two.

Victoria says: "We may think of Morecambe and Wise as that brilliant and much-loved double act but I've always thought that a film about their days as child performers in variety and their struggles to establish themselves would make a fantastic story."

Victoria felt this was very much a story of men's friendship and would be better written by a male writer. Peter Bowker, a huge fan of Eric and Ernie, researched and created the script.

"The casting has been a marathon," says Victoria.

"Because our story spans 20 years we have had to find three actors for each part – to play the comedians as children, teenagers and men. We were looking for a specific Eric or Ernie quality at each age and, once we found it, the rest was up to the make-up department to match their hair and eye colour."

The story is at once a fascinating look at the showbusiness of the Forties and Fifties and also a celebration of family and friendship. "Sadie did originally encourage Eric to become a performer as she felt he would not be happy in an ordinary job, and she also spotted the potential in him teaming up with Ernie.

"But the drama also focuses on the strength of the bond between the two men, which enabled them to overcome the flop that was their first foray into television."

The story starts in the late-Thirties and runs up to 1954 – the year of Morecambe and Wise's first television series, Running Wild.

"We toyed with the idea of using puppets to play the young Eric and Ernie," said Victoria. "But, in the end, sanity prevailed and we have our three Erics and three Ernies of different ages. We could only run to one Sadie, however, so I am hoping to show the passage of time by smiling a lot when Sadie is young, then wearing a different coat."

The drama is being made with the support and involvement of both Morecambe and Wise's families.

Gary Morecambe, Eric's son, comments: "It's such a genuine thrill to see a film about the early days of Morecambe and Wise being helmed by someone of the calibre of Victoria Wood. It is the greatest possible tribute to the double act."

Janice Hadlow, Controller BBC Two, comments: "The casting of so many brilliantly and naturally funny people in these roles is a truly fitting way to celebrate the lives and careers of two of Britain's best-loved comedy superstars."

Piers Wenger, Head of Drama, BBC Wales, adds: "Pete Bowker's passion for Morecambe and Wise is clear from his beautifully written script. He and Victoria have worked meticulously for the last 18 months to uncover a story which celebrates the life and legend of Eric and Ernie and gives insight into a period of their lives which remains as yet unexplored."

The cast list also includes Bryan Dick (He Kills Coppers) as Ernie Wise; Daniel Rigby (The Street) as Eric Morecambe; Reece Shearsmith (Psychoville, The League Of Gentlemen) as Harry Wiseman, Ernie's dad; and Emer Kenny (EastEnders) as Joan, Eric's wife.

Written by Peter Bowker (Blackpool, Occupation), the producer is Timothy Bricknell (No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency) and the director is Jonny Campbell (Shameless, Ashes To Ashes). The executive producers are Piers Wenger, Beth Willis and Victoria Wood.

Burke and Hare - 2010

An award-winning international cast has joined “BURKE & HARE”, the new film from legendary director JOHN LANDIS (An American Werewolf in London, Blues Brothers, Michael Jackson’s Thriller). Principal photography commenced on 31st January around London, Edinburgh and Ealing Studios with SIMON PEGG (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Star Trek, Spaced), as William Burke and recent BAFTA-nominee ANDY SERKIS (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, Lord of the Rings, King Kong) as William Hare, the notorious Edinburgh murderers.

ISLA FISHER (Wedding Crashers, Confessions of a Shopaholic) takes on the role of Ginny, an ambitious young actress and the object of Burke’s affections and JESSICA HYNES neé Stevenson (Spaced, Son of Rambow, Shaun of the Dead) as Hare’s long suffering wife Lucky. The supporting cast consists of the cream of British acting and comedy talent including: Oscar-nominee TOM WILKINSON (The Full Monty, Michael Clayton), TIM CURRY (Rocky Horror Picture Show), RONNIE CORBETT (Extras), REECE SHEARSMITH (League of Gentlemen), DAVID SCHOFIELD (Pirates of the Caribbea n), ALLAN CORDUNER (Topsy Turvey), BAFTA Award-winner BILL BAILEY (Nanny McPhee & The Big Bang, Black Books), HUGH BONNEVILLE (Notting Hill), MICHAEL SMILEY (Spaced) and SIR CHRISTOPHER LEE (Lord of the Rings).

According to Landis: “BURKE & HARE is a very black romantic comedy in the classic tradition of the Ealing Studios’ Kind Hearts and Coronets and The Ladykillers”.

“BURKE & HARE” is a comedic take on the true story of the 1828 Edinburgh body-snatchers William Burke (Simon Pegg) and William Hare (Andy Serkis). These two Irish entrepreneurs discover that a dead body can fetch a hefty price when the demands of the leading medical professors Dr. Knox (Tom Wilkinson) and Dr. Monroe (Tim Curry) reach beyond that of the local supply.

Psychoville 2 - 2009

BBC Two is "terrified" to announce that Psychoville, written by Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, will return for a one-off special programme to be shown next year, and a new, six-part second series.

The dark comedy thriller was centred on very different characters, who each received an anonymous mysterious letter claiming: "I know what you did..." The last series episode concluded the story at Ravenhill Hospital, for the completely insane, with a huge explosion. In the new series, all will be revealed as to who managed to survive the blast.

The first series of Psychoville, shown earlier this year, has recently been nominated for two British Comedy Awards.

Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith said: "We're delighted that BBC Two commissioners have responded in the right way to the notes we sent bearing the words 'We know what you did'. We look forward to being able to tickle and terrify our audience once again - preferably at the same time."

Cheryl Taylor, Controller of Comedy Commissioning, said: "It's great news for all, including all the dedicated Psychoville fans that this wonderfully creative series from Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith will return to dazzle and delight BBC Two viewers next year."

Executive producer Jon Plowman said: "We are thrilled that our twisted baby, Psychoville, has been re-commissioned. We look forward to intriguing and scaring the audience next year and the year after".

This new series has been commissioned by Controller of BBC Two, Janice Hadlow. The new series of Psychoville will be filmed next year.