Drawing: Matt Lucas as Thénardier in Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Ever since he was given a ticket to see Les Misérables for his 13th birthday, Matt Lucas has dreamed of performing in the musical sensation. Matt has made a name for himself in Little Britain with David Walliams.

On 3 October 2010 his dream came true. In fact, it was the subject of a BBC2 TV doco entitled Matt Lucas Dreams the Dream. He played the comic villain Thenardier in the 25th Anniversary concert of the show at the O2 arena in London to a standing ovation. A year later, on 23 June 2011 he reprised the role at The Queen Theatre in the West End for a four month engagement. Matt signed my sketch at the stage door on 6 September 2011

Drawing: Ben Whishaw and Katherine Parkinson in Cock at the Royal Court Theatre

Posted on January 19, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Provocatively titled, Cock was Mike Bartlett’s punchy new Olivier award winning play, which premiered at The Royal Court in 2009, directed by James Macdonald.

When John takes a break from his girlfriend, he accidentally meets the girl of his dreams. But difficulties arise when you realise you have a choice. It’s a piece full of the male member slang connotations, including the traditional British ‘cock and bull’ story and staged in a circular bullring, or more aptly, a ‘cockpit’.

The brilliant BAFTA award winning Ben Whishaw played ‘John’ – the only properly named character in the play, with the rest of the quartet labelled ‘M’ ‘W’ and ‘F’ – man , woman, father. The equally talented Katherine Parkinson was the only female cast member, playing ‘W’, a tender divorcee.

Shy, but always friendly, Ben, who is currently mesmerising audiences and critics in Mojo, signed at the Noel Coward stage door after a performance of Peter and Alice in April 2013. I then sent the sketch to Katherine who was the lead in Before the Party at the Almeida.

Drawing: Bryony Hannah in The Children’s Hour at The Comedy Theatre

Posted on January 18, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

The Children’s Hour was Lillian Hellman’s first hit play. It premiered in 1934 at Maxine Elliot’s Theatre on Broadway. At the time, any mention of homosexuality on stage was illegal in New York State, but the play was such a success and widely praised that the subject matter was overlooked. A revival was staged at London’s Comedy Theatre in early 2011, directed by Ian Rickson.

It starred Keira Knightley and Elisabeth Moss as two school mistresses of an all girls boarding school in the 1930s. Their reputations and careers are thrown into chaos when disgruntled student Mary Tilford, played by Bryony Hannah, wrongly claims the two women are having a lesbian affair. It also featured Ellen Burstyn as the evil doting grandmother.

Hannah won rave reviews and an Olivier nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The Times described her as, “a diminutive scowling unknown in a rumpled gymslip who acts the stars right off the stage… the first act is hers and boy does she punch above her weight.”

The Express said her performance, “borders on the brilliant.”

TV viewers will know her as the meek Cynthia Miller in Call the Midwife, and she is currently back on stage at the National in Nick Payne’s Blurred Lines until 22 February.

Drawing: Joely Richardson in The Lady From The Sea at the Rose Theatre

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Joely Richardson had an early ambition to become a professional tennis player, spending two years at a tennis academy in Florida, before turning to acting.

She made her return to the stage, playing Ibsen’s mysterious heroine in The Lady From The Sea at the Rose Theatre in Kingston, Surrey February 2012.

In the 1970s Joely’s mother, Vanessa Redgrave, made a celebrated Ellida – the married Norwegian woman at the centre of the play, who is still in love with a sailor who disappeared years before. More sensitively, her sister Natasha, who died in 2009 after a skiing accident, also played the role at London’s Almeida Theatre in 2003. Both played the part to great acclaim. No pressure.

The Independent’s critic said, “Richardson dazzles on her return to the British Stage… Joely Richardson is excellent as Ellida.”

The role is obviously in the DNA.

Drawing: Sir Tim Rice

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Apart from winning multiple Oscars, Emmys, Tonys and Grammys and every other award under the sun, Timothy Miles Bindon Rice, or, as he’s known, Sir Tim is a bloody nice bloke. Oh, and a cricket fanatic. All endearing qualities for the world famous lyricist and author. On the few occasions I have been lucky enough to meet him he has always been very funny and very friendly. That continued this week when he signed my quick portrait sketch this week.

Drawing: Tyne Daly in Master Class at the Vaudeville Theatre

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Tony and Emmy Award-winning American stage and screen actress Tyne Daly starred as Maria Callas-the most influential opera singer of the 20th century-in the Broadway production of MASTER CLASS in 2011. She reprised the role in the West End which opened at the Vaudeville Theatre in February 2012 for a limited engagement until April. Tyne signed my sketch at the theatre in March.

Drawing: Calendar Girls, starring Lesley Joseph, Kacey Ainsworth, Camilla Dallerup, Helen Fraser, Sue Holderess, Deena Payne, Kathryn Rooney and Ruth Madoc

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Tim Firth adapted his screenplay for the highly successful comedy Calendar Girls for a stage version in 2008. Based on a true story about a group of Yorkshire women who produce a nude calendar to raise funds for Leukaemia Research, the film starred Helen Mirren and Julie Walters.

After playing to sell out audiences at the Chichester Festival Theatre, and a lengthy national tour, it previewed at the Noel Coward Theatre in the West End in April 2009. After a run of nearly a year and numerous cast changes it embarked on a second national tour. I drew the cast near the end of its run, which included Lesley Joseph, Kacey Ainsworth, Camilla Dallerup, Helen Fraser, Sue Holderess, Deena Payne, Kathryn Rooney and Ruth Madoc, who all signed my sketch at the Buxton Opera House, strangely enough in Buxton, in November 2012.

Drawings: Sam Mendes

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

The 29 July 2011 was the press night for Sam Mendes’ Shakespearean production of Richard III at the Old Vic, in featuring Kevin Spacey in the title role. It was also the beginning of a frustrating quest. I drew a quick ink portrait of the accomplished director, hoping to have it signed. But, alas, to misquote the Bard “Now was the start of Winter’s discontent”.

I have carried that piece of artwork with me for the past 2 and a half years to opening nights, closing nights, award nights, premiere nights, nights lurking around stage doors during rehearsals, and days stalking filming of the latest Bond around various London locations. All part of my strategy to secure Sam’s siggy on my sketch. But, to no avail. I lacked the Mendes touch.

Prior to this, I had met Sam on a few occasions. He was always very friendly and happy to sign an autograph. It wasn’t his fault I couldn’t get the sketch signed, I just kept missing him, as I’m sure he would have done so had our paths crossed. Ironically my saviour was another Shakespearean king. This time, Lear, which starts preview on Tuesday (14 January 2014) at the National with Simon Russell Beale. I had succumbed to leaving the sketch with a suitable note and a return envelope at the theatre. It was Saturday afternoon, a cursory glance as I pass the stage door to go into the National’s foyer (which was brimming with matinee audiences). I found a spot, sat down, wrote the note, put it with the sketches and the envelope together inside a bigger envelope and closed it up. Looked up, and there was the man himself walking straight past me. Dilemma! Do I just give him the envelope, or do I rip it open and get it signed in person? Silly question.

Sam is a big cricket fan. In fact, he was an accomplished player in his day, representing Cambridge University. So in cricketing terms, I trapped him in front of the wickets… I mean, the lift. My delivery wasn’t flash. “Saaaaaaaaaam!” He turned, saw me furiously ripping open envelopes and tearing paper out. The connection was made when he recognised himself in my drawing, which he was more than happy to sign as I burbled on about my two and half year quest, that had come to a successful conclusion.

As I had his attention and the lift hadn’t arrived I politely asked him if he wouldn’t mind signing another one – a pencil sketch – while I fumbled through my bag to find it and he was more than obliging. Now, on a cold January day, was the Winter of my content. Plus, I saved a stamp.

Drawing: Leonardo DiCaprio

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Leonardo DiCaprio once said;

“I have no connection with me during the whole Titanic phenomenon and what my face became around the world. I’ll never reach that state of popularity again.”

Let’s face it, Leo-mania may have passed, but the man can still pull a crowd and on face value, you don’t get much bigger. That face has taken on many guises, not only Jack Dawson, but also Romeo, Danny Archer, J. Edgar Hoover, Amsterdam Vallon, Billy Costigan, Jay Gatsby, Calvin Candie, Howard Hughes and Jordan Belfort.

The last two manifestations I chose to draw – the eccentric and obsessive film director and aviation pioneer Howard Hughes (The Aviator, 2004) and Jordan Belfort, the swindling stockbroker in Leo’s latest The Wolf of Wall Street, which had its UK premiere this week.

Anticipating facing a big crowd, I went to Leicester Square earlier than usual to join the Leo -maniacs. When the sun goes down, the stars come out and the Leonardo constellation is one of the brightest.

Like other famous faces Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp, Leo “does the line,” meaning he goes around the barriers signing for as many people as possible. He didn’t disappoint.

He saw the sketch and said “How cool,” signed his distinctive ‘premiere’ sig and in the hysteria, took time to dedicate it to me, smiled then quickly moved down the line. Very cool – face to face with the real Leo!

Cartoon: Seating a President, Michael D Higgins

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Continuing on from yesterday’s post… while at the Donmar to collect cast graphs on my THE NIGHT ALIVE sketch, I noticed some unusual activity, well unusual is very subjective term in the middle of London on a balmy July evening, with the small hand on 10 and the big hand fast approaching it.

The narrow, cobblestoned Earlham Street on which the theatre stands, at number 41 to be precise, was filling fast with flash vehicles, some with diplomatic licence plates, carrying suited gentlemen, who quickly surrounded the Donmar door. Some even went in. Now this small little theatre in Covent Garden has a seating capacity of 250, with 251 seats according to its website.

Sounds Irish I know and many a true word said in jest. On that one extra seat was sitting a person of importance on this very night. It doesn’t take long for 250 people to file out, so the 251st person soon appeared, escorted by the suited gentlemen who went in previously. It was none other than the Irish President, popular politician, poet, sociologist, author and broadcaster, one Michael D Higgins, himself. A person I had cartooned for my weekly contribution to The Irish World on 11.11.11, when he took office… and which adorns this page. I remember thinking at the time that this man had the perfect, almost leprechaun qualities for caricaturing. Meeting him confirmed this.

But what self-respecting satirist doesn’t carry around with him a copy of a cartoon depicting the 9th President of the Republic of Ireland, to get it signed if, by chance the subject appears in front of him. How remiss of me! He did however sign my sketch pad in a vivid blue sharpie, while telling me how much he enjoyed the play in the 251st seat. He’s back in April, at the invitation of the Queen, to become the first Irish President to pay a State visit to the UK. I just might have to slip down to the Palace with a copy of the cartoon depicting the 9th President of the Republic of Ireland if, by chance we meet again!