British actor Nathaniel Parker’s latest West End role is Sir Robert Chiltern, a rising politician with a secret past in the ‘Rolls-Royce of English comedies’, in Oscar Wilde’s AN IDEAL HUSBAND at the Vaudeville Theatre.
Nathaniel was last seen on the London stage in THE HOUSE at the Garrick two years ago and prior to that in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s acclaimed stage adaption of Hilary Mantel’s Booker Prize-winning historical novel WOLF HALL and its sequel BRING UPTHE BODIES at the Aldwych Theatre before it transferred to the Winter gardens on Broadway with a title change WOLF HALL, PARTS 1 & 2 for American audiences. His memorable portrayal of King Henry VIII was recognised with both an Olivier and a Tony Award nomination. TV viewers will be familiar with Nathaniel’s lead role in the BBC crime drama series THE INSPECTOR LYNLEY MYSTERIES and as Lord Agravaine in MERLIN.
Nathaniel signed my sketch for me when he arrived at Vaudeville Theatre stage door on Saturday.
French actress Audrey Fleurot, made her West End debut last week in Christopher Hampton’s updated adaption of Moliere’s TRATUFFE at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.
Small screen fans will know her as Josephine Karlson in the cult French TV series SPIRAL and on larger screens as Magalie in the 2011 International hit film THE INTOUCHABLES. Her extensive theatre work in France includes Luc Bondy’s 2016 production of LE TARTUFFE at the Theatre de l’Odeon in Paris. In both versions of the Moliere classic she portrays Elmire, the wife targeted by a sleazy preacher. The West End reboot of this hard-hitting moral comedy is set in post-Weinstein America.
‘Tartuffe’ translates as ‘hypocrite’ or ‘imposter.’ ” Trump is a Tartuffe,” said Audrey in a recent Guardian interview. The original French productions in the mid 1660’s were banned twice for perceived anti-Catholicism and challenging religious values, but now it has become the most performed French classical play.
She signed this quick portrait for me on Saturday at the stage door.
Ten years ago South London actor Paul Anderson wasn’t an actor at all, he was a ticket scalper and aspiring musician, who longed to be a lead singer in a band. Then he was inspired to go to drama school- the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.
His break came in 2013 with the role of post World War I gangster Arthur Shelby Jr. In PEAKY BLINDERS. His other TV appearances included DOCTOR WHO, MIDSOMER MURDERS and LEWIS. Major films followed including Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Oscar-winning THE REVENANT and Ron Howard’s IN THE HEART OF THE SEA.
He made his West End debut in the title role of Moliere’s TARTUFFE at the Theatre Royal Haymarket last week. I caught up with ‘Boycey’ as he is known to friends and fans on Saturday at the stage door, where he signed this rehearsal sketch I drew of him for me.
Award-winning English actress Rosalie Craig is noted for her musical theatre performances, collecting an Evening Standard Award and an Olivier nomination for her role in the National Theatre’s A LIGHT PRINCESS in 2013.
However her last West End appearance as Caitlin Carney was far more dramatic, joining the final cast of Jez Butterworth’s acclaimed new play THE FERRYMAN, about a family living in rural Ireland during the Troubles in the 80’s, which completed its extended run on 19 May at the Gielgud Theatre. It’s a venue that Rosalie will get to know well by the end of the year, returning to the theatre with Patti LuPone in Stephen Sondheim’s COMPANY in September.
I left this Caitlin sketch for Rosalie at the Gielgud, which she signed and returned this week.
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