Drawing: Ross Noble in Young Frankenstein

Posted on October 9, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Forty-year-old Northumberland-born funnyman Ross Noble has been performing since he was smuggled into his local comedy club at the age of 15. Since then he has become a regular on TV’s mainstream comedy shows. This month he made his West End musical debut as the hunchbacked servant Igor in Mel Brook’s YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN at the Garrick Theatre, which has its opening tomorrow night. The Geordie stand-up is playing the role made famous by comic legend Marty Feldman in the original 1974 film version. “I have an advantage, I come with my own hump”, he said in a recent interview.

He made his musical debut in another Mel Brook’s show, THE PRODUCERS on its 2015 UK tour, playing pigeon fancier Frank Liebkind. His initial conversations for YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN was over the phone when Mel who acted out every character. “I got my own private Mel Brooks performance”, Ross said. He signed this sketch for me at the stage door over after last Saturday’s matinee.

Drawing: Fernanda Oliveria

Posted on October 5, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Fernanda Oliveria is a Prize-winning Brazilian ballerina, not to be confused with the Brazilian Olympic medal-winning sailor of the same name. Fernanda the dancer is Lead Principal at the English National Ballet, which she joined in 2000 having trained at the Centro de Danca Rio and the Royal Ballet Upper School. She moved through the ranks from First soloist in 2003 to Principal in 2007 and Lead Principal two years later. Her favourite productions are ROMEO & JULIET and MANON and her career highlight is creating the role of Gerda in THE SNOW QUEEN for the CONCERT FOR DIANA at the newly-built Wembley Stadium in 2007. Fernanda signed this sketch for me at the ENB studios in London.

Drawing: Sheena Easton

Posted on September 28, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Scottish songstress Sheena Easton made her West End debut this year as Dorothy Brock in the revival of the hit musical 42nd STREET at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. The two-time Grammy Award winner has sold over 20 million records worldwide with Gold and Platinum albums in the US, Europe and Asia. She is the first and only artist to have top 5 hits in five different Billboard charts consecutively. Sheena has appeared on Broadway in MAN OF LA MANCHA and as Rizzo in GREASE. I left this sketch at the stage door and it came back signed and dedicated.

Drawing: Christiane Karg

Posted on September 26, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Award-winning German operatic soprano Christiane Karg performed at London’s Wigmore Hall last weekend where I managed to get this sketch signed. The drawing is based on her role as Norina in DON PASQUALE at the Komische Opera in Berlin at the beginning of 2010.

Drawing: Sir Peter Hall

Posted on September 25, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

The ‘colossus’ of British theatre, theatre, opera and film director Sir Peter Hall died this month. In their obituary, The Times wrote that he was “the most important figure in British theatre for half a century.”

Sir Peter ran the National theatre from 1973-1988 and founded the Royal Shakespearian Company in 1960. The National Theatre said that Sir Peter’s “influence on the artistic life of Britain in the 20th Century was unprecedented.

I had the pleasure of meeting Sir Peter on a few occasions at theatre press nights before he retired from public life in 2011. He was always a delight. In March 2010 he attended the opening night of PRIVATE LIVES at London’s Vaudeville Theatre, starring Kim Cattrall. After the show he went backstage and signed for me leaving via the stage door.

Drawing: Leanne Cope at the Royal Ballet

Posted on September 22, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Celebrated British choreographer Christopher Wheeldon spotted Leanne Cope in the 2014 Royal Ballet Company’s production of SWAN LAKE and cast her as Lise Dassin, the lead in AN AMERICAN IN PARIS. It was a role she originated in the Broadway production, which has transferred to London’s West End and is currently running at the Dominion Theatre. After graduating in 2003 from the Royal Ballet School,Leanne progressed to First Artist six years later. Leanne kindly signed a drawing I did of her as Lise earlier in the year and did the same to this one of her from her Royal Ballet days last week.

Drawing: Lisa Palfrey in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

Posted on September 19, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Welsh actress Lisa Palfrey was appearing as Big Mama in the Young Vic’s West End production of Tennessee William’s CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF at the Apollo Theatre… until an emergency appendectomy cut short her performance last month. Initially understudy Kate Britain covered until Kiwi actress Kerry Fox stepped into the role until Lisa recovered. She signed this sketch for me a week before the unscheduled appendix removal.

Drawing: Joseph Millson in Apologia

Posted on September 18, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

English actor and singer Joe Millson was attracted back to the London stage by the script of Alexi Kaye Campbell’s APOLOGIA, which is currently running at the Trafalgar Studios until November. Joe plays both sons; the calm but troubled Simon and the thick-skinned banker Peter, who attend their mother’s (Stockard Channing) birthday, a matriarchal figure and famous art historian who has just published her memoirs neglecting to mention her them.

It was originally drafted for two actors but it was director, Jamie Lloyd’s innovation to use one. “It’s very light, easy-to-watch stuff, but leaves you with a punch in the gut,” said Joe in a recent interview. Theatre critic, Neil Dowden, writing his review in Exeunt wrote, “Joseph Millson excels in contrasting Peter’s self-confident directness with Simon’s subdued, more obliquely accusing manner.” I did suggest to Joe, while he was signing my sketch at the stage door, that they should be paying him double for the dual roles, an idea that appealed.

Drawing: Hayley Squires in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

Posted on September 13, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Hayley Squires performance as single mum Katie in Ken Loach’s multi-award winning film I, DANIEL BLAKE catapulted her into the international spotlight, earning a BAFTA nomination and winning a number of accolades including the Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her latest role is the complete opposite, making her West End debut in the Young Vic production of Tennessee William’s steamy southern family drama CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF opposite Sienna Miller and Jack O’Connell at the Apollo Theatre. Hayley plays Mae, the scheming sister-in -law which The Times critic Ann Treneman called a “stand-out performance.” She signed my drawing a month ago at the stage door.

Drawing: Freema Agyeman in Apologia

Posted on September 12, 2017 by Mark Winter / Chicane

DOCTOR WHO’s Freema Agyeman made her West End debut last month in the revival of Alexei Kaye Campbell’s family drama APOLOGIA at the Trafalgar Studios. Known as Martha Jones,the Time Lord’s companion and Alesha Phillips in LAW & ORDER:UK, Freema plays Claire, the unrepentant girlfriend. Ironically she turned down a chance to debut on stage at the Donmar sixteen years ago for a role in the soap CROSSROADS, now appears for the first time on the London boards as a spirited soap star. She signed this sketch I drew at the stage door after a Saturday evening performance a few weeks ago.