Drawing: The Weir at the Donmar Warehouse

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Conor McPherson’s The Weir is currently playing at the Donmar Warehouse. It’s the first major revival of an undoubted modern classic, directed by Josie Rourke.

On its premiere in 1997, at London’s Royal Court, The Weir won the Evening Standard Critic’s Circle and Olivier Awards for Best New Play.

Set in a rural bar in Ireland, a publican and three of his regulars attempt to spook a newcomer from Dublin, but end up frightened themselves.

My sketch was signed by Dervla Kirwan, Brian Cox and Father Ted’s Ardal O’Hanlon on Saturday 4 May.

Drawing: Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta Jones in A Little Night Music

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

I have a 50% success rate when it comes to sending stuff to Broadway Theatres for signatures, so I was very happy to receive my sketches back from Catherine Zeta Jones and the legendary Angela Lansbury in February 2010. Both were starring in Stephen Sondheim’s 1973 musical A Little Night Music at the Walter Kerr Theatre. And both were nominated for a Tony Award, with Catherine winning for Best Actress in a Musical, a category Angela had previously been nominated in 4 times, winning on each occasion. For this production Angela was nominated for Featured Actress in a Musical. She didn’t win, but had won in the same category in 2009 for Blithe Spirit.

Drawings: Ralph Fiennes

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton Wykenham Fiennes was only signing programmes and tickets at the stage door of the Royal Theatre Haymarket in London in August 2011. He was playing Prospero in Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Although spelt ‘Ralph’ it is pronounced ‘Rafe’, so don’t ask ‘Ralph’ for a ‘graph or you may not get one! The theatre management were very strict about the signing policy, so I made do with my ticket and programme siggys. I did however, leave a drawing of Ralph as Prospero and Elisabeth Hooper as his daughter Miranda at the stage door, and it was returned, signed by both.

Later that year Ralph also made his film directional debut, with an adaption of the Bard’s tragedy Coriolanus, in which he also played the title role. It screened at the BFI London Film Festival in October that year. Ralph attended and was happy to sign and dedicate my sketch at the Odeon West End Theatre in Leicester Square. Coriolanus actually had its premiere at the Curzon Mayfair in early January 2012. Once again Ralph attended and this time signed a sketch I did some years earlier, when he was on Broadway in 2006, playing Frank Hardy in Faith Healer at the Booth Theater. I was, in fact, in New York during the play’s season, but couldn’t get a ticket. Anyway, he was once again obliging with his autograph and complimentary comments.

Drawing: Eric Clapton

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Eric Clapton played 2 concerts at New Zealand’s Supertop at Mt Smart in Auckland on the 7/8 November 1990. I sent this caricature to the promoter and ‘slowhand’ quickly signed and returned it.

He is the only three time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a solo artist, and as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. A recipient of seventeen Grammy Awards, he is ranked second in the Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Eric is currently playing London’s Royal Albert Hall, until May 26th 2013.

Drawing: Michael Sheen in Hamlet

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Michael Sheen’s performance as the Great Dane in Ian Rickson’s controversial production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet was described by critics as ‘bonkers and brilliant’. The bard’s longest and most famous play was set in a mental institution.

Michael is one of the nicest people in entertainment and was very generous with his compliments and time as he signed my sketch in the Cut Bar at the Young Vic Theatre in November 2011.

Drawing: Kate Beckinsale

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Kate Beckinsale signed my sketch at the Total Recall UK premiere at the Vue cinema in Leicester Square, London in August 2012.

The film was a remake of the 1990 dystopian sci-fi action flick of the same name, which was in turn loosely based on the 1966 short story We Can Remember It For You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick.

Drawing: Imelda Staunton and Michael Ball in Sweeney Todd

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Imelda Staunton and Michael Ball won every major award in the acclaimed revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd at London’s Adelphi Theatre, including the Olivier for Best Actress and Actor in a musical respectively. They signed this sketch at the theatre for me in May 2012.

Drawing: Jude Law and Mat Burke in Anna Christie

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Jude Law signed this portrait on his way to an evening performance at the Donmar Warehouse in August 2011. He was the big draw in this outstanding revival of Eugene O’Neill’s play Anna Christie, playing the role of the hulking seadog hero Mat Burke.

Jude’s fine ear for the salty vernacular of the New York waterfront in the twenties earned him an Olivier Award nomination and five stars from all the major critics.

Drawing: Sienna Miller and Terrance Rattigan in Flare Path

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Sienna Miller signed my Comic Relief sketch at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in April 2011 when she was performing in Terrance Rattigan’s wartime play Flare Path.

Drawing: Patrick Stewart in Shakespeare

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

The Cut Bar at the Young Vic is a popular theatre restaurant. Named after the street location rather than the state of its patrons…. mostly, it provides a convivial place to wait for the talent as they slip through to the stage door and the bar’s western hall.

I had heard that Sir Patrick wasn’t likely to sign going in, so left this sketch of him in his role as William Shakespeare in Bingo at the theatre rather than suffer a rejection in person. I was finishing a quiet ale in the aforementioned establishment, when Captain Picard walked past me. I was sketching at the time and he complimented me, we exchanged some pleasantries, but I decided not to mention my request. The Shakespeare sketch was returned, signed.