Drawing: Eddie Redmayne and Alfred Molina

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Eddie Redmayne’s star is certainly on the rise. Apart from his obvious talent, he is one of the nicest people in the film and theatre world and always has time to stop and chat and sign some ‘graphs. He has appeared at London’s Donmar Warehouse twice over the last few years – in John Logan’s RED and Shakespeare’s RICHARD II. In the former he played Ken, the fictional assistant of the American abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko (Alfred Molina). After its London run it transferred to Broadway’s John Golden Theatre for a 15 week engagement till June 2010. For his role Eddie won both the Olivier and the Tony Award. Playing the title role in RICHARD II also garnered him a gong, this time the London Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Best Shakespearian Performance in 2012. Eddie recently appeared as Marius Pontmercy in Tom Hooper’s musical film LES MISÉRABLES and when he’s not on stage or on the screen, he models for Burberry… and signs my sketches!

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.

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: 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: 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: 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.

Drawing: Roger Allam

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Roger Allam was the original Javert in the London production of Les Misérables – one of his many high profile parts in an illustrious theatrical career, which has included winning three Olivier Awards.

He signed this sketch at Shakespeare’s Globe in October 2010, playing the role of Falstaff in Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 for which he won the Olivier Award for Best Actor. He is currently back on stage at the Globe playing Prospero in The Tempest and on the telly as Magister Illyrio Mopatis in the popular Game of Thrones.

Drawing: Dame Edna and Barry Humphries

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Sent my sketch of Dame Edna Everage to the New Wimbledon Theatre in January 2012 and received this back:

Drawing: Keira Knightley and Elisabeth Moss in The Children’s Hour

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Keira Knightley and Elisabeth Moss signed this sketch for me at the Comedy Theatre stage door after a performance of The Children’s Hour on the 30th March 2011.

Drawing: Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller in Frankenstein

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Danny Boyle returned to theatre direction with an adapted version of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein by Nick Dear at the National Theatre in London in 2011.

Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller alternated the two lead roles of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature. On the 17th and 19th of March 2011, the production was broadcast to cinemas around the world as part of the National Theatre Live programme.

Benedict and Jonny both shared the Olivier Award and the London Evening Standard Award for Best Actor for their respective performances. However, the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards’ Best Performance by an Actor in a Play was given solely to Benedict.

They both signed my programme after I saw one of the two world premiere opening nights in February 2011 (Benedict was the Creature, Jonny was Frankenstein) but a signed sketch never came back from the theatre. I drew another one and waited until Jonny was attending a Dark Shadows premiere in Leicester Square in May 2012 and he gladly signed for me. But I couldn’t get Benedict until he was at the latest Star Trek: Into Darkness world premiere, also in Leicester Square. Amongst a real frenzy I managed to get his attention. He loved the sketch, and dedicated it for me, saying “great drawing”.