Drawing: The Last Of The Haussmans

Posted on December 12, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

The Last of the Haussmans

Gathering a cluster of four star reviews from every major British critic, Stephen Beresford’s debut play THE LAST OF THE HAUSMANNS ran at the National Theatre in London in the latter half of 2012. Directed by Howard Davies, it featured Julie Walters as high society drop-out Judy Hausmann with Rory Kinnear and Helen McCrory as her wayward offspring Nick and Libby.

The darkly humorous family drama ‘explores the fate of the revolutionary generation and offers a funny, touching and at times savage portrait of a family full of longing that’s losing its grip’. I’m a huge fan of all three and was very pleased to receive my signed sketch back after leaving it at the stage door.

Drawing: Nigella Lawson

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Nigella Lawson

As you know, in my next life I want to be a chef. In order to prep for that I have included in my list of vices viewing TV cooking programmes and sketching a few of my favourite foodies. I couldn’t miss out one of the most influential food writers and broadcasters, Nigella Lawson.

My opportunity came last night when she was part of The Guardian Live series at London’s Emmanuel Centre, where she was interviewed and introduced her new book, SIMPLY NIGELLA. It was also an excellent opportunity to exercise my festive spirit and buy a copy of her book for my mum’s Chrissie present. I stood in line while the large throng had their copies signed and got the obligatory selfies, reaching her with only a few left in the hall. ‘Oh there’s such an eerie silence now’ she said. That was before I piped up.

As she was signing my book and we were chatting away I asked her if she could also sign my sketch. Awkward moment. She explained that it was not something she could do and the official looking person told me, ‘Books only’. But the festive spirit prevailed and Nigella very kindly said ” I’ll just pop this in the corner,” and she signed a ‘thank you’ and simply ‘Nigella’. And I’ll pop mum’s pressie in the post.

Drawing: Tracy Ann Oberman

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Tracey Ann Oberman

I meet Tracy Ann Oberman one Saturday afternoon earlier this year when the sun sometimes shone, (well it wasn’t raining) and the air temperature was very pleasant, as was Tracy-Ann. She was on her way to the matinee of McQUEEN at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, where she was performing the role of Isabella Blow, who discovered the late visionary designer Alexander MCQueen, played by Stephen Wight.

I had drawn two sketches of the award-winning actress, playwright and writer – one was depicting her and Stephen in their respective roles, which Stephen had signed a few minutes earlier and the other was this portrait montage. The weather is important here because the Theatre Royal Haymarket’s uncovered stage door opens out onto a plush little cul-de-sac that can often create its own menacing climate, not condusive to autograph collecting. On this very pleasant day, however the weather was behaving and everything was fine with the world.

Tracy-Ann liked and signed both drawings, but I think this was her favourite. Then she slipped into the theatre to play the fascinating but ultimately tragic character who appears as a ghost. Such a kind spirit.

Drawing: Toby Jones in Circle Mirror Transformation

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Toby Jones

The Royal Court Theatre has, an ‘Open Court’ Programme which takes theatre to the “less-heeled parts of London” as critic Dominic Cavandish likes to call them. One such foray was to the Rose Lipman Building in Haggerston, a former library turned arty community centre on the fringes of Shoreditch, Islington and Dalston.

It was the late Autumn of 2013 when Annie Baker’s quirky comedy about drama-therapy sessions CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION had its U.K. premiere, featuring, among others Imelda Staunton and Toby Jones. I had drawn a sketch of Toby as J.M.M Turner in THE PAINTER when it premiered in the same part of town at the Arcola Theatre in 2011 and had hoped to get it signed by stalking him at the Haggerston venue.

To justify the intrusion and for a bit of pictorial therapy l did this quick rendering of him and Imelda in rehearsal. Toby would relate to this I thought. Years before he became well-known for everything from HITCHCOCK to THE HUNGER GAMES and the House Elf, Dobby in HARRY POTTER, he had a small bit part as the stalker of Julia Roberts’ character in NOTTING HILL, begging her for an autograph in a cafe. He was so convincing as a creepy fan that even security stopped him on his way to the set. The scene, however ended up on the cutting room floor, but he did turn it into a play called MISSING REEL which received warm reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe three years later, ending with footage from his unused cameo.

Back to story. The out-of-the-way Rose Lipman Building proved just that. I couldn’t find it, got lost and ran out of time, so resorted to posting the drawings.After some months past I figured the postman didn’t find it either. Then they arrived, both signed along with a graphed 5 x7 and a nice note apologising for the lengthy delay, but he had only just received them. The Royal Mail are more persistent than me.

Drawing: Terrible Advice at the Menier Chocolate Factory

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Terrible Advice

TERRIBLE ADVICE premiered at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory in the Winter of 2011 to critical acclaim. The debut play by Saul Rubinek, best-known as Daphane’s boyfriend in FRASIER was directed by Yoda, I mean Frank Oz, long-time collaborator of Jim Henson and the Jedi Master himself.

It was based on the premise that well-meaning friends are never slow to offer advice, but following it can ruin your life. The ‘well-meaning friends’ were Caroline Quentin, Scott Bakula, Andy Nyman and Sharon Horgan who I depicted in this biro sketch and guessed which of the exits they would choose to come out of the converted factory, 180 seater off-West End theatre and restaurant to get it signed. I guessed correctly.

Drawing: The Weir cast

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

The Weir Full Cast

The 2013 London revival of Conor McPherson’s Olivier-Award winning THE WEIR transferred from the intimate Donmar Warehouse to the Wyndham’s Theatre in Charing Cross for a sell-out season in early 2014. I did a sketch of Brian Cox, Ardal O’Hanlon and Dervla Kirwan, and they signed for me at the Donmar, which I’ve previously posted. After the transfer I drew this full cast drawing adding Risteard Cooper and Peter McDonald and got it graphed by all five at the stage door.

Drawing: Ben Barnes and Genevieve O’Reilly in Birdsong

Posted on December 5, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Birdsong

The first public performance of Sebastian Faulk’s BIRDSONG was on the 18 September 2010 at London’s Comedy Theatre. Directed by Sir Trevor Nunn, the WWI love story featured Ben Barnes and Genevieve O’Reilly, who I drew on the day and meet at the stage door where they graphed it, commemorating the World Premiere.

Drawing: Nish Kumar

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Nish Kumar

Nish Kumar is one of the funniest guys around. Even the Guardian… I think it was the Guardian, said he has sealed his place at the top table of UK comedy. His show LONG WORD …LONG WORD… BLAH BLAH BLAH … I’M SO CLEVER (yes that is the actual title) was the hottest ticket at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe and was nominated for the Best Show Award.

This month he’s taken up residency at London’s Soho Theatre. The publicity blurb describes the performance as “This is a stand-up comedy show for people who like stand-up comedy by a man that does stand-up comedy.” Succinct. It goes on to say the “depending on your opinion, the man is either ‘a comedian on the up (The Times), ‘a comedian I’ve never heard of’ (Audience Member) or ‘a very clever boy’ (Nish Kumar).

After last night’s show he was perched in the packed bar signing copies of his DVD and I was perched anywhere near him but was slowly wading through the throng and held my sharpie up indicating I was heading his way. When I showed him the sketch he probably thought ‘missed sale’ but politely said, “You’ve made me too handsome”. I apologised and he signed it.

So (Ho Ho Ho) if you’re in need of some festive cheer, pop along and catch Nish… oh and buy his DVD. Say Mark sent you.

Drawing: Tom Chambers and Summer Strallen in Top Hat

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Summer Strallen Top Hat

TOP HAT danced its way through 2012 at London’s Aldwych Theatre, winning 3 Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical. Based on one of the greatest dance musicals of all time, the 1935 classic with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Hollywood’s golden age of glamour and glorious tap-dancing! Wearing the tap-dancing shoes for this London revival were Tom Chambers and Summer Strallen, who both did a little sharpie shuffle at the stage door and signed my drawing for me.

Drawing: The Tiger Lilies: Lulu – A Murder Ballard

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Mark Winter / Chicane

The Tiger Lillies

The cult cabaret trio, The Tiger Lillies performed their latest stage piece, LULU – A MURDER BALLAD at the Royal Opera House this month. With their trademark demon / clown face paint; composer, singer and accordionist Martyn Jacques, bass player Adrian Stout and percussionist Jonas Gollard presented the ‘brilliantly twisted’ song cycle distillation of Frank Wedekind’s dangerous, unpredictable and tragic heroine, Lulu played by Laura Caldow. Described as part grand guignol, part seedy vaudeville and part grunge cabaret the trio are part of a centuries-long tradition of art that challenges social and cultural conventions.

In his four-star review for The Stage, Neil Norman wrote, “Martyn Jacques’ trio are jaunty, post-punk night crawlers, renegade musicians who cleave to the after-dark melodrama of sex,death and the macabre”.

I left this sketch of Martyn and Laura at the ROH last week and they kindly signed and returned it for me.