Drawing: Nathaniel Parker in An Ideal Husband

Posted on June 6, 2018 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of Nathaniel Parker in An Ideal Husband at the Vaudeville Theatre on London's West End

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.

Drawing: Audrey Fleurot in Tartuffe

Posted on June 5, 2018 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of Audrey Fleurot in Tartuffe at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on London's West End

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.

Drawing: Paul Anderson in Tartuffe

Posted on June 4, 2018 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of Paul Anderson in Tartuffe at Theatre Royal Haymarket on London's West End

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.

Drawing: Rosalie Craig in The Ferryman

Posted on June 1, 2018 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of Rosalie Craig in The Ferryman at the Gielgud Theatre on London's West End

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.

Drawing: Adrienne Warren in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of Adrienne Warren in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre on London's West End

“Whirlwind Turner tribute leaves you breathless. Phyllida Lloyd’s musical is a heady celebration of triumphs over adversity, with an astonishing turn by Adrienne Warren,” wrote Michael Billington in his four-star review of TINA:THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL, which opened at London’s Aldwych Theatre with its World Premiere last month.

Matt Wolf in the New York Times said, ” She sings with the feral, unchanged yearning that does the show’s namesake proud.”

The 31 year-old American actress, singer and dancer was hand picked by Tina herself to make her West End debut, although she is well-known Stateside. Adrienne first performed on Broadway in BRING IT ON at the St James Theatre in 2012 before earning a Tony nomination for… wait for it, SHUFFLE ALONG OR THE MAKING OF THE MUSICAL SENSATION OF 1921 AND ALL THAT FOLLOWS at the Music Box Theatre.

Her screen appearances include the hit TV show ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK. Rarely off stage in TINA, her performance as the Motown legend in the new ‘jukebox juggernaut’ had the critics searching for superlatives, but Ann Treneman of the Times said “simply the best.” Adrienne signed my sketch at the Aldwych Theatre last week.

Drawing: Oliver Ryan in Glengarry Glen Ross

Posted on May 16, 2018 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of Oliver Ryan in Glengarry Glen Ross at the Playhouse Theatre on London's West End

Earlier this year I was fortunate to see the London revival of David Mamet’s GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS at the Playhouse Theatre with an outstanding cast lead by Christian Slater. All of them signed sketches I did and have previously posted, except this one of Oliver Ryan… until now. Synonymous with the Royal Shakespeare Company since 2009, the Welsh actor has played many of the Bard’s memorable characters, including Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Benvolio, Malcolm and Oswald on the UK and New York stages.

In David Mamet’s most famous and Pulitzer Prize winning play about testosterone-raddled real estate agents and the ‘excavation of the desperation that lies under the alpha male ego’, Oliver is Baylen, the police detective who spends most of the Second Act offstage in a back office interrogating the salesmen about their knowledge of a break-in. While he makes brief appearances on stage, his ‘presence’ increases the tension during the act as he seeks to find the culprit and make an arrest.

Oliver signed my sketch along with the rest of the cast at the stage door in January.

Drawing: Ruthie Henshall in Billy Elliot The Musical

Posted on May 9, 2018 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of Ruthie Henshall in Billy Elliot The Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre on London's West End

Ruthie Henshall’s illustrious theatre career spans four decades, beginning with her West End debut in CATS in 1988, making appearances as Jemima, Demeter, Griddlebone and Grizabella after completing the UK tour of A CHORUS LINE. She is currently back on the London boards in the revival of CHICAGO at the Phoenix Theatre.

It’s a show she knows well. Having played Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly on a few occasions on the West End and Broadway, she is now the prison warden, Mama Morton, which makes her the only British actress to have played all CHICAGO’s leading female roles. She originated the role of Roxie in the 1997 London production, a performance that earned her one of five Olivier Award nominations. She won two years earlier for her portrayal of Amelia Balash in the revival of SHE LOVES ME.

Prior to this year’s CHICAGO, Ruthie joined the cast of BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL as the straight talking dance teacher Mrs Wilkinson for the last 18 months of it’s eleven year run at the Victoria Palace Theatre. I drew this drawing of her, which she signed for me at the Phoenix stage door on Saturday and remarked on the impressive sweater she got to wear, which, by the way took me longer to render than the rest of the sketch and she said it was and she should have kept it.

Drawing: Sian Thomas in Passion Play

Posted on May 8, 2018 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of Sian Thomas in Passion Play at the Duke of York's Theatre on London's West End

Welsh actress Sian Thomas, known for her big screen role as Amelia Bones, the Head of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic in 2007’s HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX also has an impressive set of stage credentials. She is currently playing Aunt Pat in Jez Butterworth’s epic new play THE FERRYMAN at London’s Gielgud Theatre, which ends this month.

The last time I saw Sian on the West End was in Peter Nichol’s PASSION PLAY at the Duke of York’s in 2013. She was the ‘friend’ who decides to enlighten Zoe Wannamaker’s character about her husband’s betrayal, a performance Charles Spencer in his Telegraph review describes as “memorably bitter.”

I had been carrying this sketch of Sian around in my ‘working’ file (probably ‘walking’ file is more apt given the miles I cover stalking stage doors) since I missed her at the Duke’s five years ago so took the opportunity to catch up before with her at the Gielgud on Saturday when she arrived for the matinee and signed it.

Drawing: Josefina Gabrielle in Chicago

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of Josefina Gabrielle on West End

Josefina Gabrielle is very familiar with CHICAGO, the musical not the city, although I could be misrepresenting her knowledge of American metropolises. The British musical theatre star has returned to the show, this time as Velma Kelly, after playing Roxie Hart in the two previous London productions at the Cambridge and Adelphi Theatres. With three Olivier Award nominations for OKLAHOMA, SWEET CHARITY and MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, Josephina’s musical pedigree is assured.

I drew this montage of her in CHICAGO, as the Evil Witch Evilena in the Hackney Empire’s 2013 panto PUSS AND BOOTS, her dual roles as NIckie and Ursula in the stage adaption of John Masefield’s 1935 children’s book, THE BOX OF DELIGHTS at Wilton’s Music Hall in the East End and her Oliver-nominated performance as Gussie Carnegie in the Menier Chocolate Factory’s 2014 production of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG.

She signed it for me at the Phoenix Theatre stage door when she arrived for the CHICAGO matinee.

Jason Watkins in Frozen

Posted on April 23, 2018 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of Jason Watkins in Frozen at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on London's West End

“Audiences may come to this production drawn by the star power of Suranne Jones, but will leave talking about Jason Watkins,” wrote David Butcher in his Radio Times review of FROZEN, which has been running at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket since February.

“His performance as Ralph, a serial killer and paedophile, who abducts children is strikingly sinister, a creepy tour de force”.

Suranne plays Nancy, a mother of a murdered daughter, killed by Jason’s character. Both actors were kept apart for most of the rehearsals to make the moment when they ‘collide’ on stage as ‘powerful’ as possible said director Jonathan Munby.

When you meet the BAFTA-winning Jason he is the complete opposite, one of the nicest people stalking the London boards, obviously not a method actor. He was more than happy to sign my drawing at the stage door a few weeks ago.