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Rocky Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead - starring Tim Curry
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Tom Stoppard's
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are DeadRosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
at the Chichester Festival Theatre - 20th May to 11th June.

Tim CurryStarring Samuel Barnett, Jamie Parker and Tim Curry

Fans of Tim Curry don't often get a chance to see him live on stage here in the UK, the last time being way back in 2007 for Spamalot, so we were very excited to have news on this production.

Tom Stoppard's play retells Hamlet through the eyes of two of its minor characters and will be at the Chichester Festival Theatre for 25 performances before transfering to the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 16th June to 20th August.

Friday, May 27th, 2011 Time:19.42

Bad news, we've just a press release come through from the theatre to say Tim is unwell and unable to continue in the role at this time.

All the fans, I'm sure, wish Tim a speedy recovery and we send him our love.

Press Release

Tim Curry has withdrawn from the Chichester Festival Theatre and Theatre Royal Haymarket production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead due to ill-health.

Curry had featured in the role of The Player in the production which is running at Chichester Festival Theatre until 11 June. It transfers to Theatre Royal Haymarket from 16 June - 20 August.

Executive Director Alan Finch said: "It is with great regret that we confirm that Tim Curry will be unable to complete the run of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead due to ill-health, following an on-going chest infection and repeated asthma attacks. We know that our audiences will be disappointed not to see him in this role, however Tim's well-being is a priority and we wish him the very best for a speedy recovery. For the moment the production will continue with the role of the Player taken by Curry's understudy, Chris Andrew Mellon, while we consider our longer-term options."

Chichester Theatre show dates and times.

  • 20th May 7:30pm
  • 21st May 7:30pm
  • 23rd May 7:30pm
  • 24th May 7:30pm
  • 25th May 7:30pm
  • 26th May 7:30pm
  • 27th May 7:30pm
  • 28th May 2:15 pm
  • 28th May 7:30pm
  • 30th May 7:30pm
  • 31st May 7:00pm

  • 1st June 7:30pm
  • 2nd June 2:15 pm
  • 2nd June 7:30pm
  • 3rd June 7:30pm
  • 4th June 2:15 pm
  • 4th June 7:30pm
  • 6th June 7:30pm
  • 7th June 7:30pm
  • 8th June 2:15 pm
  • 8th June 7:30pm
  • 9th June 7:30pm
  • 10th June 7:30pm
  • 11th June 2:15 pm
  • 11th June 7:30pm

BUY TICKETS
Chichester Festival Theatre
Click here for a link to Chichester Theatre's website

Rehearsal images updated Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

Rehearsal image copyright Chichester Festival Theatre - used with permission on timewarp.org.uk

Rehearsal image copyright Chichester Festival Theatre - used with permission on timewarp.org.uk

Rehearsal image copyright Chichester Festival Theatre - used with permission on timewarp.org.uk

PRESS RELEASE - 1st April 2011

SAMUEL BARNETT, JAMIE PARKER and TIM CURRY in
ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD
By TOM STOPPARD
Director TREVOR NUNN
20th May - 11 JUNE
CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE

Original cast members of The History Boys, Samuel Barnett and Jamie Parker, are reunited on stage alongside distinguished actor and musical performer Tim Curry. They have been confirmed in the cast of Tom Stoppard's richly inventive play that retells Hamlet through the eyes of two of its minor characters.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead will open at the Festival Theatre in association with Theatre Royal Haymarket.

This absurdist comedy follows the uneasy progress of its ill-fated title characters. They inhabit a world completely beyond their grasp and control, while vaguely conscious that they are bit parts in a much bigger story of which they have no direct knowledge. The play explores the conflict between art and reality, existentialism and the limits of language with a style and wit that has captivated audiences since its National Theatre premiere in 1967.

Samuel Barnett will play Rosencrantz. His credits include Posner in the original cast of The History Boys on stage (National Theatre, Broadway and international tour) and in the subsequent film. Other theatre credits include Chichester's The Accrington Pals (Festival 2002), Women Beware Women and His Dark Materials (both for the National Theatre), as well as the West End production of Dealer's Choice. His screen credits include the films Bright Star and Mrs Henderson Presents, and the television series' Beautiful People and Desperate Romantics.

Jamie Parker will play Guildenstern. His credits include Chichester productions of The Coffee House, Holes in the Skin and The Gondoliers (Festival 2003) and Scripps in the original cast of The History Boys on stage (National Theatre, Broadway and international tour) and on film.
Other theatre credits include As You Like It, Henry IV Part 1 and Henry IV Part 2, all for Shakespeare's Globe and The Revengers Tragedy for the National Theatre.

Tim Curry features in the role of The Player. His wide-ranging career includes his performance as King Arthur in the original Broadway and West End productions of Spamalot for which he received an Oliver Award nomination. Other theatre credits include Tom Stoppard's Travesties on Broadway and in the West End, the title role in the Broadway production of Amadeus for which he was nominated for a Tony Award, the West End production of The Pirates of Penzance and the role of Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show. His film credits include Burke and Hare, Kinsey, The Hunt for Red October Annie, Legend, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The cast also features Michael Benz (Horatio), Fiona Gillies (Gertrude), Tom Golding (Fortinbras), Charles Hamblett (Alfred), Jack Hawkins (Hamlet), Andrew Jarvis (Polonius/Ambassador), Chris Andrew Mellon (Player King), Katherine Press (Ophelia) and James Simmons (Claudius), as well as Tomm Coles, Trevor Allan Davies, Zac Fox, Elisabeth Hopper, Greg Last, Jody Elin Machin, James Northcote and Stephen Pallister.

Tom Stoppard remains one of the most significant playwrights of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. His work includes The Real Inspector Hound, Jumpers, Travesties, The Real Thing, Arcadia and Rock 'n' Roll, while his screenplays include Shakespeare in Love for which he was awarded an Oscar for Best Screenplay, together with co-writer Marc Norman.

Trevor Nunn returns to Chichester Festival Theatre following his staging of Cyrano de Bergerac for Festival 09. He has been Artistic Director of both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, and his credits include the current West End production of Flare Path, as well as Birdsong, A Little Night Music, Rock 'n' Roll, Hamlet, King Lear, The Seagull and Porgy and Bess.

The production is designed by Simon Higlett, Associate Designer at Chichester, where his previous work includes Yes, Prime Minister, Taking Sides and Collaboration (all of which transferred to the West End), The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists and The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. Lighting Design is by Tim Mitchell, Associate Lighting Designer at Chichester, who has previously lit Bingo (which transfers to The Young Vic in early 2012), Yes, Prime Minister, The Critic and The Real Inspector Hound, The Master Builder, Oklahoma!, The Grapes of Wrath, Cyrano de Bergerac and A Small Family Business. Sound Design is by Paul Groothuis, the Composer is Steven Edis and Costume Design is by Fotini Dimou.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is sponsored by Conquest Furniture.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is at Chichester Festival Theatre 20th May - 11th June.
Tickets £10 - £26 for University of Chichester previews, £13 - £32 (other previews/press night) or £14 - £35 (evenings/matinees).

Schools tickets are £7.50 per ticket for school groups of nine or more for best available seats; one free teacher ticket with every nine paid. Tickets are available online at www.cft.org.uk or from the Box Office on 01243 781312.

Director Trevor Nunn will offer insights and answers about the play that asks so many questions in a free pre-show talk on Thursday 26th May at 6pm. Please book in advance at the Box Office.

After Words, a free post-show discussion with some of the cast and creative team, will take place on Monday 6th June.

Reviving Rosencrantz and Guildenstern is a Q & A with technicians, cast, crew and the creative team on Wednesday 8th June, 11.00am - 12.30pm. Tickets £5 from the Box Office.

Following its Chichester run, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead will transfer to Theatre Royal Haymarket from 16thth June - 20th August.

Cast:
Samuel Barnett
Rosencrantz
Michael BenzHoratio
Tomm ColesCourtier 2
Tim CurryThe Player
Trevor Allan DaviesPlayer 7, Lucianus/Claudius-poisoner
Zac FoxPlayer 5
Fiona GilliesGertrude
Tom GoldingFortinbras
Charles HamblettAlfred
Jack HawkinsHamlet
Elizabeth HopperCourtier 4
Andrew JarvisPolonius/Ambassador
Greg LastPlayer 6
Jody Elen MachinCourtier 3
Chris Andrew MellonPlayer King
James NorthcotePlayer 4
Stephen PallisterCourtier 1
Jamie ParkerGuildenstern
Katherine PressOphelia
James SimmonsClaudius

Creative team:
Trevor NunnDirector
Simon HiglettDesigner
Tim MitchellLighting Designer
Paul GroothuisSound Designer
Steven EdisComposer
Fotini DimouCostume Designer

Win Tickets to see the show

Those lovely people at the Chichester Festival Theatre gave two very lucky TimeWarp.org.uk visitors the chance to win a pair of tickets each to the Press Night of the show at 7pm on Tuesday 31st May, 2011. This competition closed at midnight on 26th May.

Question1
In Shakespeare's play, Hamlet is the Prince of which country?


And of course the answer was...... C: Denmark

The winners were David Cleghorn and Natalie Robinson

All images and text used with express permission of Chichester Festival Theatre and remain copyright and not for reproduction without their permission.

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