Dateline 4th March, 2001
Finney says No to a K
Albert Finney has turned down a knighthood, saying he is perfectly happy to be called "mister" and that knighthoods perpetuate "one of our diseases in England - snobbery." He told the Daily Express, "Maybe people in America think being a Sir is a big deal, but I think we should all be misters together."
Coming to the Almeida
The Almeida Theatre, currently occupying an old bus garage in King's Cross while its Islington premises are refurbished, has announced its Summer/Autumn programme. The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute opens on 24th May and will be followed opn 30th August by Platonov, an unfinished play by Chekhov, finished by David Edgar. Finally, the theatre ends the year with Brian Friel's Faith Healer, which opens on 28th November.
Fiennes opening this week
Marlowe's Edward II opens this week (8th March) at the Crucible, Sheffield. It runs until 31st March, with Joseph Fiennes in the laad role.
New musical at the Bridewell
A new musical, Hello Again by Michael John La Chuisa, opens at the Bridewell on 14th March for a month's run. The musical is based on Schnitzler's La Ronde, the source for Christopher Hampton's Les Liaisons Dangereuses.
Another new musical is due to arrive at the Bridewell later in the year. Is There Life after High School? transfers from the USA and arrives on 26th May.
Broadsides on the move
The Yorkshire company Northern Broadsides is presenting a double Shakespeare bill at the Viaduct, Halifax, until 10th March, and will then embark on a national tour. The two plays are King John and The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Busby's Babes casting
The first casting for the forthcoming film Busby's Babes, which tells the story of the Manchester United football team, has been announced. Harold Pinter is to play Sir Matt Busby himself. Others who are possible cast members are Christopher Eccleston, Alfred Milina and Caroline Quentin.
Brook's Hamlet coming to the Young Vic
Peter Brook's shortened version of Hamlet (renamed The Tragedy of hamlet) is to have a short run at the Young Vic from 22nd August to 8th September. Brook has shortened the play by a thrid and reduced the cast to eight.
Hamlet is played by Adrian Lester. The play is currently on an international tour.
New Harvey play for Hampstead
Jonathan Harvey's new play Out in the Open opens at the Hampstead Yheatre on 20th March (previews from 15th). Directed by Kathy Burke, the play stars Linda Bassett. It will run until 14th April and will then transfer to Birmingham.
$10,000 prize for Jones
Playwright Charlotte Jones (In Flame) has won the first prize in the Susan Smith Blackburn Awards. The prize is given to women who have written works of quality for the English-speaking theatre. Her latest play Humble Boy is to open at the RNT in the Spring, with Simon Russell Beale in the leading role.
Distel to write Chevalier musical
French singer Sacha Distel, currently appearing in Chicago at the Adelphi, to preparing to write a musical about another French singer, Maurice Chevalier, probably best known for the film musical Gigi. Distel hope the show will open in London.
Distel leaves Chicago on 17th March.
Come Dancing for the West End?
The musical Come Dancing, which was workshopped at the National, may have a West End outing, so the rumours say.