Dateline 22nd October, 2000
Bush re-opens
After being dark (for refurbishment) since July, the Bush re-opens on 24th October with the Irish play Howie the Rookie, by Mark O'Rowe. Starring Aidan Kelly and Karl Shiles, the play, which has won many awards )Irish Times New Play Award 2000, the 1999 George Devine Award, the 1999 Rooney Prize for Irish Literature, the Herald Angel for Best Production at the 1999 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the 1999 Barclays/TMA Award of Best Designer for Es Devlin) will run until 11th November, after which it will go on a short national tour before crossing the Atlantic to New York and San Francisco.
Warriors and Longitude fight it out
The hugely successful BBC drama Warriors and Channel 4's Longitude have both been nominated for best drama in the Emmy awards which will be presented on 20th November. Altogether twelve British programmes are among the 28 nominated in all categories.
Blue/Orange to transfer
Joe Penhall's Blue/Orange, which premiered at the Cottesloe in April, is to follow another National Theatre hit, Michael Frayne's Copenhagen, into the Duchess next year. No date has yet been fixed, but Copenhagen is currently booking until April 2000.
Big money for McCormack
Catherine McCormack, who made her film debut playing Mel Gibson's love interest in Braveheart and who has most recently been playing in Arthur Miller's All My Sons at the National, is reported to be receiving half a million pounds to be Brad Pitt's love interest in a new Hollywood film, Spy Game, which begins shooting in London next month.
Duchess delayed at the Barbican
The RSC has had to cancel the first seven previews and delay the opening of The Duchess of Malfi at the Barbican because of the illness of Neil Dudgeon who plays Bosola. The part will now be taken by Tom Mannion.
Itch to close early
Yet another West End show, The Seven Year Itch (Queen's) which stars Daryl Hannah, will close two weeks early on 9th December, after a nine week run.
Paige out of Wednesday matinees
It has been announced that Elaine Paige will not be appearing in any more Wednesday matinees of The King and I at the London Palladium. The part of Anna will be played by Claire Moore.
Dickens show re-opens next week
Peter Ackroyd's The Mystery of Charles Dickens re-opens next Monday (30th October) at the Albery. The play had been at the Comedy Theatre until 15th October.