Single Spies
Nigel Havers in…..
Single Spies
By Alan Bennett
Directed by Christopher Luscombe
The Lowry, Mon 11 – Sat 15 March 2008
Press Night: Tue 11 March, 7.30pm
Theatre and TV favourite Nigel Havers stars in Alan Bennett’s award-winning comedy Single Spies when it comes to The Lowry in March. Performing alongside Nigel are Diana Quick, Jack Ryder, John Arther, Thomas Eyre and Clive Flint.
Single Spies originally opened at the National Theatre in 1988 and went on to become a major international hit, winning the Olivier Award for Best Comedy. It consists of two pieces, An Englishman Abroad and A Question of Attribution sparkle with Alan Bennett’s trademark wit.
In An Englishman Abroad, the famous actress Coral Brown (Diana Quick) accepts an invitation to lunch with double agent Guy Burgess (Nigel Havers), living in exile in a seedy Moscow apartment. She finds a man longing for society gossip and a new suit from his London tailor. In A Question of Attribution, Her Majesty The Queen (Diana Quick) happens upon the eminent art historian Anthony Blunt (Nigel Havers) replacing one of her favourite Titians. The painting is a fake, but is The Queen also aware that her enigmatic servant is actually the traitorous ‘fourth man’?
Nigel Havers is one of Britain’s most loved actors having starred in a string of hit television series and films including The Charmer, Born and Bred, Manchild, Don’t Wait Up, Dangerfield, Chariots of Fire and A Passage to India. Most recently, Nigel starred as Maxim de Wynter in the 36 week national tour of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca playing to sell out houses and breaking box office records across the country.
Diana Quick shot to fame for her portrayal of Julia Flyte in the television adaptation of Brideshead Revisited. Her acclaimed stage performances include the award-winning Mrs Rochester, Mother Courage and Peter Hall’s celebrated production of You Never Call Tell.
Jack Ryder, now proving himself to be one of our most accomplished stage actors, is probably best known as Jamie Mitchell in Eastenders.
Alan Bennett is, without a doubt, one of the country’s most popular writers. His television series Talking Heads, full of understatement, observation and knowing irony, has become a modern classic. His award wining plays include The Lady in the Van, Forty Years On and The Madness of King George. The History Boys has picked up a whole host of awards including the Evening Standard, Critics’ Circle and Olivier awards in London and no less than six Tonys in New York.
Single Spies is directed by Christopher Luscombe and designed by Janet Bird. Christopher’s numerous credits include Alan Bennett’s The Lady in the Van and Noel Coward’s Star Quality starring Penelope Keith. Together Christopher and Janet have worked on The Comedy of Errors at Shakespeare’s Globe and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. Lighting design is by Colin Grenfell, sound design by Mike Beer with music by Malcom McKee.
Posted on Wednesday, 27 February 2008 under Press Theatre Press