Six Characters in Search of an Author - Gielgud Theatre

SYNOPSIS

Six Characters in Search of an Author

If their previous works are anything to go by, Rupert Goold and Ben Power’s adaptation of Six Characters in Search of an Author is a must-see for all active theatre-goers. Appearing at the Gielgud Theatre from 10th September until 8th November 2008, the show is also directed by Goold, artistic director of Headlong Theatre Company (previously known as Oxford Stage Company). The show’s cast is led by Olivier and Tony award-winning actor, Ian McDiarmid.

Goold and Power’s adaptation of Six Characters in Search of an Author is a radical re-working of Luigi Pirandello’s work. The show follows the story of six strangers who turn up during the editing of a docu-drama; they inform the editors that they are fictional characters in search of an author. The documentary maker decides to film their story and the walls of reality and fiction are broken down and merged.

Rupert Goold has been described as The Times as ‘one of the most exciting young talents in British theatre today’. After learning the trade under the watchful eyes of stage and film director, Sam Mendes, Goold has gone from strength to strength and became artistic director of Headlong Theatre Company (who co-produce Six Characters) in 2005. Under his leadership, Headlong has staged the original West End premiere of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. Away from his Headlong work, Goold has directed Patrick Stewart in Macbeth, a show which had sold-out runs in both the West End and Broadway and resulted in Goold being awarded the 2008 Olivier Award for Best Director.

Literary Associate of Headlong Theatre Company, Ben Power has worked alongside Goold on several projects. Starting with an adaptation of Paradise Lost, Power has also dramatically re-imagined Marlowe’s Dr Faustus. Other than his work at Headlong, Power played a prominent role on the creation of Complicite’s A Dissapearing Number that won the 2007 Evening Standard Award for Best New Play. He has also just completed a version of Romeo and Juliet for the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as adapting The Things She Sees for the National Theatre.

Ian McDiarmid, portraying the role of The Father, served as artistic director of the Almeida Theatre in the West End (alongside Jonathan Kent) from 1990 until 2001, in which they produced a huge variety of shows with several big Hollywood names appearing on the stage such as Kevin Spacey and Ralph Fiennes. He has also appeared in several Hollywood films himself, his most notable role being Palpatine in the Star Wars episodes directed by George Lucas.

Six Characters in Search of an Author appears at the Gielgud Theatre from the 10th September 2008 to 8th November 2008.


Please be aware that this show contains adult themes - recommended age 16+.