La Bete

La Bete

La Bête

In 1991 David Hiron presented his new comedy entitled “La Bête”, a show in which performers battle it out to survive in testing times. Now, almost two decades since its premiere, a new production of the show is set to appear in the West End with an all-star casting leading the proceedings at the Comedy Theatre.

Mark Rylance, fresh from his award-winning turn in “Jerusalem”, is set to appear alongside David Hyde Pierce and Joanna Lumley, making the show a highly anticipated treat that is certain to be a popular draw.

Mark Rylance will portray Valere in the production, with David Hyde Pierce as Elomire and Joanna Lumley as Princess Conti. The latter is the princess for whom Elomire and co perform, entertaining her as part of a theatre group of respected dramatists – performers whose hearts belong to the stage. However unlike these, Valere is a street clown who thinks only of himself, but when the princess grows tired of Elomire and his band of thespians, the pair must fight to survive as the biggest literary showdown in history begins to unfold.

The star cast is not unusual for the Comedy Theatre, which is the location in which numerous well known faces have graced the stage. 2010 saw the venue host “The Misanthrope” with Keira Knightley in her West End debut opposite Damien Lewis. In 2008, a range of actors (Robert Webb, Kris Marshall and Kelly Brook) stepped into Neil LaBute’s “Fat Pig”.

Now the stage is set for David Hyde Pierce in his own West End debut, having so far made a name for himself in the likes of “Frasier” (as Niles) and “Curtains” for Broadway. The respected star won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor after appearing in the musical in 2007.

Joanna Lumley is also a familiar face, having appeared in the news recently for helping Gurkha’s in their battle to stay in the UK. Her credits include the hit sitcom “Absolutely Fabulous”, as well as “The New Avengers” and “Sapphire and Steel”, whilst her theatre credits have made her a familiar West End presence in “Blithe Spirit” at the Vaudeville Theatre and “The Letter” at the Lyric Hammersmith.

But all eyes will be on Mark Rylance when he appears onstage as “La Bête” will mark his first appearance since his appearance in the phenomenally acclaimed “Jerusalem”, which has been nominated for numerous awards since it appeared at the Royal Court Theatre last year.

“La Bête” is at the Comedy Theatre from Wednesday 7th July 2010 (previews from Saturday 26th June 2010) until Saturday 28th August 2010.