The Ladykillers

The Ladykillers

There won’t be many people heading to the Gielgud Theatre later in the year who are not aware of the source material for the West End venue’s latest show. But then “The Ladykillers” is a movie that is considered a classic wherever one turns, from the star performances from the likes of Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers to the comic script from writer William Rose, it is a movie whose legacy lives on more than 50 years since it hit cinema screens.

So the announcement that the show would be arriving in the West End with an adapted script penned by Graham Linehan is one that is bound to create a great deal of excitement.

“The Ladykillers” focuses on a band of thieves that are planning to steal a great deal of money and in doing so the ringleader takes up residence in the home of a sweet old lady, getting her involved in the action without her knowing. But when she gets wise to their scheme the group realise that they are going to have to dispose of her if they want to get away with the cash intact.

The original movie hit cinema screens in 1955 under the banner of Ealing Studios and has remained popular, spawning a 2004 remake from the Coen Brothers and starring Tom Hanks.

Writer Graham Linehan is someone known to audiences around the country thanks to the abundance of acclaimed sitcoms that he is behind and soon London theatre audiences will be able to relish in his work as well. The Irish writer is best known for the comedy “Father Ted”, which remains popular more than a decade since it left our screens, in addition to follow-up shows like “Black Books” and “The IT Crowd”. He has also contributed to a host of other high profile and influential British comedies like “The Fast Show”.

The cast of “The Ladykillers” in the 1950s remains one of its selling points and the stage adaptation has a lot to live up to as a result, but the producers step up to the mantle with the casting of Peter Capaldi, Ben Miller and James Fleet in the lead roles. Well known to comedy audiences they are more than capable of lending the show its much-needed comic tone.

“The Ladykillers” will first be seen by audiences at the Liverpool Playhouse in November 2011 and will then appear at the Gielgud Theatre shortly afterwards. 

Venue Information and Directions

Gielgud Theatre
35 Shaftesbury Avenue
London
W1D 6AR

Seating Plan

Directions

Directions
Take the Bakerloo or Piccadilly line to Piccadilly Circus station and exit onto Shaftesbury Avenue. The theatre is approximately 5 minutes walk.