The Ladykillers Tickets
The Ladykillers is the stage adaptation of the 1955 comedy of the same name, returning to the West End’s Vaudeville Theatre. The shows features a star studded cast including Angela Thorne as the sweet and elderly Mrs Wilberforce, who unwittingly becomes an accessory to her new lodger’s criminal activity.
The Ladykillers has been adapted for the stage by Graham Linehan, writer of Father Ted and The IT Crowd and is directed by Sean Foley, actor and writer of The Play What I Wrote. In 1955, the film received a BAFTA for Best British Screenplay. Linehan’s adaptation received five Olivier Award nominations, winning the WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Comedy.
The Ladykillers tells the story of the sweet and unassuming Mrs Wilberforce, who takes in a group of lodgers posing as amateur musicians. The lodgers turn out to be a group of criminals who plan to implicate their elderly landlady into a bank heist. When Mrs Wilberforce begins to cotton onto the illegal misdoings, the question raised is will she be the whistle-blower to this motley crew of criminals? Or will she meet her timely demise before she gets the chance?
Originally debuting at the Gielgud Theatre, the play now returns for a second West End run at the Vaudeville Theatre. The production features a cast of television veterans, including Angela Thorne as Mrs Wilberforce, Ralf Little as Harry and Simon Day as Major Courtney. Thorne is perhaps best known for her role as Marjory in To the Manor Born, whilst Little is best-known for his role as Antony in The Royle Family. The show also features Olivier Award winners Con O’Neill and John Gordon Sinclair.
Whilst the original film had a much darker tone, Linehan has opted to play up to the humour of the story by choosing to make the piece more slapstick than sinister. Set Designer Michael Taylor ingeniously encapsulates the farcical feel of the adaptation by creating a skewed set with furniture that moves every time a locomotive roars past.
The Ladykillers tells the story of the sweet and unassuming Mrs Wilberforce, who takes in a group of lodgers posing as amateur musicians. The lodgers turn out to be a group of criminals who plan to implicate their elderly landlady into a bank heist. When Mrs Wilberforce begins to cotton onto the illegal misdoings, the question raised is will she be the whistle-blower to this motley crew of criminals? Or will she meet her timely demise before she gets the chance?
Originally debuting at the Gielgud Theatre, the play now returns for a second West End run at the Vaudeville Theatre. The production features a cast of television veterans, including Angela Thorne as Mrs Wilberforce, Ralf Little as Harry and Simon Day as Major Courtney. Thorne is perhaps best known for her role as Marjory in To the Manor Born, whilst Little is best-known for his role as Antony in The Royle Family. The show also features Olivier Award winners Con O’Neill and John Gordon Sinclair.
Whilst the original film had a much darker tone, Linehan has opted to play up to the humour of the story by choosing to make the piece more slapstick than sinister. Set Designer Michael Taylor ingeniously encapsulates the farcical feel of the adaptation by creating a skewed set with furniture that moves every time a locomotive roars past.
Sorry this show closed 16 November 2013, we recommend these similar productions.
Performance dates:
29 Jun 2013 - 16 Nov 2013
Running time:
2 hours and 15 minutes.
Venue:
Audience Notes:
Those who particularly enjoy dark comedies and slapstick comedies will find this piece very entertaining. The Ladykillers is suitable for audience members aged 12 and up.
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