The Theatre Awards UK 2011-nominated production, The Madness Of George III, will play a limited West End run next January at the Apollo theatre.
Christopher Luscombe’s production will run from 18 January (press night 23 January) until 31 March and star the Olivier Award-winning David Haig. The epic drama transfers from a sell out season at the Theatre Royal Bath as part of The Peter Hall Company season.
One of Alan Bennett’s most successful plays, The Madness Of George III combines drama, politics and humour into a vivid theatrical portrait of English history.
In spite of a catalogue of accomplishments, King George III is best remembered today for his bouts of unbridled lunacy. Subjected to the appallingly cruel medical treatment of the day and assailed by power struggles between politicians and his scheming son, George remains throughout an intensely sympathetic character – melancholy, moving, witty and finally triumphant.
Haig appears in his Theatre Awards UK 2011-nominated performance as King George. His extensive theatre credits include West End appearances in Yes, Prime Minister, Donkeys’ Years, Art and Our Country’s Good, but he is perhaps best known for his screen appearances which include The Thick Of It, The Thin Blue Line and the much-loved film Four Weddings And A Funeral.
Luscombe’s most recent London production was the Olivier Award-nominated When We Are Married. His other credits include The Rocky Horror Show in the West End, Enjoy at the Gielgud theatre, The Merry Wives Of Windsor at Shakespeare’s Globe and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
The Madness Of George III, which was adapted into the Academy Award-winning 1994 film, has a cast that also includes Clive Francis, Beatie Edney and Madhav Sharma.
The production will follow the revival of Jerusalem at the Apollo theatre, which runs from 8 October to 14 January, and precede Long Day’s Journey Into Night which begins previews on 2 April.
CM