Six Characters in Search of An Author Tickets

The Gielgud Theatre is home of Six Characters in Search of An Author this autumn from Rupert Goold and Ben Power. Goold is following his hit production of Macbeth at the Chichester Festival Theatre and Gielgud Theatre. The lines between fiction and reality are blurred in this innovative play regarded as a classic by some. Originally, the play premiered in 1921 in Rome from Luigi Pirandello, but now it is brought fully updated to London from an accomplished director, starring Ian McDiarmid in the leading role.

In Six Characters in Search of An Author, six unfinished characters appear at a rehearsal demanding that their narratives be completed and acted out. Rupert Goold and Ben Power update the original 1921 classic, bringing it into the 21st century, as a result the characters are introduced to modern day technologies and customs, plus much more. The characters are so incomplete they do not even have full names, with Ian McDiarmid playing Father; joining him is Mother (Eleanor David), Son (Dyfan Dwyfor), Girl (Freya Parker), Stepdaughter (Denise Gough) and Boy (Bailey Pepper). They appear on the set of a docudrama, demanding that TV Producer (Noma Dumezweni) tells their story. The producer’s production team is drawn into their stories as truths and secrets are uncovered, both about the characters and about the television network.

Former Artistic Director of the Almeida Theatre Ian McDiarmid appears after winning both the Olivier and Tony Awards. He has also starred in films such as The Likely Lads and Sleepy Hollow. He is perhaps best known for playing Darth Sidious in the recent Star Wars prequels. Additional cast members include Jamie Bower, Christine Entwistle, Jake Harders, Robin Pearce, Jeremy Joyce and John Mackay playing both a slimy a TV executive and a pimp Pace.

Director Rupert Goold’s credits include Macbeth in the West End. He was also responsible for directing Patrick Stewart in the Tempest and directing Frank McGuinness’s Speaking Like Magpies about the story of Guy Fawkes. He directed The Last Days of Judas Iscariot for Stephen AdlyGuirgis and Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie. Later on in the year he will direct King Lear in Liverpool, with Pete Postlethwaite in the leading role, followed by Oliver! at the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane.

Six Characters in Search of An Author is showing at The Gielgud Theatre from 15th September to 8th November 2008.