On The Waterfront Tickets

The West End will be transported back to 1950s New York in February as On The Waterfront, a new stage version of the hit 1954 movie lands at the Haymarket Theatre. This London production follows two successful runs for the play at both the Edinburgh Fringe festival and at the Nottingham Playhouse, where critical and audience acclaim was felt all round.

The story takes us back to an era in American history when the country was gripped with anti-communist hysteria brought on by the ‘witch hunts’ of McCarthyism. We are treated to an allegory for situation in the form of a man working at the Mob-ruled docks. It started out life as a movie for Marlon Brando that went on to obtain eight Academy Awards for Best Actor, Best Director and Best Picture amongst others.

We meet Terry Mallow, a former prize fighter who now lives his life working the docks of 1950s New York. The docks are ruled by the ruthless Mob who will make your life a living hell if you contemplated going against them. The problem arises when a man called Joey is murdered and Terry is implicated in his killing, which is an event that causes problems not only for the law but also inside the head of Terry as he is forced to re-evaluate where his loyalties lie. He realises he must do something about his problems and he sets out to make things right, along the way falling in love with Joey’s sister and finding help in the form of Father Barry, a street wise priest.

Steven Berkoff is the man directing this current production of the story, who has a wealth of theatre experience under his belt. His previous credits include “Sit and Shiver” at the Hackney Empire (2003), “Messiah – Scenes From A Crucifixion” at the Old Vic (2003), “Berkoff’s Women” at the New Ambassadors (2001), “East” at the Vaudeville (1999) and “Shakespeare’s Villains” at the Haymarket (1998). He has also worked on “West”, “Salome”, “Decadence”, “Kvetch”, “The Secret Love Life of Ophelia” and “Requiem for Ground Zero”.

On The Waterfront is at the Haymarket Theatre from 12th February 2009 (previews from 28th January 2009) and is currently booking until 25th April 2009.