Yes, Prime Minister Tickets

In the early 1980s the sitcom “Yes, Minister” attracted large audiences as the government ministers Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey Appleby dealt with a range of matters behind the closed doors of Whitehall. Portrayed by Paul Eddington and Nigel Hawthorne, the characters would then return in the sitcom’s sequel “Yes, Prime Minister” in which the former has now taken on the duties of the top government position, with even more problems to face. The show had a large audience and in the years since its last transmission has not lost any of its admiration, meaning that some form of resurrection would always be a welcome draw.

This takes the form of “Yes, Prime Minister”, the stage show based on the original series with David Haig and Henry Goodman in the two lead roles, which has originally been seen on a UK tour and at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Now London audiences will be able to witness the production amongst the glitz and glamour of the West End as it makes the transition to the Gielgud Theatre, where audiences will be able to witness their favourite characters, from Hacker and Appleby to Bernard Woolley.

But whilst the show first ran during Margaret Thatcher’s rule in the 1980s, the new show was resurrected during the final days of the New Labour government and arrives in the West End with yet another team in power and the production reflects the times. So the show will see the ministers dealing with contemporary issues like controversial wars and economic disaster and as the country heads towards oblivion, help comes from an unlikely source.

“Yes, Minister” was one of the most beloved satires ever produced and as a result it requires respectful hands to bring it back in front of audiences in London, so for this they have hired some talented actors in the forms of David Haig and Henry Goodman. Both are Laurence Olivier Award-winning actors whose stage careers have seen them appear in a range of shows in London and who have both made well known screen roles as well. Haig has been seen in contemporary television satire “The Thick of It”, whilst Goodman has appeared in movies like “The Damned United”.

With a start date of Friday 17th September 2010, “Yes, Prime Minister” appears at the Gielgud Theatre until Saturday 15th January 2011.