The Pentabus Theatre is currently celebrating its 35th anniversary. The Pentabus Experiment or Concept as it was known was formed in 1973. When the company first started it toured to five counties throughout the West Midlands, playing in schools, village halls, pubs and even in the open air. Over time, Pentabus have expanded to national and even international tours. They have received praise in the national press and won a number of awards.

Pentabus pride themselves on being surprising, even provocative. They are always looking to connect directly with people.

Their latest project is a brand new comedy about the early life of one of history’s greatest scientists, Charles Darwin. ‘Origins’ is written by Steve Canny and John Nicolson and is directed by Pentabus’ Artistic Director, Orla O’ Loughlin.

The new play will premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and will then transfer to Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury.

The show promises to be extremely funny. Reviews for previous Pentabus shows have included “unfailingly hilarious” from The Guardian and “Gut-bustingly hilarious and liberatingly reckless” from The Times.

Previous projects have hit the West End and you shouldn’t be surprised if this play ends up as a London show. With a huge number of characters and some fantastic puppets this promises to be a very special show.

Sasha Regan has built the Union Theatre in Southwark into one of the top fringe theatres in London. Its location just around the corner from the Old Vic, the Young Vic and the National Theatre seems to do it no harm at all. Indeed, that corner of London seems to have become a rival to the West End.

In particular, the Union has built a reputation for reviving musicals on its small playing space. Some recent successes have included ‘Sweeney Todd’, ‘Cabaret’,’ The Pajama Game’ and ‘Annie Get Your Gun’. Now they are to tackle Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Company’.

It will run from the 20th of May until the 13th of June. It will be directed by Michael Strassen and the Musical Director will be Michael England.

Strassen has acted in the West End and was in the original cast of ‘Miss Saigon’. He also played Marius in ‘Les Miserables’.

England has been Musical Director for an impressive list of West End shows including ‘Spamalot’, ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, ‘The Producers’, ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Jerry Springer – The Opera’. He has also conducted with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Stockholm Sinfonietta amongst many others.

A small venue, a short run and a wonderful show means you should be looking to buy your theatre tickets now.

The summer season at Regents Park Open Air Theatre will this year run from the 15th of May to the 12th of September. It will comprise of four plays. ‘Much Ado About Nothing’, ‘The Tempest’, ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ and the musical, ‘Hello, Dolly!’

The full casting for the two Shakespeares has now been announced. ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ will star Samantha Spiro and Sean Campion. They’re joined in the cast by David Whitworth, Kate Tydman, Tim Steed, Annalisa Rossi, Anneila Rose, Anthony O’Donnell, Harry Myers, Ben Mansfield, Chris Jared, Eke Chukwu, Silas Carson, Peter Bramhill, Mark McGee, Nigel Cooke, Sarah Ingram, Tim Howar and Simon Gregor.

A new adaptation of ‘The Tempest’ which has been re-imagined for children of 6 years and up will star Joseph Mydell, Michael Camp, Matt Costain, Akiya Henry, John O’Mahoney, William Oxborrow and Tom Silburn.
Some of the casting has also been announced for ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ and ‘Hello, Dolly!’ In Earnest, Susan Wooldridge will play Lady Bracknell. Samantha Spiro will be kept busy as she is not only playing the leading role of Beatrice in ‘Much Ado’, but also the title role in ‘Hello, Dolly!’

Theatre tickets for this wonderful season are already on sale.

THE LAST CIGARETTE TICKETS – LIVE AVAILABILITY

The Last Cigarette Trafalgar Studios: 23rd April 2009 – 1st August 2009

The critically acclaimed production The Last Cigarette play transfers to the West End. This is an unmissable theatrical event and we offer a fantastic range of The Last Cigarette tickets including ‘best seats’ and special offers. Tickets for The Last Cigarette are likely to sell out quickly so book early so as not to miss out on this fantastic opportunity to see The Last Cigarette in London!

TICKETS:  £25.00 – £56.50

SPECIAL OFFER: £25.00 FOR TICKET WORTH £45.00 (SAVE £20.00!!!)
Performances until 30th April

Show Type

The Last Cigarette is a Play

Show Overview

Simon Gray CBE, was born on 21st October 1936 and died of lung cancer in August 2008. The Last Cigarette at Trafalgar Studios is a stage adaptation of the British playwright and memoirist’s final volume of diaries entitled ‘The Smoking Diaries’. 

A life long smoker, The Last Cigarette is Simon Gray’s highly amusing yet moving valedictory.  Written in the shadow of his illness, The Smoking Diaries are a set of literary masterpieces reflecting Gray’s outlook on the world whilst living on borrowed time.  Completed just just before his death, The Last Cigarette gives us an intimate insite into Gray’s daily activities and life, his friendship with Harold Pinter and his pet hates, containing all that is best and worse about human nature – fear, joy, compassion, honesty, hatred and generosity.

Probably one of Britain’s finest dramatists, Gray’s last word can be described as somewhere between Virginia Woolf’s stream-of-consciousness and the Fast Show’s ‘terribly drunk at the time’ character played by Paul Whitehouse.

Adapted for the stage in collaboration with fellow playwright Hugh Whitemore, The Last Cigarette production is directed by Richard Eyre with a star studded cast including Felicity Kendal, Jasper Britton, and Nicholas Le Provost.

Show Age Suitability

The Last Cigarette is suitable for Adults

Theatre Information

The Last Cigarette is playing at the Trafalgar Studios, 14 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2DY

Nearest Underground Station: Charing Cross - Piccadilly and Northern lines
The theatre is a 10 minute walk from the station

Buses: 3, 9, 11, 12, 24, 29, 53, 77A, 88, 153 and 159

Performance Information

Evenings
Monday to Saturday: 7.30pm

Matinees
Thursday & Saturday: 2.30pm

Running Time: 2 hours 5 minute (20 min internal)

Cast Includes

Felicity Kendal
Jasper Britton
Nicholas Le Provost

THE LAST CIGARETTE TICKETS – LIVE AVAILABILITY