January 2007

A MODEL GIRL

A Greenwich Theatre Production

A MODEL GIRL

WITH its heady cocktail of sex, politics, guns and espionage, the Profumo Affair of 1963 became Britain’s first tabloid scandal.

Now the sensational story of a girl whose dalliance with a Cabinet minister and a Russian diplomat led to jail, suicide and a Prime Minister’s resignation, is to be dramatised in a new musical – ‘A MODEL GIRL’.

Set at the very moment the Sixties began to swing, with new songs set to musical styles of the era, ‘A Model Girl’ will be staged at Greenwich Theatre in January. It is being produced under the theatre’s innovative Arts Council-supported Musical Futures programme showcasing new musicals.

Developed over the past five years, ‘A Model Girl’ is written by Richard Alexander and Marek Rymaszewski, and directed by Ruth Carney.
Its newly composed songs are set to the various styles of one of the richest and most exciting musical eras: the early Sixties swung to the sound of big-band swing, jazz blues and ska, and rocked to the first thrilling steps in rock’n’roll and pop.

The script is a dramatisation inspired by the public reported events of the time.
“All great musicals are often set against the backdrop of historic watersheds,” says writer Richard Alexander. “They tell the emotional tales of personal stories in times of change, stress and revolution. The Profumo scandal has always been a musical waiting to be written.”

The Profumo Affair was the quintessential story of a personal tragedy set against a massive watershed in British society, when the repressive post-war period of rationing and belt-tightening exploded into the liberal era of the Swinging Sixties.
Personal morality suddenly moved on to the public stage and the burgeoning tabloid press trampled over the old-world values of conservatism – all against a backdrop of the Cold War, the Berlin Wall and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Adds Alexander: “It’s a great tale that people have heard a bit about – they know it involves sex, politics and spies - but most of them don’t know the whole publicly reported story,” says writer Richard Alexander. “In my view it is an iconic tale and the defining moment when private life became public property.”

A Model Girl centres on the tale of a beautiful girl from a poor Home Counties background. She came to London as a teenager in 1961 and quickly bewitched high society with her intoxicating blend of beauty and naïve charm. Taken under the wing of Stephen Ward, a socialite who arranged female company for men of influence in government circles – with the covert knowledge of MI5 – she was the centre of a love triangle with the married War Minister, John Profumo, and a Russian spy, Yevgeny Ivanov.

Into this already explosive mix was thrown a jealous ex-boyfriend, Johnny Edgecombe. And when he blasted his way into Ward and Christine Keeler’s flat with a handgun, he blew the whole scandal into the public eye.
Enter a Press corps with a grudge, following the jailing of two journalists who refused to reveal their sources in an earlier government scandal, and the tinderbox was ready to ignite.

The cost was considerable for all concerned. Ward, charged with living off immoral earnings, committed suicide on the last day of his trial. Keeler was sent to prison for nine months for perjury. Profumo resigned and left politics. Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, his credibility damaged, his health failing, stepped down soon afterwards.

Despite the passage of time, there are still unanswered mysteries surrounding this saga and ‘A Model Girl’ seeks to answer some of these, using source material never used before.

GREENWICH THEATRE

Greenwich Theatre is fast establishing itself as London’s leading development house for musical theatre. A Model Girl is presented as part of the theatre’s innovative Musical Futures programme, aimed at showcasing the best new musicals in development. Others which have moved on from Greenwich to full production include Head at Chats Palace, Goblins Don’t Scare Us at Hampstead’s New End Theatre and Saving Anne which received its US premiere in 2003.

In 2002 the theatre took the Musical Futures process one step further and selected one musical - Sadly Solo Joe – for full production in-house. The musical starred Clive Rowe, and after playing at Greenwich Theatre, it transferred to the International Festival of Musical Theatre in Cardiff as the only new musical in the festival programme.

THE TEAM
The cast includes: Emma Williams as Christine Keeler, Lorraine Bruce as Maureen, Dale Rapley as Jack Profumo and James Clyde as Stephen Ward.

DIRECTOR - RUTH CARNEY
Ruth is a rising star, recognized for her 2005 productions of ‘The Lemon Princess’ at West Yorkshire Playhouse and ‘The Laramie Project’ at London’s Sound Theatre. She is currently working on ‘Lord Of The Rings’, with Matthew Warchus, and will be resident director of the blockbuster stage musical.

WRITERS - RICHARD ALEXANDER & MAREK RYMASZEWSKI
Richard’s previous work includes a musical dramatization of TS Eliot’s ‘Murder In The Cathedral’, performed in London and regionally. Marek’s previous musical work includes the rock opera ‘Alice Through The Jukebox’, co-written with Robin Millar.

‘A Model Girl’ is their first collaboration on a musical, although several of their jointly-written song compositions have been recorded and released by artists in the UK and US.

DESIGNER – PAUL WILLS
Paul recently designed ‘The Cut’ at the Donmar Warehouse for Michael Grandage. His credits as assistant designer include ‘Guys & Dolls’ at the Piccadilly Theatre, ‘Grand Hotel’ at the Donmar, and ‘Don Carlos’ at the Donmar and Gielgud Theatres.

MUSICAL SUPERVISOR – STEPHEN BROOKER
One of the hardest-working musical supervisors in London, Stephen is currently fulfilling the same role on ‘Mary Poppins’. His other credits include ‘My Fair Lady’ and ‘Les Miserables’ in the West End and on Broadway.

CHOREOGRAPHER – NICHOLA TREHERNE
A highly respected West End choreographer, recognized best for choreographing countless productions of ‘MAMMA MIA! around the world.

www.amodelgirl.co.uk / www.greenwichtheatre.org

A Model Girl Listings

Written by Richard Alexander & Marek Rymaszewski
Directed by Ruth Carney & Designed by Paul Wills

From: Tuesday 30th January
Booking until: Saturday 24th February 2007
Press night : Friday 2nd February at 7pm
Box Office: 0208 858 7755 (no booking fee)

Performances: Mon – Sat at 8pm
Matinees: Wed & Sat at 2.30pm

Tickets
Evening - £25, £22, £20, £18
Matinee - £23, £20, £18, £16
Previews - All tickets £15

For further information, please contact Borkowski PR:

Giles Cooper, Tel: 020 7404 3000, giles@borkowski.co.uk

Paul McEntee, Tel: 020 7404 3000, paul@borkowski.co.uk

KEITH ALLEN GETS ATTACKED, ABUSED AND EDUCATED IN TOUR-ETTE DE FRANCE

In recent years, the once-obscure and often-maligned condition of Tourettes syndrome has become well-known to the general public, with television viewers embracing the unpredictable outbursts of celebrity Touretters such as Big Brother's Pete Bennett.

But what is daily life like for ordinary people who suffer from a condition that makes them 'tic' uncontrollably, and break society's taboos by shouting out often-obscene words and phrases at the most inappropriate moments, as they go about their everyday lives?

To find out, Keith Allen teamed up with a party of teenagers from the Tourette Scotland support group, and journeyed with them to France on a red Routemaster bus during the summer. But unbeknown to them, the vehicle they had hired was fifty years old (and had inevitably seen better days); and it was driven by a last-minute replacement driver, Dickson, who turned out to be a likeable but deeply evangelical Christian.

Led by John Davidson (whose appearance in the seminal 1989 documentary "John's Not Mad" first brought Tourettes into the public consciousness), the group's ultimate goal is a visit to the Sal Petrier hospital in Paris, to see for themselves the place where their condition was first diagnosed, back in the late nineteenth century.

Along the way, Keith and the evangelically-minded bus driver Dickson bond with the teenagers, and learn from them about how they cope with Tourettes in a world that often perceives their uncontrollable tics and shouts for rudeness, weirdness, or even insanity.

As well as debunking the myriad pre-conceptions about the syndrome, Keith Allen's Tourette de France looks at the humorous side of society's reaction to Tourettes. By turns funny and touching, it gives the viewer a rare insight into a group of normal, likeable, and occasionally mischievous teenagers who are managing to live fulfilling and rewarding lives, despite the bizarre hand which fate has dealt them.

Tour-Ette De France

Transmission Date 28th November

22:00hrs, Channel 4
For more information please contact
Alex Wilkinson alex@Borkowski.co.uk
or Paul McEntee paul@Borkowski.co.uk
At Borkowski PR 020 7404 3000

BILLIE PIPER TO MAKE HER WEST END DEBUT IN CHRISTOPHER HAMPTON’S ‘TREATS’

A Bill Kenwright Production

Billie Piper will make her West End debut at the Garrick Theatre in the revival of Christopher Hampton’s ‘Treats’, opening on 28 February 2007 with reduced price previews from 20 February.

In Christopher Hampton’s sharply observed and darkly funny drama of interchanging relationships, Ann (Billie Piper) replaces her egotistical boyfriend Dave (Kris Marshall) with the more ‘conventional’ Patrick (Laurence Fox), only to find that she can’t make up her mind as to what (or who) she really wants…

Since making the transition to acting following a successful music career, Billie Piper has become one of Britain’s best loved personalities. She has starred alongside some of the biggest names in television and has won numerous awards, including (for two consecutive years) the National Television Award for Most Popular Actress, for playing Rose Tyler in Doctor Who. Billie has recently completed an adaptation of Philip Pullman’s The Ruby in the Smoke for the BBC and Mansfield Park for ITV. For the BBC Billie starred in the The Canterbury Tales, Much Ado About Nothing and Bella and the Boys. Billie’s film credits include The Calcium Kid for Working Title, Thing’s To Do Before Your 30! and Spirit Trap.

Joining Billie are TV favourites Kris Marshall and Laurence Fox:

Kris is well known for playing bumbling son Nick (alongside Robert Lindsay and Zoe Wanamaker) in six hit series of the BBC drama My Family. Kris also starred alongside Amanda Donohoe in Murder City and appeared in The Merchant Of Venice with Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons.

Laurence is perhaps best known to TV audiences as Kevin Whatley’s sidekick in Lewis. He has just finished filming Shekar Kapur's Golden Age with Cate Blanchett and starred in the feature film The Hole opposite Keira Knightley and in Robert Altman’s Gosford Park.

Written by Academy Award winner Christopher Hampton, ‘Treats’ was originally presented at the Royal Court in 1975, staring Jane Asher, Stephen Moore and James Bolam, where it enjoyed great success.
Christopher Hampton won the 1988 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and the BAFTA for Best Screenplay, for Dangerous Liasions, which he adapted from his own play, Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Through the 1970’s his work dominated the West End with such classics as The Philanthropist, Savages and Total Eclipse, also adapted into a film. Christopher is also well known for writing the libretto for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical adaptation of Sunset Boulevard, for which he won a Tony Award for best Book of a Musical in 1995.

‘Treats’ is directed by the Olivier award winner Laurence Boswell. Laurence has had numerous recent West End successes, most notably for A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (Broadway transfer and Tony nomination). Other notable West End productions include This is our Youth, (Garrick), Popcorn (Apollo) and Up for Grabs (Wyndham’s). As Associate Director for the RSC Laurence has most recently worked on The Spanish Golden Age Season in Stratford and the West End for which he won an Olivier for Outstanding Achievement.

‘Treats’ will be produced by Bill Kenwright at the
Garrick Theatre from 20 February, following a short tour to Windsor, Malvern, Bath and Richmond.

‘Treats’ Listings
Produced by Bill Kenwright
Starring Kris Marshall, Billie Piper and Laurence Fox
Written by Christopher Hampton
Directed by Laurence Boswell

Regional Tour Dates and Venues
Tuesday 16th Jan – Sat 27th Jan – Theatre Royal, Windsor
Monday 29th Jan – Sat 3rd Feb - Malvern Theatres
Monday 5th Feb – Sat 10th Feb - Theatre Royal, Bath
Monday 12th Feb – Sat 17th Feb - Richmond Theatre

West End Venue and Dates
Garrick Theatre, Charing Cross Rd London, WC2

First Preview: 20 February 2007
Booking until: 26 May 2007
Press night : 28 February at 7.00pm
Box Office 0870 890 1101, 0870 040 0080(Booking fee)

Performances: Mon – Sat at 8.00pm, Mats Thurs 3.00pm Sat at 5.00pm
Running Time: 2hrs (inc. one interval)
Tickets: £45.00, £35.00, £25.00, £15.00
Previews: £10 off top three price tickets
Latecomers Admitted at a suitable break in the performance

NB No booking fees for tickets booked in person at the Box Office

For further information, please contact Borkowski PR - 0207 404 3000:

Giles Cooper, Tel: 07917 167 809, giles@borkowski.co.uk

Amy Barder, Tel: 07917 167 786, amy@borkowski.co.uk