Prolific Off West End producers Mercurius Theatre — nominated for a staggering eight Offies — return with their critically-acclaimed production of Anton Chekhov’s Vaudevilles next month.
After a successful run at the Brockley Jack, and then transferring for two sell-out runs at the Jermyn Street Theatre, Mercurius Theatre’s production of Anton Chekhov’s Vaudevilles will run at the White Bear Theatre 19 to 30 October 2021, with a press night on 21 October.
Vaudevilles
A famous writer driven to desperate acts by an over-zealous fan, the pomposity of an Inspector General deflated by a simple cart driver, a proposal breaking into furious argument at every turn and a husband never quite managing to give the speech he’s been told to – all human life is here!
Vaudevilles consists of two one-act plays and two dramatised short stories by Chekhov, writing at the height of his inventive energy. They have been translated and adapted here by the UK’s greatest comic writers, Michael Frayn, to give a feast of hilarious entertainment.
This will be Mercurius Theatre’s first production at the White Bear Theatre since School For Wives in 2013, in which artistic director Jenny Eastop — who will also be at the helm this time around — was nominated for Best Director at the OffWestEnd Awards.
The cast includes Star Wars voice actor Andy Secombe, alongside Sam Denia and Laura Hall.
School for Wives played at the White Bear Theatre in 2013
See what the critics have said about Anton Chekhov’s Vaudevilles:
★★★★★
“lively, light-affirming, and laugh out loud funny!”
Remote Goat
★★★★
“Outstanding comic timing”
One Stop Arts
“Glorious madness”
Play About Town
Anton Chekhov’s Vaudevilles runs from 19 to 30 October 2021 at the White Bear Theatre, 138 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4DJ, with performances at 7.30pm. Tickets from £12. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE!
About Mercurius Theatre
Mercurius Theatre Logo
Mercurius Theatre was set up in 2012 to create theatre that inspired, from new writing to neglected classics, with a style that was intriguing, exciting and entertaining but never dull.
To date, there have been 15 sell-out, five-star reviewed productions, including three transfers. These productions have received eight OffWestEnd (Offie) nominations, been chosen as one of LondonTheatre1’s top ten productions of 2015, one of Mind the Blog’s top ten productions of 2016, and been Editor’s Choice on several occasions.
Bios
Andy Secombe
Andy Secombe -Best known for his role as Watto in Star Wars and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Most recent stage credits: Bang Bang (National Tour); You’re Not As Funny As Your Father (one man show, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham); Handbagged (Salisbury Playhouse, York Theatre Royal and Oldham Coliseum). Most recent TV: Killing Eve, Britannia and Coronation Street. Andy has played the lead in Mr Gillie (Finborough Theatre) and Indebted to Chance/The Recruiting Officer (Old Red Lion) for Mercurius.
Sam Denia
Sam Denia – Recent credits: Dromio of Syracuse in Comedy of Errors (Maltings Theatre); Patient 13 (Radio); Multiple Music Videos for Passenger (Phase Films); The Kings (Short Film); Rhetoric (bread and Roses Theatre). Sam made his professional stage debut as Inspector Fix in Around the World in 80 Days for Mercurius (The Bunker Theatre and the Drayton Arms Theatre).
Laura Hall
Laura Hall – Theatre Credits: Billy Baby Bun Bun Boo and Dress Code (Southwark Playhouse – Bareface); Henners (tour); Grimm Beginnings (Brunel Tunnels); Numbers (CNova); The Hitchhikers Guide to Guildford (the Starr Inn); Orlando (The Boiler Room); The Tale of the Dragon (Voiceover); Uplearn Online Educational Videos (Voiceover); Stimuli Recordings (Voiceover); Noah Girls (Video); She (Short Film); Fixer (Short Film).
Jenny Eastop
Jenny Eastop (Director) – Jenny is the Artistic Director and Producer of Mercurius. Jenny has also directed new writing for companies such as Paines Plough, Hull Truck, West Yorkshire Playhouse and London New Play Festival, including the premiere of Peter Nichols’ new play So Long Life at the Tobacco Factory, Bristol. Most recently Claudio Macor’s Different From The Others at the White Bear Theatre (Off West End nomination for Best New Play); Mark Rush’s Awkward Balloon at the Old Red Lion Theatre; Damien Tracey’s Warde Street at The Park Theatre (Off West End nomination for Best Director and Best New Play); Amy Rosenthal’s Henna Night at Leicester Square Theatre; Everlasting Rose (Judy Upton) at the Riverside Studios; Lady Chill (Kay Adshead) and Workers’ Playtime (Toby Whithouse). For Shakespeare’s Globe various plays for the Read not Dead seasons and the main stage as part of Globe Education’s rolling programme. For the National Theatre Studio: A Trick to Catch the Old One and A Mad World My Masters.
Jenny has worked as Associate Director to Michael Blakemore on Copenhagen (Michael Frayn) Chichester Festival; The Life (Cy Coleman), Southwark Playhouse; Blithe Spirit (Noel Coward), Gielgud Theatre and US tour (LA, San Francisco, Washington DC); Embers (Christopher Hampton), Duke of Yorks Theatre, West End; Democracy (Michael Frayn), National Theatre; Wyndham’s Theatre, West End; Broadway and Sydney Theatre Company, Australia; Afterlife (Michael Frayn) at the National Theatre; Three Sisters (Chekhov) at the Playhouse Theatre, West End. As Resident/Staff Director: Blue/Orange (Joe Penhall) at the Duchess Theatre and The Homecoming (Pinter) at the National Theatre, both to Roger Michell and The Devil Is an Ass (Ben Jonson) to Matthew Warchus for the RSC.
