MIDSUMMER MIDKNIGHT MATINEE ON LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR FOR MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT IN AID OF THE THEATRICAL GUILD

On Thursday 21 June the cast of the hit West-End musical Monty Python’s SPAMALOT will perform a special midKnight matinee in aid of The Theatrical Guild (TTG). To coincide with the summer solstice, this one-off midsummer midKnight performance, on the longest day of the year, will start at 11.30pm.

The Theatrical Guild, established in 1892, assists those who work in all areas of the theatre - backstage, front of house, on stage, technical and support services – who are unable to manage due to ill health. It is the only theatrical charity in the UK to do so. Regular help is available to older members of the profession to enable them to maintain their independence and to any theatre professional who is having trouble meeting their commitments. All proceeds from the Monty Python’s SPAMALOT midKnight matinee will go to TTG.

Monty Python’s SPAMALOT has been playing to packed houses at the Palace Theatre since it opened in September last year. Recently the cast of Spamalot, along with Python’s Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones plus the newly confirmed figure of 5877 members of the public smashed the record for the world’s largest coconut orchestra. To satisfy this ever increasing fascination with both coconuts and record breaking, the producers of Spamalot have decided that everyone who attends this special midKnight performance (starting at 11.30pm) on what is officially recognised by the record books as Britain’s longest day will each receive a limited edition Spamalot coconut-scented air freshener.

Directed by Mike Nichols, Monty Python’s SPAMALOT is "lovingly ripped-off" from the screenplay of the Pythons’ best-loved film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. Telling the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and their quest for the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s SPAMALOT features a chorus line of dancing divas (and serfs), flatulent Frenchmen, killer rabbits and a legless knight.

Book and lyrics are by Eric Idle with a Grammy Award-winning score by Eric Idle and John Du Prez. Other members of the SPAMALOT creative team include Casey Nicholaw (choreography), multiple Olivier Award-winners Tim Hatley (sets and costumes) and Hugh Vanstone (lighting) and Acme Sound Partners.

The current cast includes Simon Russell Beale, who recently received exceptional reviews for his performance as King Arthur, and the critically acclaimed Hannah Waddingham as Lady of the Lake. Joining them are David Birrell as Patsy, Tom Goodman-Hill as Sir Lancelot, Robert Hands as Sir Robin, Graham MacDuff as Sir Dennis Galahad, Darren Southworth as Herbert and Tony Timberlake as Sir Bedevere.

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