National Theatre play Great Britain to transfer to Haymarket
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London Theatre Direct
Following a rapturous reception at its National Theatre press night, new play Great Britain, penned by Richard Bean, has already been confirmed for a Theatre Royal Haymarket transfer after just one official performance. The satirical show currently stars Billie Piper in the lead role, who will possibly join the new production.
In the National Theatre production of Great Britain, Piper stars as determined newpaper editor Paige Britain, who will stop at nothing to keep her 'red top' newspaper at the top of the heap. Echoing recent real-life scandals, she learns about phone hacking and subsequently sets about blackmailing government officials and the police - in fact anyone with power - in order to solidify her position.
The
Great Britain production has been widely praised not only for its performances but also for its biting satire and razor-sharp commentary on today's society. The show is set to open at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 10 September, with tickets on sale from Friday 4 July. Although none of the cast for the new venue has yet been announced, a continuation of many of the current cast seems likely.
In the current production at the National Theatre, Piper is joined, amongst others, by Robert Glenister, Harriet Thorpe, Dermot Crowley, Jo Dockery and Oliver Chris.
The Telegraph describes Piper's Paige Britain as "a sultry, stiletto-stamping schemer who might as well sprout devil’s horns", whilst the London Evening Standard says she’s "a devious flirt, a smug and skilful operator with an infallible eye for an outrageous story. And as she masterminds a campaign of phone-hacking, proving at once odious and irresistible, Piper is thrillingly persuasive" and also deems director Nicholas Hytner’s production "pacy and busy"