The Ladykillers to go on tour after West End run

A new stage adaptation of the classic Ealing comedy The Ladykillers, starring The Thick of It's Peter Capaldi, is to tour the UK and Ireland from September.

The 26-week tour follows a run at London's Gielgud Theatre which closes on 14 April.

Written by Graham Linehan, the comedy is nominated for five Olivier awards including best new play, and best actress for Marcia Warren.

The West End cast includes Ben Miller and Vicar of Dibley actor James Fleet.

The tour begins at Theatre Royal Plymouth, before visiting Canterbury, Sheffield, Birmingham, Southampton, Cambridge, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Malvern and Bath, with further dates set for 2013.

Read more at BBC

Also reported by Broadway World  and The Guardian

New stage version of The Ladykillers starring Peter Capaldi

The Liverpool Playhouse is to host the world premiere of a new stage version of cult British comedy The Ladykillers.

The Playhouse co-production with London company Fiery Angel boasts a stellar cast headed by The Thick of It’s Peter Capaldi.

Ben Miller, James Fleet and Marcia Warren will also appear in the new play, adapted from the original story by Father Ted and The IT Crowd writer Graham Linehan.

It will open in November for a two week run before transferring to the West End.

Peter Capaldi, who will appear as Professor Marcus, the part played by Alec Guinness in the 1955 original, said today: “It’s an incredible role: funny, menacing, witty, stylish and lethal.

“The script is as clever and absurd as you would expect from Graham Linehan, the cast is utterly stunning, and I think the production by Sean Foley is going to be knock out.

“Of course we all walk in the deep shadows of the original Ladykillers, but I consider it a wonderful challenge to take a stab at one of the truly great comic roles.”

The cast also includes Ben Miller as Louis, James Fleet as Major Courtney, Clive Rowe as One Round and Stephen Wight as Harry, while Marcia Warren plays eccentric landlady Mrs Wilberforce.

Source: Liverpool Echo

From 26 November, The Ladykillers will transfer to the Gielgud Theatre in London