All The World's A Stage - The Work of Ralph Fiennes

[Mary Frances]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1253858/Madonna-signs-Abbie-Cornish-new-film-Edward-VIIIs-abdication.html


Ralph Fiennes solves his doctor's dilemma

By Baz Bamigboye
The Daily Mail
February 26, 2010

Ralph Fiennes will return to the London stage in a new version of Uncle Vanya, played in the round. Fiennes told me two years ago he was thinking about starring as the doctor in Dear Uncle, Alan Ayckbourn's version of Chekhov's play, set in the Lake District in 1935.

But he has now agreed to play the Dr Astrov character - although in the new adaptation he's called Dr Charles Ash. Yelena is now Helena, and the title character will be known as Uncle Marcus.

Ken Stott (if he's able) will most likely play Uncle Marcus, and Kristin Scott Thomas will play Helena if she's available.

Likewise, Carey Mulligan, our recent Bafta best actress for An Education, has always said she would play Sonia if the dates can be made to work.
An idea being explored is for Matthew Warchus to direct the production in the round. He, and producers David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers, intend to find out if the Roundhouse in Camden Town is available, or if the stage from Ayckbourn's Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough (where productions are played in the round) can be replicated somewhere in London.

Fiennes has just begun pre-production and scouting locations for his film of Coriolanus, which will shoot in Belgrade with Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave, Jessica Chastain, Brian Cox, Eddie Marsan and others.

He won't complete his post-production work on Coriolanus until next January.

Ayckbourn's Dear Uncle: Scenes From A Country Life In Four Acts is set in the blistering hot summer, so it would best be played during a real summer season.

The dates being discussed at the moment are June 2011.

Warchus wouldn't be available until then anyway, as he's pencilled in to start directing the musical Ghost (based on the movie) at the begining of next year.

Plus the production's dates have to fit in with Ayckbourn's schedule, and he would want to be on hand in London during rehearsals, previews and for the opening night.

[Mary Frances]

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/news/article_1537524.php/Ralph-Fiennes-heads-to-London-stage


Ralph Fiennes heads to London stage

By Nicola Pittam
Monsters & Critics
March 1, 2010

The Public Theatre and LAByrinth Theatre Company present the opening night celebration
of 'OTHELLO', held at the Skirball Center at New York University, NYC. - Johns PkI / Splash News[/b]

Brit actor Ralph Fiennes is set to appear on stage in Dear Uncle, a new adaptation of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya by veteran Brit playwright Alan Ayckbourn.

Pencilled in for summer 2011 in London's West End, Fiennes would play the role based on Astrov.

Other stars being lined up to appear alongside Fiennes include Ken Stott in the title role, with actresses Kristin Scott Thomas and An Education's Carey Mulligan, who have both previously acted in Chekhov's play The Seagull.

The project will also continue the partnership of producers David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers with director Matthew Warchus.

Pugh said he commissioned the adaptation after the press coverage of Ayckbourn's tragicomic trilogy The Norman Conquests, which described the plays as 'Uncle Vanya in suburbia'.

Author of 73 plays, Ayckbourn has long regarded Chekhov's original as his favourite play.

His adaptation relocates it from Russia to Britain's Lake District in 1935.

No theatre has yet been chosen.

[Mary Frances]

http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?Section=Movies&ID=ENTEN20100133313&subcatg=MOVIESINDIA&keyword=hollywood


Fiennes to star in Chekhov's stage adaptation

Press Trust of India
March 02, 2010 (Los Angeles)

Actor Ralph Fiennes is planning to appear onstage in Dear Uncle, a new adaptation of Anton Chekhov's play Uncle Vanya.

The new adaptation by British playwright Alan Aychbourn will see the story shifting from Russia to Britain's Lake District in 1935. Fiennes is likely to play the role based on Astrov.

Slated for summer 2011, the project will continue the partnership of producers David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers with helmer Matthew Warchus, whose productions include Tony winners Art and God of Carnage, the Daily Variety reported.

Author of 73 plays, Ayckbourn has long regarded Chekhov's original as his favourite play.

"I don't want it to be another West End production in a traditional theatre. 'The Norman Conquests' worked very successfully in-the-round and we're looking to find somewhere different where we could do that shape again," Pugh said.

No further casting has been confirmed. "It's sufficiently far off for us to to get a star for every part," Pugh said.

Names mentioned so far include Ken Stott in the title role, with Kristin Scott Thomas and Carey Mulligan of 'An Education'), the latter two having played both London and Gotham in Chekhov's 'The Seagull'.

[Mary Frances]

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118015837.html?categoryID=2203&cs=1


Fiennes eyeing Anglicized 'Uncle'
Ayckbourn adapting Chekhov classic to Brit setting

By David Benedict
Variety
February 26, 2010

Ralph Fiennes is planning to appear onstage in "Dear Uncle," a new adaptation of Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya" by veteran Brit playwright Alan Ayckbourn.

Penciled in for summer 2011, the project will continue the partnership of producers David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers with helmer Matthew Warchus, whose productions include Tony winners "Art" and "God of Carnage."

Pugh told Daily Variety he commissioned the adaptation following the paper's coverage of Ayckbourn's tragicomic trilogy "The Norman Conquests," which described the plays as "Uncle Vanya in suburbia." That production, which transferred from London's Old Vic to Broadway and won a Tony last year for revival of a play, also was directed by Warchus.

Author of 73 plays, Ayckbourn has long regarded Chekhov's original as his favorite play. His adaptation relocates it from Russia to Britain's Lake District in 1935. No theater has yet been chosen.

"I don't want it to be another West End production in a traditional theater," said Pugh. "'The Norman Conquests' worked very successfully in-the-round and we're looking to find somewhere different where we could do that shape again."

No further casting has been confirmed. "It's sufficiently far off for us to to get a star for every part," Pugh said.

Names mentioned so far include Ken Stott ("Art") in the title role, with Kristin Scott Thomas and Carey Mulligan ("An Education"), the latter two having played both London and Gotham in Chekhov's "The Seagull." Fiennes would play the role based on Astrov.