As rehearsals start today, final casting is announced for the world premiere of King Kong, who will bring terror – and laughter – to The Vaults tunnels underneath London’s Waterloo Station from Thursday 22 June.
Ever since Fay Wray first charmed the great gorilla in the original 1933 film, King Kong has been a byword for epic cinema, challenging successive filmmakers to outdo the last with bigger and better special effects to impress and terrify audiences in equal measure. Now this new comic theatrical staging of the story takes a very different approach, as you’d expect from writer Daniel Clarkson (co-creator of worldwide hit Potted Potter) and director Owen Lewis, who between them have three Olivier Award nominations. With just 5 actors and no high-tech wizardry, Kong will come to new life up close for theatre audiences. Follow our intrepid cast as they journey to uncharted waters in search of the Eighth Wonder of the World – a gorilla so enormous he instils fear in all who set eyes on him. As hunter becomes the hunted, our story takes us to the iconic skyline of New York City and one burning question must be answered: just how many bananas should we order in?
King Kong cast (left to right): Sam Donnelly, Benjamin Chamberlain, Rob Crouch, Alix Dunmore, Brendan Murphy
Photo: Anthony Kelly
The cast are: Benjamin Chamberlain (It’s a Wonderful Life, UK tour), Rob Crouch (nominated for the ‘Best Solo Performance’ WhatsOnStage Award for Oliver Reed: Wild Thing, St James Theatre), Sam Donnelly (nominated Most Promising Newcomer for his lead role in the film The Return, which was also nominated Best British Feature at Raindance Film Festival), Alix Dunmore (Pamela/Annabella/Margaret, The 39 Steps, West End, 2014/15; The Fitzrovia Radio Hour’s Christmas Carol), Brendan Murphy (Sir Toby Belch, Twelfth Night, Orange Tree; Potted Potter, Toronto & Chicago).
The creative team are: Director Owen Lewis. Set Designer Simon Scullion. Costume and Prop Designer Sophia Simensky. Lighting Designer Tim Mascall. Sound Designer Sam Clarkson
KING KONG
A comedy by Daniel Clarkson
22 June – 27 August
Launcelot Street
London
SE1 7AD
www.KingKongComedy.com
