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Showing posts with label Ben Elton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ben Elton. Show all posts

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Gasping by Ben Elton

Gasping is playing at the New Theatre until 10 December. It is directed by the very talented Helen Tonkin.
It is an amazing production and if you have the pre-Christmas blues you should see it, as it will have you giggling for a full hour or so. Ben Elton is a very talented writer most of you will know him for Blackadder and The Young Ones. However, what he writes is not easy on the actors and Alan Faulkner who plays Sir Chifley Lockheart and Oliver Wenn who plays Philip both have very challenging roles, both played the parts extremely well; all the actors did.
Ben wrote this play many years ago but the topic is still very relevant today and sadly will be for many years to come. Basically it is about company greed. Sir Chifley Lockheart is the owner of the Lockheart empire, very rich, but wants more! He is looking for the next 'pot noodle', something that nobody has thought of yet; but is simple and everyone will want it. "Hold all my calls I think we have a Pot Noodle in the building!" Yes, Philip (one of Sir Chifley Lockhearts yes men) comes in with the idea - Suck and Blow. The machine that cleans and stores oxygen so you never  have to breathe second hand air again. Julia Kennedy Scott plays Kirsten the marketing expert. She pulls together a series of campaigns that launches Suck and Blow onto the market. For anybody into advertising you will particularly enjoy her scenes. Of course it all gets out of control and before you know it air is being sucked from Africa and burnt off in England to keep the prices inflated. Bob Geldof is running Air Aid to help the people in Africa who have no air, yes it is all very clever and really brings to the fore what a mad world we live in.

Friday, 11 November 2011

Interview with Helen Tonkin

Helen Tonkin is currently directing Gasping by Ben Elton. It opens at the New Theatre on 16 November.
Helen has had an extensive acting career as well as being a director. Hear which she prefers and what Gasping is all about.
The interview was recorded on Triple H 100.1fm on The Hubbub, hosted by Philippa Bird

Click here to listen