How does writing an adaptation compare to writing an original play?
Writing an adaptation is pleasurable because someone’s already written the ending. Deciding how to end a play is a writer’s torture. With adaptations, you just have to make the plot work in the context you’ve decided on. One Man, Two Guvnors is set in Brighton in 1963. All I had to worry about was making it funny.

The Servant of Two Masters is very much of its period. What are the problems in adapting and updating a work of this genre?
The main problem to solve was that the original plot revolved around arranged marriage and that didn’t exist in the 1960s, except within certain cultures. The solution we came up with was to create a marriage of convenience because one of the parties was gay and wanted to hide that fact by marrying a woman. The second problem was the sword fighting that features in the original. In the 1960s, East End gangsters carried around flick knives so that introduced the gangster concept to the adaptation.

You’ve relocated the play from 18th century Venice to 1960s Brighton. How did that come about?
I had many early discussions with Nick Hytner, the production’s director, about where to set it. As food is such a motivating factor for the central character, my original idea was to set it just after World War II because food was still being rationed. Nick wasn’t keen on that as he thought using military colours for the set and costumes would be too muted. He wanted to have more primary colours in the mix so we settled on 1963.

You’ve retained many elements of Commedia dell’arte (Italian comedy). Was this important to you?
I wanted to keep most of the stock characters from the genre, but put a 1963 spin on them. So, for example, the birth of feminism gave us the character of Dolly. Although it’s not fashionable in contemporary theatre to have asides to the audience, I kept them in as I wanted to make an accessible, popular comedy that would find a new audience for the National Theatre.

One Man, Two Guvnors opened to critical acclaim at the National Theatre in 2011. It’s now on at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Book your tickets here.

Firstly this week, I have news of two shows closing early, and another extending. So, if you’re eager to see Strictly Come Dancing stars Kristina Rihanoff and Robin Windsor in Burn The Floor at the Shaftesbury Theatre, you’ll need to be quick. The show is now closing on 30 June. The same date will be the final performance of Viva Forever! at the Piccadilly Theatre. The musical based on the songs of the Spice Girls has run for just six months, but producers have blamed poor ticket sales and bad reviews for the early closure. Fans of One Man Two Guvnors are in luck however; the National Theatre’s hit comedy celebrates its third year in London this week by releasing an additional 150,000 tickets for the show at the Theatre Royal Haymarket: it’s now booking until 1 March 2014.

I’ve also got news of two new shows coming to London in the near future. Dance troupe ZooNation bring the world premiere their “unique twist” on The Wizard of Oz, Groove on Down the Road to the Southbank Centre this summer. Featuring music from the original 1978 film The Wiz remixed with current tunes by DJ Walde, Groove on Down the Road runs from 10 August to 1 September at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. The acclaimed Sheffield Theatres production of The Full Monty will transfer to the West End next year for a 16-week season. The stage adaptation of the hit film will play at the Noel Coward Theatre from February next year. Following the news of American Psycho and The Commitments last week, it seems we can’t get enough of film adaptations on the London stage at the moment.

Finally, another summer treat to look forward to. The Lyric Hammersmith is running Theatre in the Square again this summer, encouraging visitors to indulge in free theatre from four of the country’s most innovative theatre companies over a four-week season. The shows’ themes range from water to motherhood to ice cream to The Bacchae. Theatre in the Square is part of the ever-brilliant Greenwich+Docklands International Festival.

London Theatre Cast News

• Ralf Little, Simon Day, John Gordon Sinclair and Con O’Neill will star in Sean Foley’s The Ladykillers when it returns to the Vaudeville Theatre in June
• West End regular Dianne Pilkington takes over as Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia! from 10 June, along with 24 other new cast members. It’ll be the biggest cast change since the show began performances in London back in 1999
• Darren Day will star in The Golden Voice, a new musical about the consequences of TV talent shows, playing at the Arts Theatre from June

Musical news to start: firstly, the sad news that Loserville will be leaving the West End early. The Elliot Davis and James Bourne musical based around teenage geeks in the 1970s was full of bouncy energy, but alas, it’s closing in early January instead of March. Rumour suggests it’s headed abroad, so fans of the show might be able to see it elsewhere…

However, there’s happier news of a new musical coming to the West End: The Tailor-Made Man runs at The Arts Theatre for eight weeks from February. The story of the gay MGM star William Haines refusing to marry another movie star to cover up his sexuality has been turned into a musical by Showstopper co-creator Adam Meggido. It will star former Steps popstrel Faye Tozer and West End regular Dylan Turner.

Finally this week, some fun Sadler’s Wells news. Two more productions have been announced for the venue’s 15th birthday season. From 7 August, you can see the 2008 production of West Side Story; and from May, innovative dance company ZooNation are bringing their 2011 hit Some Like It Hip Hop back to London, to Sadler’s Wells’ West End stage at the Peacock Theatre.

London Theatre Cast News:

• Daniel Lapaine, Kevin R McNally and Indira Varma will star in Conor McPherson’s new adaptation of The Dance Of Death, which plays as part of the final Donmar Trafalgar season next month
• American actors Gavin Creel and Jared Gertner will be leading the cast in the hit US musical The Book Of Mormon at London’s Prince of Wales theatre from February next year. The pair are currently starring in the show’s Los Angeles production
• Comedian Rufus Hound is taking over from Owain Arthur as Francis Henshall in the West End production of One Man, Two Guvnors at the Theatre Royal Haymarket next year. He’s currently starring in the UK touring production, and will join the London cast from 4 February
• 60s singing star Mark Wynter is joining the cast of Dreamboats and Petticoats at Wyndham’s Theatre from next week, until 19 January

Have you enjoyed any great theatre in London recently? Let us know in the comments below.

Victoria’s Secret New Bond Street Store Launch: 29 Aug

Sample Sale: 30 Aug-2 Sep
Starting on Thursday, there’s a four-day sample sale of men’s designer shoes, clothes and accessories at the Old Truman Brewery on Hanbury Street, E1. For just £1 admission, you could pick up bargains like Ralph Lauren polo shirts from £60; Ted Baker shirts from £35 and True Religion T-shirts for £29 (RRP £79.) Head along from 1-8pm on Thursday, 1-7pm on Friday, 12-7pm on Saturday and 12-5pm on Sunday to get your hands on some great new clothes for autumn. Visit www.secretsamplesale.co.uk for more information.

Book Signings: 6 Sep
I’ve got two exciting book signings for your diaries, happening next week.

On Thursday 6 September, actress and author Emma Thompson will be in Selfridges signing copies of her new book, The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit. Emma’s book is the 24th tale in the existing collection of Peter Rabbit stories. It is the first time that Frederick Warne has published an additional title to the series which Beatrix Potter wrote between 1902 and 1930. In The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit, Peter’s adventures take him beyond the boundaries of Mr McGregor’s garden all the way to Scotland, where he meets the gentle giant Finlay McBurney, a distant Scottish relative. Emma will be signing copies of the book between 5 and 6pm on 6 September.

On the same day over at Waterstones Piccadilly, you can meet the Fifty Shades of Grey author E L James. From 6.30pm, the writer will be signing copies of the bestselling novels Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed.

In both cases, make sure you arrive early to avoid disappointment. Details about the Selfridges signing are all clearly laid out here. You’ve been warned!

My Perfect West End Day
If you’re feeling lucky, why not enter one of West End London’s fantastic new competitions?

Between today and 3 September, you can with the Perfect Iconic West End Day, as part of West End London’s new Perfect West End Day campaign. This prize includes a VIP shopping day for two at Liberty, dinner for two at the National Portrait Gallery, tickets to see One Man Two Guvnors at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, and a night’s stay at The Langham Hotel. There’ll be more competitions coming in the next few weeks – I particularly like the sound of the Perfect Family West End Day, which includes a VIP experience at M&Ms World, dinner at the Rainforest Café, a private shopping spree at the Disney Store and four tickets to see Stomp and meet the cast. Check out www.westendlondon.com to find out more.

The Queen attended the comedy show with Prince Philip, their grandson Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn. She avoided attracting attention from the royal box, instead entered the foyer unannounced shortly before curtain up and sat among the rest of the audience, many of whom reportedly saw our monarch “giggling through the performance”, according to the Official London Theatre website. I’m so pleased she’s been able to see this show: I’ve been recommending it to everyone I know for ages! It’s a real hit, and I’m sure her Majesty thought the same.

And I bring news of an extension at the Royal Court: In Basildon has received rave reviews, and will now play until 5 April. The story of a working-class man on his death bed, In Basildon explores the complications of inheritance and the myth of place. It’s directed by Dominic Cooke, and stars Linda Bassett, who is known for her TV appearances in Larkrise To Candleford and Grandma’s House.

Next up, a new solo show at the Trafalgar Studios. Chris Larner’s award-winning An Instinct For Kindness plays at the Trafalgar Studios for three weeks this spring. The play takes on the contentious topic of assisted suicide, telling the story of Larner’s 2010 journey to the Switzerland Dignitas clinic with his chronically ill ex-wife. The Fringe First Award-winning show plays from 10 April to 28 April, following a critically acclaimed run at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The Independent described An Instinct For Kindness as, “Intensely moving, at times overwhelming”.

London Theatre Casting News:

• Carley Stenson, currently playing Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, will take over from Kimberley Walsh as Princess Fiona in Shrek from 21 May
• Jason Manford is to play competing barber Pirelli in Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd for four weeks this summer, taking over from Robert Burt while the original star is on holiday (2-27 Jul)
•  Jonathan Ansell of G4 will lead the cast of A Tale Of Two Cities when it opens at the Charing Cross Theatre in April
• Finally, Simon Paisley Day will return to the London stage this summer, playing Petruchio in The Taming Of The Shrew at Shakespeare’s Globe, opposite Samantha Spiro

Firstly, sad news for a musical lover like me. Legally Blonde and Crazy for You are both leaving London in the near future. After three years at the Savoy Theatre, Legally Blonde will close on 7 April. And Crazy For You, which was booking until 28 July, is now going to tap dance off into the sunset on 17 March. If you love musicals, you’ll love these shows, so book your tickets now before it’s too late!

Next up, two shows that have extended their London runs. Green Day’s award-winning rock musical American Idiot is running for an extra week at the Hammersmith Apollo in December this year, due to an overwhelming demand for tickets. And The Leisure Society has also extended its run in London by a week: the cause for such high interest in this toxic comedy is surely the casting of model Agyness Deyn (alongside the lovely Ed Stoppard!)

It’s awards season in Theatreland, and the first of the bunch have already been given out. Congratulations to the National Theatre which scooped more than half the Critics Circle awards on offer, including gongs for Frankenstein (and its stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller) and One Man, Two Guvnors. Other awards went to Sheridan Smith for her performances in Flare Path and Mike Leigh, for his direction for Grief. And there’s more awards coming: this week, it was announced that the Olivier Awards will be taking place in the Royal Opera House on 15 April: if you want to watch the action as it unfolds (with Imelda Staunton and Michael Ball hosting!), you can, as there’ll be a live stream of the ceremony on a big screen in Covent Garden. (Or you can listen on Radio 2; or watch on the BBC’s Red Button.)

London Cast News:

• Strictly Come Dancing star Russell Grant is going to take over from Michael Crawford as the new Wizard in The Wizard of Oz from 14 February
• Jodie Prenger (winner of I’d Do Anything and star of Oliver!) and Hannah Spearritt (former S Club 7 singer) are to appear in One Man, Two Guvnors with Owain Arthur at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from March

More next week.

Fellowes, now best-known for creating Downton Abbey, (but don’t forget he was also responsible for wonderful work like Gosford Park, The Young Victoria and The Importance of Being Earnest) will write the musical’s book. Writing duo Stiles and Drewe are developing the music and lyrics. The pair have worked together for 28 years, creating successful shows like Betty Blue Eyes, Just So and Peter Pan. I’m looking forward to being able to tell you more about this show; as yet, there are no dates or venues for its London premiere.

Second, details of a transfer. It seems London just can’t get enough of the uber-successful One Man, Two Guvnors. First, it transferred from the National to the West End. Then, rumours the team had booked tickets to Broadway. And today, we have news it’s moving again, this time to the Theatre Royal Haymarket. There’ll be a change of lead as Owain Arthur takes over from James Corden as the One Man of the title. The rest of the casting is yet to be announced.

Finally, the Lyric Hammersmith’s 2012 programme has been announced. Edward Bond returns to the theatre with a trilogy of short plays called The Chair Plays. In addition, there’ll be a collaboration between Spymonkey and Kneehigh Artistic Director Emma Rice, called Oedipussy; Lovesong; Filter’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream; and Three Kingdoms (part of the London-wide World Stages London festival).

Cast News:

• Strictly Come Dancing winner and former EastEnder Kara Tointon will star in Alan Ayckbourn’s Absent Friends at the Harold Pinter next year. Alongside her will be Reece Shearsmith, Katherine Parkinson, Elizabeth Berrington, Steffan Rhodri and David Armand
• Kate Fleetwood and Denise Gough will star in Our New Girl at the Bush Theatre from 12 January
• Jaime Winstone (Ray’s daughter, and Made In Dagenham star) returns to the London stage in February in Sex With A Stranger. Also appearing in this new play at the Trafalgar Studios is Russell Tovey from Being Human, Gavin & Stacey and an original History Boy

Do you have tickets for Matilda previews? Then you may be contacted by the RSC to rearrange your dates: the first five previews have been cancelled, and opening night has been rescheduled for 24 November. Executive Producer Andre Ptaszynski explains the delay:

“Matilda has a cast made up of three different teams of young actors and four young actresses in the title role. This means that, unlike other shows, we cannot extend everyone’s working hours, take shortcuts and reduce the number of dress rehearsals to meet the date of the first preview.”

The other big news this week comes from Shakespeare’s Globe. I was lucky enough to head down there this week to find out all about their incredible Globe to Globe season. Artistic Director Dominic Dromgoole was as inspiring as ever with his tales of far-off places desperate to perform at what’s become the world’s “temple to Shakespeare”. There’s not enough space to tell you about all of it here, but check out their incredible website to whet your appetites. Tickets go on general sale on 17 October. See you there!

This Week’s Cast News:

• American actor Kyle Soller is joining David Suchet and Laurie Metcalf in Long Day’s Journey Into Night at the Apollo Theatre from April next year
• Lauren Samuels who you’ll recognise as one of the Over The Rainbow runners-up and more recently as Sandy in Grease, is transferring to the cast of We Will Rock You from 10 October, alongside Alasdair Harvey and Wayne Robinson
• Tom Bateman, Sonya Cassidyke, Rory Fleck-Byrne and James Norton are all joining the cast of The Lion in Winter at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Previously announced stars include Robert Lindsay and Joanna Lumley.
• Olivier Award-winner Antony Sher will star in two National Theatre productions next year: Travelling Light by Nicholas Wright and The Captain of Köpenick by Carl Zuckmayer.

The former Avenue Q actress will sing tracks from her latest album No Space For Air as well as tunes from the shows that shaped her musical theatre career, like Mamma Mia!, Fame, The Last 5 Years and Ordinary Days. Helping her out will be Daniel Boys – who Atherton starred alongside in Avenue Q and Ordinary Days – and Richard Fleeshman, who’ll soon be starring as Sam in Ghost The Musical.

I have two exciting bits of cast news for you this week: comedian Justin Lee Collins is to play ageing hippy and bar owner Dennis Dupree in the forthcoming 80s jukebox musical Rock of Ages. Did you see his 2009 performance as Mr Cellophane in Chicago when it was on his Sky show JLC Is…? I thought it was great, and think he’ll love the chance to get on stage in the West End a second time.

Secondly, Steven Webb has joined the cast of comedy musical Betwixt! at the Trafalgar Studios next month. You might’ve seen Steven in: Departure Lounge at Waterloo East Theatre, The History Boys in the West End, The Long Road at Soho Theatre and Public Property at Trafalgar Studios. He also played Dick Whittington at the Lyric Hammersmith last Christmas. 

Sad news now, about Tim Curry having to leave the upcoming production of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead, which open at the Theatre Royal Haymarket later this month.

I was so excited about seeing The Rocky Horror Picture Show star (and he’s in Annie! and It! and my favourite, Mr Boddy in Clue!), but it’s not going to happen. According to an official statement, an “on-going chest infection and repeated asthma attacks” led to Curry leaving the production, which is currently playing in Chichester ahead of its West End opening. For now, Chris Andrew Mellon is playing the Player, alongside Samuel Barnett and Jamie Parker in the title roles, while the directors “consider longer-term options.” I’ll obviously keep you posted.

Flare Path

We asked a few theatregoers what they thought of the play:

“The gentle flowing Flare Path brought to our attention the real life difficulties that people had to face during the war years. Wives watching RAF husbands go off to work, waiting and hoping that they would return safely and just trying to make the best of this very hard situation. For me Sheridan Smith was the stand-out performer whose character provided a light hearted touch as well as delivering serious emotion.”
Madelene, 38, London

“I didn’t think there was much chemistry between the two leads James Purefoy and Sienna Miller and their scenes lacked energy which made the play drag a little. I enjoyed Flare Path because the supporting cast were absolutely superb. Sheridan Smith stole the show as the Countess, and Joe Armstrong and Clive Wood were both really funny.”
Lettice, 30, London

“I really enjoyed Flare Path’s beautifully subtle script, which was quite funny but also brought me to tears in some moments, highlighting how remarkable sacrifices made by individuals during the war quickly became a part of everyday reality. The performances were generally all great and while the celebrity pull is probably Sienna, for me Sheridan Smith was the star of the night.”
Rebecca, 29, Uxbridge

“Flare Path didn’t blow me away but I enjoyed it. I was keen to see Sienna Miller and Sheridan Smith on stage because I’ve heard so much about them both. I thought Sienna Miller did a pretty good job but Sheridan Smith had far more energy and stole every scene she was in. The rest of the supporting cast were also very good – especially Clive Wood who created some great comic moments from the few lines he had.”
Jenny, 28, London

“I enjoyed Flare Path. From the period detail of the set and costumes to the smooth pace of the onstage action it was a good, if not sparklingly great, evening’s entertainment. Written soon after the war, I appreciated the simplicity of the plot and characters: three-dimensional but free from the tortured psychology you’d probably get in something more modern – and the refreshingly happy ending. Sheridan Smith was excellent, Sienna Miller was fine if not exceptional. However the whole play was over-long and would benefit from some astute editing.”
Claire, 28, Tottenham

“Sienna Miller may be the main attraction of Flare Path but she was outshone on stage by some of her fellow cast members. My favourite characters were the hilarious female hotelkeeper, the slightly camp wing commander and the nosey young waiter.  I liked the set too, with its huge windows overlooking a misty air field. The plot’s fairly slow, but the show does immerse you in the 40s world of air force lingo and tea dresses, and it kept me interested from beginning to end.”
Hannah, 37, Devon

Flare Path at Theatre Royal Haymarket until 4 June 2011. Book tickets

Have you seen Flare Path? Let us know what you thought of it in the comments below.