Prick Up Your Ears

This show has now closed, click here for a listing of current and future London shows

Prick Up Your Ears previews 17 September 2009, opened 30 September 2009, closed on 15 November 2009 at the Comedy Theatre in London

Simon Bent's new play Prick Up Your Ears in London starring Con O'Neill (from 22 October 2009) and directed by Daniel Kramer.

1962. Kenneth Halliwell and Joe Orton - RADA graduates, aspiring playwrights, and sometime lovers - plot their rightful place at the centre of London's literary scene whilst engaged in a secret crusade to 'improve' the local library books, all in the worst possible taste of course, and acting out their own versions of popular radio dramas... with an extra dash of innuendo. But after a short interlude at Her Majesty's pleasure, Joe is about to become the greatest, and most notorious comic playwright since Oscar Wilde, whilst Ken stays indoors re-decorating, reduced to sharing Joe's success with their neighbour, Mrs Corden, over tea and a slice of battenburg.

Now Simon Bent's darkly funny and moving play Prick Up Your Ears imagines what really happened when, after years of creative collaboration, the door slammed shut and Kenneth was home alone. It tells the sensational story behind the domestic life of Joe Orton and Kenneth Halliwell, holed up in a tiny flat in Islington, trading well-trodden insults and hilarious put-downs like any old married couple.

Prick Up Your Ears is inspired by the John Lahr biography and the diaries of Joe Orton and is produced in London with the full support of the Orton Estate, including Leonie Orton, Joe Orton's younger sister.

The producers of Prick Up Your Ears have issued the following statement: "We are thrilled that Con O'Neill, an actor of such significance, is available to take on the role of 'Kenneth Halliwell' at such short notice in our production of Prick Up Your Ears. Given the sad news that Matt Lucas has recently received, and the role he was playing, it is understandable that he could not return to play Halliwell at this time and our thoughts are with him. On-going support for our production from audiences at the Comedy Theatre over the past week has been wonderful and given the huge investment from our cast, director, writer and production team, we are delighted that the brilliant Con O'Neill is joining our company so that the show that we are so proud of can complete its West End run."

Please Note: Following the death of his former civil partner Kevin McGee, Matt Lucas has indefinitely withdrawn from this production. The producers of Prick Up Your Ears have issued the following statement: "Our thoughts are with Matt whom we are in constant touch with. Until further notice his role of Kenneth Halliwell in the West End production of Prick Up Your Ears will be played by his understudy Michael Chadwick."

The cast for Prick Up Your Ears in London features Matt Lucas as 'Kenneth Halliwell', Chris New as 'Joe Orton' and Gwen Taylor as 'Mrs Corden'. Please Note the role of 'Kenneth Halliwell' is currently being played by the understudy, Michael Chadwick (see above). Con O'Neill takes over the role of 'Kenneth Halliwell' from 22 October 2009. The production is directed by Daniel Kramer.

Joe Orton's plays include Entertaining Mr Sloane (recently revived in London's West End in January 2009), What the Butler Saw (seen in the West End last in 2005) and Loot.

Matt Lucas, together with his comedy partner David Walliams, are creators of the international hit television comedy series, Little Britain for which they have won over 20 awards worldwide. Chris New theatre credits include Daniel Kramer's production of Bent at the Trafalgar Studios. Gwen Taylor is probably best known for her roles in various television series including Heartbeat, Barbara, A Bit of a Do and Duty Free.

Simon Bent's adaptations include Ingvar Ambjørnsen's Elling (from the original stage adaptation by Axel Hellstenius in collaboration with Petter Næss) which enjoyed a season at the Trafalgar Studios in 2007 and John Irving's novel A Prayer for Owen Meany which enjoyed a short sell-out run at the National Theatre's Lyttelton Theatre in 2002.

Prick Up Your Ears in London at the Comedy Theatre previews from 17 September 2009, opened on 30 September 2009 and closed three weeks earlier than originally scheduled on 15 November 2009.