Noises Off Transferring to the Novello Theatre in March

Wednesday, 8th Feb 2012  

Michael Frayn’s Play Ends its Run at the Old Vic Theatre at the End of the Month

Those picking up theatre tickets and heading to The Old Vic Theatre since mid-December have been witnessing Lindsay Posner’s production of Michael Frayn’s “Noises Off”, which stars Robert Glenister, Jamie Glover, Celia Imrie, Janie Dee, Karl Johnson, Aisling Loftus, Amy Nuttall and Paul Ready. Now, with the production set to finish on Saturday 25th February, cast and director are making a change for the West End. The play is set to appear at the Novello Theatre from the end of March.

“Noises Off” is a play within a play and as a result we witness two plots unfolding – one behind the scenes of a show called “Nothing On” and the other within “Nothing On” itself. A group of amateur performers are taking the production on tour with the antics taking place behind the curtain rivalling the action onstage. From disastrous rehearsals and memorable personal relationships the audience will have a hard time deciding where the real story is taking place.

“Noises Off” first appeared in front of audiences in the early 1980s with “Yes, Prime Minster” star Paul Eddington in a lead role when it premiered at the Lyric Hammersmith. It has since been seen around the world, before the critically acclaimed production was revived at the Old Vic in December 2011. Now (as Official London theatre points out) it will become the first West End transfer for a play that originated at the Old Vic Theatre.

Lindsay Posner is an acclaimed theatre director who has been behind a wealth of renowned shows in the West End and at the Royal Court Theatre, where he was their Associate Director in the late 80s and early 90s. His credits include “Butley” at the Duchess Theatre in 2011, “A View from the Bridge” at the Duke of York’s Theatre in 2009 and “Carousel” at the Savoy Theatre in 2008.

The West End transfer will be a limited run and it appears at the same time as Posner’s “Abigail’s Party” appears at the Menier Chocolate Factory (from Friday 2nd March 2012). “Noises Off” opens at the Novello Theatre on Saturday 24th March 2012.