IN THE RACE FOR POWER THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE WINNER
BILL KENWRIGHT PRESENTS MARTIN SHAW IN THE UK PREMIERE OF GORE VIDAL’S POLITICAL THRILLER
THE BEST MAN
WINDSOR, BRIGHTON, RICHMOND, BATH, AND CAMBRIDGE PRIOR TO WEST END
Martin Shaw leads the cast in the timely UK premiere of The Best Man, Gore Vidal’s award winning political thriller about ambition, political scandal, ruthlessness… and the race for the white house.
Written before the battles of Trump vs Clinton and May vs Corbyn, Vidal’s drama of dirty politics never seemed more real or relevant. At a time of political chaos, The Best Man mirrors the often surprising results of campaigning and the unscrupulous world of politics.
Two opposing presidential party candidates are neck and neck in an unscrupulous battle for the nomination. The only thing that separates the esteemed ex-Secretary of State and his newcomer populist opponent is an endorsement from a respected ex- President. But where does compromise end and corruption begin? And who in the end will be proven to be “the best man”?
One of the UK’s most respected actors, Martin Shaw, rose to stardom in the late seventies in The Professionals, launching a career that has hardly seen him out of the limelight. He is best known for starring in the multi award winning BBC drama Judge John Deed and more recently Inspector George Gently. On stage, his revelatory performance as Lord Goring in Peter Hall’s production of An Ideal Husband earned him a Tony nomination and the coveted New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award. Other West End triumphs include the acclaimed Twelve Angry Men, Are You Lonesome Tonight? and A Man For All Seasons. He returns to the stage in a role made famous by Henry Fonda in the award-winning film adaptation of The Best Man.
Born into a distinguished political family, Gore Vidal was a prolific writer known for the waspish wit, which peppered his essays, novels, screenplays and Broadway plays. Among his most famous works are Myra Breckinridge and Lincoln. The Best Man premiered on Broadway in 1960 and was nominated for six Tony Awards, including ‘Best Play’. Vidal adapted it into a film with the same title in 1964 starring Henry Fonda, Cliff Robertson, and Lee Tracy who was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of the crafty ex-President. The play received a major revival on Broadway in 2012 starring James Earl Jones and Angela Lansbury, and earned two Tony award nominations including ‘Best Revival of a Play’.
The Best Man is directed by Simon Evans and will open at Theatre Royal Windsor on Tuesday 12 September followed by Theatre Royal Brighton, Richmond Theatre, Theatre Royal Bath, and Cambridge Arts Theatre, prior to the West End.
Simon Evans' credits include The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Silence of the Seas (Donmar Warehouse), The Dazzle, Bug, Fool for Love (Found111), Almost Maine (Park Theatre), Hannah (Unicorn), Speed Twins (Riverside Studio), Laura Marling, Shawshank Redemption and Ghostbusters (Secret Cinema), Rubber Room (The Old Vic) and Madness in Valencia (Trafalgar Studios). Simon was Resident Assistant Director at the Donmar Warehouse, Staff Director at the National and Creative Associate at the Bush.
LISTINGS www.Kenwright.com
THEATRE ROYAL WINDSOR 12 SEPTEMBER – 23 SEPTEMBER
THEATRE ROYAL BRIGHTON 25 SEPTEMBER – 30 SEPTEMBER
RICHMOND THEATRE 2 OCTOBER – 7 OCTOBER
THEATRE ROYAL BATH 9 OCTOBER – 14 OCTOBER
CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE 16 OCTOBER – 21 OCTOBER
PRESS CONTACT: EMMA HOLLAND PR (EHPR)
Emma Holland Georgie Robinson E: [email protected] E: [email protected] M: 0791 709 4203 M: 0751 211 2776 W: www.emmahollandpr.com W: www.emmahollandpr.com