"Little Britain" Star Matt Lucas May Star in West End's Prick Up Your Ears

By Mark Shenton
June 19, 2009

"Little Britain" star Matt Lucas will likely play Kenneth Halliwell in a new play about Joe Orton, Prick Up Your Ears, written by Simon Bent and inspired by John Lahr's biography of the same name (which was subsequently filmed under that title by director Stephen Frears in 1987) and Orton's diaries, also edited by Lahr.

According to a report in London's Daily Mail, the plan is for the production to start rehearals in May, then tour to four venues before arriving at the West End's Comedy Theatre, where performances will begin around Sept. 17.

Halliwell, Orton's partner, murdered the playwright in 1967 with nine hammer blows to his head. Orton will be played by Chris New, previously seen in the West End in a revival of Bent at the Trafalgar Studios, and last seen on the London stage in Amazonia at the Young Vic. The play will be directed by Daniel Kramer, who directed Bent and was most recently represented on the London stage by his production of Pictures from an Exhibition at the Young Vic. He is currently directing Rufus Wainwright's debut opera, Prima Donna, premiering at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, as part of the Manchester International Festival, where it begins performances July 10 and runs to July 19.

Lucas previously appeared on the London stage when he took over the role of Leigh Bowery in the original West End production of Boy George's Taboo in 2002.

Further details are to be confirmed.

"Little Britain," a radio-originated comedy sketch show, has gone on to three award-winning series on BBC series. "Little Britain" USA debuted on HBO in Sept. 2008.