Local Hero - "Where they are now? The stars of Scottish classic Local Hero"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where they are now? The stars of Scottish classic Local Hero

The Scotsman

Jan. 29, 2019

 

                                                                                                                                                                       

Peter Capaldi, Burt Lancaster, and Peter Riegert in a scene from Bill Forsyth's much-loved 1983 film Local Hero. Picture: Enigma/Goldcrest/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

 

Bill Forsyth's Local Hero brought together Hollywood names and rising Scottish stars to tell the story of one small community’s struggle to outsmart a large American oil company and save their home.

 

Here we look at the stars of the 1983 cult classic, which is being adapted into a world premiere stage musical production at The Lyceum in Edinburgh, with both Bill Forsyth and Mark Knoplfer working their magic on the show.

 

Bill Forsyth's Local Hero brought together Hollywood names and rising Scottish stars to tell the story of one small community’s struggle to outsmart a large American oil company and save their home. Here we look at the stars of the 1983 cult classic, which is being adapted into a world premiere stage musical production at The Lyceum in Edinburgh, with both Bill Forsyth and Mark Knoplfer working their magic on the show. Jenny Seagrove. Picture: Getty Local Hero at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh from 19 March – 4 May. Book your tickets now!

 

Peter Riegert - MacIntyre

 

Riegert went on to direct short films after his stint as oil tycoon MacIntyre with his work ‘By Courier’ - a story of a drifting relationship - nominated for an Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film in 2001.In recent times, he is possibly best known for his role as crooked New York state assemblyman Ronald Zellman in The Sopranos. One scene that is hard to shake shows him being beaten, half naked, with a belt by Tony Soprano as his mistress looks on. We preferred Riegert as Mac on the beach at Ferness collecting shells and opening himself up to the wonders of the universe. Fulton Mackay as Ben in Local Hero. Picture: Rex

 

 

Denis Lawson - Gordon Urquhart

 

Lawson is memorable as the smooth, smart and sexy landlord of the MacAskill Arms, but some fans will know the Crieff-born actor as ace rebel pilot Wedge Antilles in the original 1970s Star Wars trilogy. Others may know him as the maternal uncle of actor Ewan McGregor with the two working together on sci-fi drama Perfect Sense and short film Perfect Geometery in recent times. In 2006, his portrayal of John Jarndyce in a BBC production of Bleak House earned him an Emmy Nomination. He regularly appears on prime time television and recently appeared in Death in Paradise, Victoria and Marchlands. For many, it is the way he rallied a community in Local Hero that will endure. Lawson is also no stranger to the stage and has previously performed at the Royal Lyceum Theatre. He will be starring in ART at the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh which runs from 11th to 16th of February.

 

Peter Capaldi - Danny Oldsen

 

Capaldi needs little introduction as one of Scotland’s most high-profile actors but his part in Local Hero as Danny Oldsen, a young naive oil industry professional, was his first part. The scene in the film where Peter Capaldi runs over the beach - arms and legs swinging wildly - to catch a glimpse of the woman he admires does not fade. Other notable roles in the post-Local Hero years include transgender woman Vera Reynolds in Prime Suspect and Rory in the 1996 television version of Ian Banks’s The Crow Road. But his part as foul-mouthed spin doctor Malcolm Tucker in The Thick Of It set Capaldi apart with the actor collecting a string of awards - and likely a place in television history - for the comedy role. He is now known across the generations as the twelfth Dr. Who.

 

John Gordon Sinclair - Ricky

 

Sinclair was already a nation’s favourite when he turned up in Local Hero given his starring role in Gregory’s Girl, another Bill Forsyth classic, which screened two years earlier. He has numerous television and film credits to his name and recently appeared in World War Z alongside Brad Pitt as a Seal Commander. Sinclair moved to London in the early 1980s and now lives in Surrey with his wife, a GP, and children. Today, he is a successful crime writer and has had three novels published to much acclaim.

 

Christopher Rozycki - Viktor

 

The scene in Local Hero where Russian fisherman Viktor takes the mic at the ceilidh is one of the classic moments of the film with Christopher Rozycki radiating the film’s qualities of love, warmth and belonging. The actor was born in Poland and moved to London in the 1970s. After Local Hero, he became one of the founding characters of medical drama Casualty and played hospital porter Kuba during the first three series. He went on to roles in Truly Madly Deeply and then Downtown Abbey where he starred as Count Nikolai Rostov. Sadly, Rozycki died in April 2015 - but we’ll never forget Viktor’s Song.

 

Jenny Seagrove - Marina

 

Recently starring on the London stage in a six-month production of The Exorcist, Jenny Seagrove manages her long-running acting career with caring for abandoned horses. Her role as web-footed marine biologist Marina in Local Hero was her first big film role with Seagrove spending much time immersed in freezing west coast water for the part. From there she worked solidly in film, television and theatre and is well known for her playing lawyer Jo Mills in the long-running BBC drama series Judge John Deed. She set up The Mane Chance charity in 2011 after a friend ran out of money to feed her horses.Her partner is theatre producer and Everton chairman, Bill Kenwright.

 

Fulton Mackay - Ben

 

The fulcrum of Local Hero lies in character Ben, the wise beachcomber who lives on the sands held by his family for 400 years. The part was played memorably by Fulton Mackay, who at the time of the film was famous for his role as prison warder Mr Mackay in the sitcom Porridge. Paisley-born Mackay trained at RADA and then had a lengthy spell at Glasgow Citizen’s Theatre from 1949 to 1985.As well as Local Hero, he appeared in Defense of the Realm and Doing Time. He sadly died in London in 1987 - but the wisdom and wit of beachcomber Ben lives on.

 

Burt Lancaster - Felix Happer

 

One of the greatest actors in the classic Hollywood style, securing the services of Burt Lancaster to play oil tycoon Felix Happer was a major coup for director Bill Forsyth. The tough street kid from New York joined the circus and the army before settling on being an actor with hundreds of roles to his name. He was lauded for his part in The Birdman of Alcatraz and Atlantic City with his From Here to Eternity, where he makes love with Deborah Kerr on a Hawaiian beach amid the crashing waves, deemed to be one of the most romantic movies of all time. On the beach at Ferness in Local Hero, he is remembered for his meeting with Ben after which his plans to build a refinery grind to a halt. Lancaster died in 1991.

 

Local Hero at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh from 19 March – 4 May. Book your tickets now!

ART - "INTERVIEW: Glorious Old Masters – The Cast Of Art"

British Theatre.com

Feb. 1, 2019

 

 

Glorious Old Masters – we talk to Nigel Havers, Stephen Tompkinson and Denis Lawson on the first day of rehearsals for the ART UK Tour.
 

Stephen Tompkinson, Nigel Havers and Denis Lawson in Art. Photo: Matt Crockett

ART UK TOUR SCHEDULE

Waiting to chat to Nigel Havers, Stephen Tompkinson and Denis Lawson on the first day of rehearsals for ART I overhear a waitress detailing the ingredients of the soup of the day. It occurs to me that the producers of Yasmina Reza’s award-winning play might have had a similar approach:  Take one of the most successful comedies of all time; cast three of our best-loved and most experienced stars and mix well with a talented director. Garnish with marketing and serve at some of the UK’s finest theatres. Voilà! One smash-hit. With a clutch of heavyweight credits between them, all three actors agree that ART is the theatrical equivalent of European white truffles.

“First of all, it’s very short. I’m very keen on short theatre,” twinkles Nigel, famous for roles in hit movies such as Chariots of Fire and A Passage to India and a plethora of primetime television shows including The Charmer, Coronation Street and Downton Abbey. Returning to ART with relish having done previous stints in the play (“740 performances, but not for a few years”) the dapper Mr Havers first saw the play at a preview at the Wyndham’s Theatre when it first opened. “As yet I have not found a better modern play,” he tells me. “It’s intellectual, witty and about things I understand, like friendship and art. For me, it’s an absolute godsend.”

Stephen (DCI Banks, Trollied, Wild at Heart, Drop the Dead Donkey and Ballykissangel) nods in agreement. “I also saw the first night at Wyndham’s and it was an incredible night. When I was offered the role of Ivan later in the run I jumped at it.  She [playwright Yasmina Reza] has beautifully observed this male friendship and it is constantly amusing. I haven’t done the play for 18 years but it is lovely to come back to.”

Nigel Havers and Denis Lawson in Art. Photo: Matt Crockett

He may not have been in the play before, but Denis (Bleak House, New Tricks and Star Wars) is nevertheless delighting in learning his lines. “I had seen it but had never read it and it is such a pleasure to dig into. The comedy is just wonderful,” he sighs.

Winner of just about every prestigious theatre award going, ART tells the story of Serge, a divorced doctor who buys an abstract painting. Serge’s friend Marc is outraged that anyone would pay such a vast sum of money for a completely white canvas and dismisses it as tosh. Mutual friend Yvan tries to reconcile the pair, but before long finds himself in the line of fire. Laugh-out-loud funny, it is undoubtedly the exploration of friendship within the sparkling writing that gives ART truly universal appeal, so what, I ask, are the qualities Nigel, Stephen and Denis appreciate in their friends?
“Tolerance and malleability,” quips Stephen.

Denis ponders. With a mix of pride and affection, he eventually responds: “I still have friends from school. We see each other regularly and it is a wonderful thing to have friendships with people you have known since you were 11 or 12. We all have very different lives but our friendship is very easy. That’s special and I really value it.”

Nodding in agreement and smiling warmly, Stephen tells us he shares a birthday with one of his oldest friends. “We’re still very close and he’ll be along in Manchester.”

Nigel also still has strong links with friends from childhood. “It is a good feeling and they are like family in a way,” he observes.

But out on tour, the triumvirate will become their own family. How do they amuse themselves when they’re not performing?

“You arrive on Monday, so that’s taken care of, Tuesday usually includes some sort of publicity for the play, Wednesday is probably a matinee, Thursday you might visit a gallery, Friday you sleep in and then on Saturday you go home,” offers Nigel, explaining that even living out of a suitcase and being somewhere different every week has its own rhythm.

“I’ve not toured for a while but if there’s one of those hop-on-hop-off buses then I’ll be on it,” admits Stephen. “You learn all sorts and they’re very good for finding your bearings,” he insists.

Stephen Tompkinson, Nigel Havers and Denis Lawson in Art. Photo: Matt Crockett

Agreeing that there will be “a lot of epicurean feasting” along the way, eating out seems to be a popular cast activity, with all the towns and cities on the tour schedule getting the collective thumbs up for restaurants and pubs.
 
Twenty years since David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers first produced ART in the West End, the original post-London tour played for 78 weeks.  Aiming to break their own record, Pugh & Rogers have every faith that such a top-notch cast gives them every chance of success.
“It doesn’t date; it still feels fresh,” promises Denis.

“You’ll love it,” urges Stephen. “It’s not just a play about three men because it’s from a woman’s point of view.”

Finishing his espresso, Nigel adds: “And because it’s short you’ll be in the pub afterwards in time to order food.”

Before I leave I explain that my Nan is beyond excited that I’m meeting (in her words) ‘Silver Fox thespian royalty.’ They oblige with a selfie, giving Nan her own work of art to treasure.  As for me, I make a mental note to book tickets to see these glorious old masters in action sooner rather than later. I’ve a hunch that tickets will sell faster than a looted Rembrandt.

ART - "This Morning fans in hysterics as Holly Willoughby downs vodka cocktail – and admits it’s gone to her head!"

NOW Magazine
Jan. 29, 2019

Bit crazy for a Tuesday!

It all got a bit too much for Holly Willoughby on This Morning today as she burst into fits of giggles after drinking a vodka cocktail.


After explaining how to make the perfect martini, guest Denis Lawson gifted the tipple to the 37-year-old while they were live on air.

But, later as her co-host Phillip Schofield, 56, carried on chatting to Denis and Nigel Havers for the segment, it became clear that the drink had gone straight to Holly’s head as she began to giggle.

And after Denis had made four drinks for the group, it wasn’t just Holly who was feeling slightly tipsy either as Phil began giggling too.

‘That vodka has gone to my head,’ admitted Phillip and Holly agreed: ‘And mine!’

Clearly amused by Holly and Phil’s antics, fans couldn’t help but comment on how hilarious they were.

One wrote: ‘The start of this morning today was hilarious wow I love phil and holly,’ while another added: ‘After a stressful day yesterday… this morning Phil and Holly definitely brighten my day up. I can’t stop laughing with you 2 this morning.’

A third viewer chimed in: ‘Love it when Phil and Holly have a bit of a laugh #ThisMorning’

The hilarious TV duo were recently awarded for their hard work, after This Morning won the award for Best Daytime Show at the National Television Awards last week.

According to a showbiz insider, Holly left the bash early as she was ‘totally overwhelmed’ by the love she had received following the win and after losing out to Ant and Dec for the presenter gong.

‘Holly had a good cry with her husband Dan. She was totally overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from her This Morning crew after the ceremony,’ a show insider told The Sun.

 

‘They were all telling her how loved she is and how they couldn’t believe she didn’t win the gong,’ the source added.
Words by Becky Waldren.

ART - "Art by Yasmina Reza returns to Chichester Festival Theatre - review"

Chichester Observer
Jan 25, 2018

Art by Yasmina Reza, Chichester Festival Theatre, until February 2. Those who loved Yasmina Reza’s Art 20 odd years ago will love it again on its revival. Those of us who remember being underwhelmed might just have to think again. At least a little.



The play’s cult phenomenon still seems vastly out of proportion to the merits of the play itself, but there’s no doubting the immense skill which the current cast in the current production brings to it. 

The Art die-hards have long since explained to the slightly-baffled “Well, you see it isn’t about art at all. It’s actually about friendship.” And this is a production which brings it out nicely, poignantly even, particularly in a superb performance from Stephen Tompkinson.

 The gist, famously, is that Serge (Nigel Havers) has spent an absolute fortune on an all-white painting with white diagonals across it. His friends Marc (Denis Lawson) and Yvan (Tompkinson) are split. Marc dismisses it with a four-letter word beginning with s and takes the whole thing as a personal affront. Yvan is more inclined to take the mick but does actually start to see something in the artwork.

 And so, in various permutations, the three of them argue. And argue. And then argue some more, their friendship tested to the limit by a painting which starts to seem simply the catalyst to the opening of fractures which were already there. Then comes a shocking moment… maybe the moment the play really ought to have ended. When it resumes for a few minutes, the piece seems to dilute itself again.

 Yes, it’s enjoyable and occasionally very funny, but the play is considerably inferior to Reza’s much later God of Carnage which says much, much more much more interestingly.

However, Nigel Havers on stage is always a treat, the twinkle, the charm, the expressiveness, the naturalness and the brilliance… He has always been one of our very finest.

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New Tricks - "The writing is absolutely essential"

BBC

Series 11: Cast Interviews

Denis Lawson is Steve McAndrew – a retired detective from Glasgow CID.

What can we expect from your character at the start of the new series?
We get more of a glimpse into Steve’s personal life, there’s more contact with my son and ex-wife – played by Julie Graham. At one point my son gets into trouble, so I have to have contact my ex-wife, we have to deal with this problem with our son together. It’s quite difficult for both of us as it’s still quite bitter and I think our son hopes we’ll get back together.

What’s the dynamic like with the three other characters?

The team often act as a surrogate family. Tamzin’s character meets a new man later in the series and we’re a bit like older brothers, we want to check him out when we meet this guy. We cross examinine him, making sure he is the right kind of guy for her.

 

There’s an underlying humour throughout the series. It has this offbeat and sometimes eccentric humour, which is great. I always enjoy the scenes with Dennis Waterman, particularly when we’re playing comedy, we’re always finding stuff together and he’s very immediate. There’s a moment where we actually wake up in bed together after a very heavy night, no idea of where we are but we suddenly realise we’re in the same bed. We’re definitely trying to assert our masculinity.

I love that immediacy on camera with Dennis, he’ll just throw some extra lines in, and at times it’s so funny you have to try hard to hold it together.

What other cases can the audience expect this series?

One of my particular favourites is an episode Julian Simpson wrote and directed, about the Fleet River, an underground river that runs through London and we follow the source of the river, because we are investigating two unsolved murders, 20 years apart, one in Hampstead and another right at the point where the Fleet River ends, near Fleet Street. What I didn’t know was this was a major river that ran through London, which has now been covered over. We follow the source of the river, though the city of London and down to the Thames and you can still see where the banks of the river were, which I loved. There’s a little graveyard behind St Pancras station, which is crammed with gravestones that the writer Thomas Hardy put there when he was an architect and that little graveyard, which I’ve known for years, is the banks of the Fleet River.

 

 

It was a brilliant story and interesting information to discover. We also have a very amusing and off-beat story about a Roman re-enactment society, which is quite eccentric in its storyline, the mix of writers on the series always brings something different to the series. The writing is absolutely essential.

What do you think is the appeal of New Tricks?
I think one of the great strengths of the show is the writing; it has a big part to play in the longevity and huge appeal of the series. The way the show was conceived originally and developed, has always had good writing at the heart of it, it’s very difficult to be good with bad writing. New Tricks has that with the right level of humour running through the series, along with the investigations.

Nobody can quite put their finger on why it’s so successful, I think it’s a mixture of all of those things, it keeps an audience very interested, the intricacies of plot, and then amuses them along the way, with these rather off beat characters.

What’s been your experience of filming around London?
It’s lovely when the public pass by and they’re so thrilled to see you and they love the show, it’s always lovely to get that reaction. I remember when I started on the show, my first episode came out and the next day, I have never experienced that kind of reaction in the street from men, who would go ‘great job’ - it went on for several days. I’d never really experienced that level of response on anything else I’ve worked on. It was really gratifying and shows the huge impact the series has.

Local Hero - "Run for Local Hero musical extended as full cast of stage version of classic film revealed"

Herald Scotland
Jan 19, 2019

THE demand to see the new stage adaptation of the much-loved Scottish film Local Hero has led to the production being extended by two weeks.

 

The musical play based on the 1983 film, is to be staged at the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh, and will now run to the beginning of May.

The show has been adapted for the stage by David Greig, and the writer and director of the original film, Bill Forsyth, and features new music and lyrics by Mark Knopfler, inspired by his famous original film score.

The extension of the show's run has been announced along with its full cast.

The musical, a joint production between the Lyceum and the Old Vic in London, will be directed by John Crowley and will star Damian Humbley as Mac, Katrina Bryan as Stella, Matthew Pidgeon as Gordon, and Simon Rouse as Happer.

Rouse is known for playing the role of Detective Jack Meadows in the long running ITV drama The Bill.

In the original film, Peter Riegert played Mac, Denis Lawson played Gordon Urquhart, Felix Happer was played by Burt Lancaster, and Stella by Jennifer Black.

The cast includes Scott Ainslie, Caroline Deyga, Julian Forsyth, Emmanuel Kojo, Helen Logan, Suzie McAdam, Matthew Malthouse, Joanne McGuinness, John McLarnon, Adam Pearce, and Wendy Somerville.

Following previews, Local Hero will open at the Lyceum on 23 March, and The Old Vic run will open in June 2020.

Plays directed by Crowley include The Present, Anton Chekhov’s Platonov adapted by Andrew Upton and starring Cate Blanchett, the London and Broadway runs of Martin McDonagh’s Tony-nominated The Pillowman starring David Tennant, A Behanding in Spokane on Broadway starring Christopher Walken and the West End production of Love Song, starring Neve Campbell and Cillian Murphy.

He also directed Brooklyn, the Oscar nominated film starring Saoirse Ronana and Boy A, which starred Andrew Garfield.

Crowley is also directing the film adaptation of Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch starring Ansel Elgort, Nicole Kidman and Sarah Paulson.  

In 1993 he directed The Master Builder, starring Brian Cox, at the Lyceum.
 
Of the production, last year Greig, the Scottish playwright and artistic director of the Lyceum, said: "God, this is exciting.

"I’m thrilled The Lyceum will be working with a team of this calibre to make Local Hero.

 

"John Crowley is a director on top of his game.

"From The Pillowman to Brooklyn he has shown himself a master of complex emotional material.
 
"I was recently privileged to see his production of The Present on Broadway with Cate Blanchett and it was one of the defining experiences of my theatre-going life."