Ewan McGregor, often cast as the handsome hero (like Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars movies), will play Shakespeare’s most amoral villain in a stage production of Othello which will also star two of our other top actors: Chiwetel Ejiofor and Kelly Reilly.Donmar Warehouse theatre director Michael Grandage said it was like a board game, arranging for Ewan, Chiwetel and Kelly to be available at the same time for his production of Othello, in which Chiwetel will play the noble Moor, Kelly his Desdemona and Ewan is Iago, the jealous confidant who brings about their destruction.The three thespians enjoy movie careers that pay handsomely, certainly in the case of the two leading men.But when Othello begins performances at the Donmar on November 29, with an official first night on December 4, they will be on the Equity minimum wage.”We’re up to £400 a week now,” Grandage joked.However, he put that sum into perspective when he pointed out that his three leads “command, I hope, huge salaries for their films – but that hopefully means they can afford to come to the Donmar.”It’s the other members of the company who need to survive on £400 a week”.The factor that unites Grandage’s chosen trio is that he has worked with them all before. Indeed, Chiwetel was in The Vortex, the first play Grandage directed as artistic director when he took over from Sam Mendes at the Donmar five years ago.Later, he directed the brilliantly gifted Kelly in After Miss Julie and then persuaded Ewan to kick up his heels and croon in Guys & Dolls.Grandage, just returned to London after his triumph on Broadway with the Donmar’s Frost/Nixon, casually mentioned Othello to Ewan when they were working together on Guys & Dolls.”I said, ‘Have a read of Othello and if you have a response, then call me’, in the way of these things,” he laughed.”Ewan did call me a year later and said: ‘Oh, by the way…'”Talking about the play, all the actors agreeing they liked the intimacy of it for the Donmar’s stage was one thing.”But the fact that they were all free at the same time meant the planets must have been in alignment somewhere,” Grandage told me.The director and Chiwetel have discussed the exoticism of Othello’s world, with the actor introducing him to a 19th-century Ethiopian king who may or may not end up influencing the director’s sense of the production.But he’s also, of course, intrigued by Iago, Othello’s seemingly friendly lieutentant who deceives all around him.”Iago has become a byword for manipulation, particularly in politics,” explained Grandage, who told me he targeted Ewan because he was struck by how the actor manages to be charming without it seeming a front.”You know, some people can act being nice. With Ewan, it’s genuine.”The whole point of people being duped by Iago is that they don’t notice he isn’t nice. He really has to be geuinely charming and charismatic, so all these people get taken in.”He added that with Ewan playing Iago “you’re going to get that fantastic duplicity that lies at the heart of the character”.Ewan has just completed shooting the thriller movie Incendiary.Next week, he continues his long-running charity motorbike adventure. This one’s called The Long Way Down, and involves the actor travelling from Scotland to Cape Agulhas, South Africa, after which he goes into rehearsals for Othello.Chiwetel was in Ian Rickson’s sublime production of The Seagull at the Royal Court and he’s in constant demand to make movies in the U.S.In Kelly Reilly, meanwhile, we have one of our most fearless actresses.She’ll become a huge movie star when directors stop worrying what the studio money men think and just cast her – believe me, she would have enlivened any number of films that she was seen for but which ultimately went to other, bigger-named but lesser actresses.You’ll have to be patient to get tickets. Priority booking begins on September 10 and regular public booking on October 15.? The box office is on 0870 060 6624. Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
By Louise JuryEwan McGregor is to lead a production of Othello to mark the fifth anniversary of Michael Grandage as artistic director of the Donmar theatre.The Scot will be joined by Chiwetel Ejiofor, star of Kinky Boots and Dirty Pretty Things, and Kelly Reilly, who was in Mrs Henderson Presents.It is a dream union of three actors who have played an important part in the Donmar’s work over five years.All turned down possible film roles to take on Shakespeare in the 250-seat auditorium and work with Grandage again.He said: “They all cleared the decks and committed to it.” McGregor, 36, made his West End musical debut in Guys And Dolls, which was the Donmar’s first production initiated outside its own venue. He will play Iago.Ejiofor appeared in The Vortex, Grandage’s inaugural show as artistic director, and has the title role. Reilly, who won rave reviews for After Miss Julie, returns to play Desdemona.The production, which will run from 29 November to 23 February, will launch the next stage of Grandage’s work at the small but prestigious Covent Garden venue. Although he is on a rolling contract, he has committed to staying and will shortly present his next five-year plan to the board.He said: “It’s always nice to have an announcement of this calibre and to use it as an opportunity to say that I am looking forward to the next few years.”Grandage had a tough act to follow when he succeeded Sam Mendes, who ran the theatre for 10 years before leaving to make more Hollywood films after the Oscar-winning American Beauty.Mendes built up a loyal following with clever West End revivals and strong American drama. Grandage added European-playwrights such as Albert Camus, Dario Fo and Luigi Pirandello to the repertoire. Othello will be his first Shakespeare at the Donmar.He suggested the role of Iago to McGregor during Guys And Dolls.He said: “I was very aware that I was working with someone who had an extraordinary ease, a charm that he didn’t have to put on.”One of the problems with Iago is everyone always plays him as a baddie and then the audience don’t understand why people on the stage can’t see that.”But it’s because he is utterly charming.”Source: thisislondon.co.uk
Donmar production to be directed by GrandageBy DAVID BENEDICTMichael Grandage will helm a new production of “Othello” at the Donmar Warehouse, with Chiwetel Ejiofor in the title role alongside Ewan McGregor as Iago and Kelly Reilly as Desdemona. It will play a limited engagement from Nov. 29 to Feb. 23, with a Dec. 4 opening.Although Grandage sealed his reputation directing “As You Like It” and “Richard III” (with Kenneth Branagh) at Sheffield’s Crucible theater, this is his first Shakespeare outing at the 250-seat Donmar, where he is artistic director.”As one of Shakespeare’s most intimate plays with one of the smallest casts, it’s perfect for the Donmar,” Grandage told Daily Variety. The strength of this cast will allow us to explore the internal, as well as the external, life of the play.”The production marks the start of Grandage’s sixth year as Donmar a.d. Play will reunite his favored creative team of designer Christopher Oram, lighting designer Paule Constable and composer-sound designer Adam Cork; all three leading actors have worked with Grandage before as well.Helmer has been in discussions with Ejiofor about the role since the thesp starred in his production of “The Vortex” in 2002. Reilly played the title role in “After Miss Julie” in 2003, while McGregor created the role of Sky Masterson in Grandage’s revival of “Guys and Dolls,” currently eyeing a Broadway berth.Grandage also said that following the success of “Frost/Nixon,” the Donmar’s next Gotham project will be the transfer of its 2005 hit production of Friedrich Schiller’s thriller “Mary Stuart.” “Subject to the availability of director Phyllida Lloyd and actresses Janet McTeer and Harriet Walter, we are committed to making this our next Broadway presentation,” he said. Source: variety.com
Ewan McGregor is currently in Santa Catarina, Brazil, and he’ll stay there until tomorrow. He’s shooting a TV commercial for Davidoff male perfume. Source: Blue Bus
By Emma ClarkCROWDS of people gathered in St Albans city centre on Tuesday to try and catch a glimpse of the shooting of Hollywood star Ewan McGregor’s new film.St Peter’s Street, Market Place and St Albans Abbey will all be used this week as backgrounds to Incendiary, a romantic drama due out in 2008.The film tells the story of an adulterous woman whose life is torn apart when her husband and infant son are killed in a suicide bombing at a football match.It is based on the bestselling novel by British author Chris Cleave.Extras, who auditioned in St Albans last weekend, were on stand-by while leading lady Michelle Williams, best known for her Dawsons Creek role, was filmed in a scene getting off a bus outside Monsoon on Tuesday.On Wednesday Robert Dyas, in St Peter’s Street, became a discount sports store for the day, Specsavers in Market Place was turned into a florist and on Thursday a funeral scene is due to be shot at the abbey.Source: www.thisishertfordshire.co.uk
