Withnail and I

First Look at WITHNAIL & I at Birmingham Rep

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New production photos have been released from the Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s production of Withnail & I. 

By Stephi Wild

Birmingham Rep’s brand new adaptation of Bruce Robinson’s 1987 British tragi-comedy film, Withnail and I is directed by the double Olivier Award-winning Artistic Director of Birmingham Rep, Sean Foley and designed by Alice Power.  The show is currently running at The Rep and Press Night is on 14 May at 7pm.

Robert Sheehan plays Withnail, Adonis Siddique plays Marwood and Malcolm Sinclair plays Uncle Monty.  The cast is completed by Adam Young (Danny), Israel J Fredericks (Presuming Ed), Morgan Philpott (Wanker/Jake the Poacher), Matt Devitt (Farmer/Colonel & Band), Adam Sopp (Geezer/Policeman, Band & Musical Director), Sooz Kempner (Miss Blenehassitt/Policewoman & Band).

Photos: First Look at WITHNAIL & I at Birmingham Rep

The creative team joining the writer, director and designer, Bruce Robinson, Sean Foley and Alice Power are:  Jessica Hung Han Yun (Lighting Design), Ben & Max Ringham (Sound & Composition), Akhila Krishnan (Video Design), Candida Caldicott (Music Supervision), Ginny Schiller (Casting Director), Alison de Burgh(Fight Director), Sara Joyce (Associate Director), Simon Marlow (Production Manager), Jennifer Taillefer (Production Environmental Manager), Kay Wilton (Costume Supervisor),  Robin Morgan (Props Supervisor) and Andriea Nelson (Wigs Supervisor).

Robert Sheehan made his acting debut in Aisling Walsh’s acclaimed feature Song For A Raggy Boy. Since then, his screen credits include:  Season of the Witch, Cherrybomb, Killing Bono, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, The Road Within, The Song of Sway Lake, Anita B, The Messenger, Moonwalkers, Jet Trash, Geostorm, Bad Samaritan, Three Summers, Mute, Mortal Engines, the BAFTA winning Red Riding trilogy for Channel 43, the multi-IFTA winning Love/Hate, the BAFTA winning Misfits for E4 (for which he was BAFTA nominated), The Borrowers, Fortitude, Genius: Picasso, The Last Bus, The Umbrella Academy and the upcoming film Red Sonja.   His theatre work includes The Playboy of the Western Worlddirected by John Crowley for the Old Vic, Richard III in The Wars of the Roses directed by Trevor Nunn for the Rose Theatre and Endgame directed by Danya Taymor for the Gate Theatre Dublin.

Photos: First Look at WITHNAIL & I at Birmingham Rep

Adonis Siddique’s theatre credits include: The Crown Jewels in the West End, Saleem in East Is East (a Birmingham Rep co-production with the National Theatre); Dorian Gray in The Picture Of Dorian Gray  at the Pleasance Theatre in London, Crowther in The History Boys, Jav in Mismatched, a Sky Comedy/Birmingham Rep production, Quasim in Very Special Guest Star at Soho Theatre and Kyle in Dad at SouthwarkPlayhouse. Adonis was a creative collaborator and actor in Shunt’s Party Skills For The End Of The World at The Manchester International Festival.  His film & television credits include: Newark Newark, Tin Star,  Tyrant, Beyond Reasonable Doubt for CNN and the feature film Me Myself and D.

Malcolm Sinclair is currently appearing at the National Theatre in Dear Octopus with Lindsay Duncan.  His other many theatre credits include The Inquiry at Chichester Festival Theatre,  My Fair Lady in the West End, The Light in the Piazza internationally and at the Royal Festival Hall,  An Enemy of the People at Nottingham Playhouse, This House at Chichester Festival Theatre and at the Garrick Theatre,  The Doctor’s Dilemma, The Habit of Art, The Power of Yes and House/Garden, History Boys and Racing Demon for the National Theatre,  Ivanov at the Donmar Warehouse and Richard III, Uncle Vanya and The Comedy of Errors for the Royal Shakespeare Company.  His many TV credits include  Andor in A Star Wars Story for Disney +,  Midsomer Murders, Virtuoso Silk,   Henry V,  The Hollow Crown, Foyle’s War, Hustle, Judge John Deed, A Touch of Frost and the US mini-series,  Scarlett.   His many films include: Drowning; The Man Who Knew Infinity, Survivor, A Belfast story, The Young Victoria, Casino Royale, V for Vendetta,  Keep The Aspidistra Flying, Young Poisoner’s Handbook, God On The Rocks,  Now That It’s Morning and Success Is The Best Revenge.

Written and adapted for the stage by Bruce Robinson himself, the writer and director of the original film, the show will bring to life some of the most iconic comic characters ever created. The film, based on Robinson’s own unpublished novel, was produced by Handmade Films and starred Richard E Grant, Paul McGann and Richard Griffiths.

Photos: First Look at WITHNAIL & I at Birmingham RepPhoto Credit: Manuel Harlan

Source: Photos: First Look at WITHNAIL & I at Birmingham Rep

‘I couldn’t afford loo roll’: Bruce Robinson on being skint, Zeffirelli’s advances and Withnail’s return

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The director reveals why he finally came round to doing a play based on the cult film that made his name

By Robert Gore-Langton

Bruce Robinson is ramming a huge log into the grate of his ancient fireplace in mud-clogged Herefordshire. He’s 77 and the film for which he is famous, Withnail and I, is about to open as a play. Isn’t it curious it hasn’t happened before, given that the comedy is about two thirsty, unemployed actors and is a sort of love-hate letter to the theatre?

‘I was living on 30 bob a week – I could either afford fish and chips or ten gold leaf’

 

‘I wasn’t fond of the idea of staging it,’ says Robinson, who wrote and directed the 1987 film based on his own boozy life as an actor in the 1960s. ‘I’d done it, you know; it’s decades ago and it’s over. There was a time when Withnail was stuck to me like a colostomy bag. I just wanted to move on. But a while back, a lovely geezer called George Ward wanted to buy the stage rights. He is a very generous man and coughed up a good chunk of dough. So I’ve written the script but I am not the director. I’ve deliberately stayed away from rehearsals. I’d only bring a ball and chain as I would be looking to do what I did before.’

The show is being directed at the Birmingham Rep by Sean Foley, a seasoned comedy director who recently turned the Ealing classic The Man in the White Suit into a stage show. Two young actors play the leads. Robert Sheehan is Withnail, Adonis Siddique is ‘I’ (based on Robinson himself) with stage veteran Malcolm Sinclair playing Monty, Withnail’s fruity, lecherous, Old Harrovian uncle. It’s not a musical but there’s a live band to replicate the film’s soundtrack, which was notable for its doses of Jimi Hendrix. The film is set in 1969 and yet it remains oddly timeless. It made the names of Richard E. Grant (as Withnail) and Paul McGann (as ‘I’) as the two reprobates.

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10 Low-Budget British Comedies That You Need To See

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A selection of the best low-budget British comedy films including Withnail and I, and Comfort and Joy.

By Bradley Simpson

This look at 10 low-budget British comedy films traverses through a diverse landscape of movies, each offering a unique blend of comedy, drama, and social commentary

From Maxine Peeke’s captivating portrayal in Funny Cow, navigating the challenges of stand-up comedy against the backdrop of northern England’s working men’s clubs, to the darkly humorous take on terrorism in Chris Morris’s Four Lions, these films push the boundaries of storytelling and audience expectations.

As we explore the quirky humour of Mike Leigh’s Nuts in May and the biting satire of Armando Iannucci’s The Death of Stalin, we witness filmmakers skilfully intertwining laughter with deeper themes of societal norms, personal struggles, and the human condition. Join us on this cinematic journey, where comedy meets tragedy, and the absurdity of life takes centre stage.

Funny Cow

Dir. Adrian Shergold (2017)

Maxine Peeke shines in Funny Cow, portraying a female stand-up comedian grappling with the challenges of navigating the comedy circuit in working men’s clubs across northern England during the 1970s and 1980s.

While the film’s portrayal of casual bigotry and racism is uncomfortable to witness, it serves as a poignant reminder of an era we hope, albeit perhaps fancifully, has passed for good.

As much a kitchen sink survival story as a comedy, Funny Cow encapsulates the quintessential British sensibility of skilfully intertwining humour with uncompromising bleakness.

Attack The Block

Dir. Joe Cornish (2011)

Attack The Block, depicting an alien invasion and the residents of council flats fighting back, carved its own niche in 2011, with its talented cast and crew subsequently moving on to greater heights, underscoring the film’s lightning-in-a-bottle quality.

Writer-director Joe Cornish, also known for 2019’s The Kid Who Would Be King, not only captured a uniquely British sensibility to approach the science-fiction genre with humour but also showcased the talents of Jodie Whitaker (pre-Doctor Who fame) and John Boyega (pre-Star Wars).

Prevenge

Dir. Alice Lowe (2016)

Alice Lowe’s directorial debut, accomplished in just 11 days of filming, is a testament to efficiency and skill. Over the course of a brisk ninety minutes, Lowe’s penchant for comically absurd scenarios permeates a stylised stage reminiscent of influences such as Argento, Lynch, and her collaborator Ben Wheatley, with whom she co-wrote and starred in Sightseers.

Prevenge stands out for its delightful subversion, both in narrative structure and thematic exploration, as it flips the classic revenge trope on its head, presenting it as both revelation and twist, while ingeniously transforming the life-giving biology of a pregnant woman into an instrument of death.

Nuts In May

Dir. Mike Leigh (1976)

Top 10 Films Brits on Holiday
In Nuts In May, originally aired on BBC television as part of its Play for Today series in 1976, Mike Leigh showcases his talent for delightfully quirky storytelling.

Alison Steadman and Roger Sloman lead the cast as a well-meaning couple embarking on a camping holiday. Steadman’s innocent, childlike wonder serves as a charming counterpoint to Sloman’s headmaster-like precision, resulting in a dynamic that is both odd and endearing.

Leigh skilfully mines humour from the contrasting personalities of the campsite’s other inhabitants, whose various agendas and approaches to leisure disrupt the couple’s peaceful retreat, adding layers of complexity to their idyllic getaway.

Sightseers

Dir. Ben Wheatley (2012)

Director Ben Wheatley, along with writers-actors Steve Oram and Alice Lowe, masterfully blend elements of romance, buddy comedy, domestic melodrama, and slasher horror in this twisted and original lo-fi comic adventure. Seamlessly intertwining genres, they skilfully play on our sympathies while tickling our funny bone.

In a unique amalgamation reminiscent of Nuts in May meets Natural Born Killers, the film admirably marries comedy with horror, showcasing how romance can thrive amidst the backdrop of serial homicide, highlighting the filmmakers’ ability to weave together disparate elements into a cohesive and captivating narrative.

The Death Of Stalin

Dir. Armando Iannucci (2017)

Armando Iannucci’s biting satire achieves a delicate balance between historical accuracy and daring creative license, portraying a tale of political chaos and power struggles among ministers in the aftermath of Stalin’s death.

The stellar ensemble cast, featuring Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor, Rupert Friend, Michael Palin, Andrea Riseborough, Simon Russell Beale as Lavrentiy Beria, and Jason Isaacs as Georgy Zhukov, alongside memorable supporting performances from Olga Kurylenko and Paddy Considine, brings vibrant energy to their roles.

With razor-sharp dialogue co-written by David Schneider, Ian Martin, and Peter Fellows, Iannucci’s wit is so potent that it should come with a warning: “Do not watch while drinking, as uncontrollable laughter may result in projectile spillage.”

Another Year

Dir. Mike Leigh (2010)

In Another Year, writer-director Mike Leigh skilfully navigates the complexities of light and dark, comedy and tragedy, to explore themes of marriage, togetherness, friendship, and love, while acknowledging the inherent challenges of life’s journey.

Gerri and Tom, portrayed by Ruth Sheen and Jim Broadbent, embody a long-married couple seemingly enjoying a comfortable and loving life. However, against the backdrop of their stability, their circle of friends and family grapple with life’s traumas, finding solace and support within Gerri and Tom’s nurturing home and friendship, where vulnerabilities are laid bare like open wounds.

Four Lions

Dir. Chris Morris (2010)

Finding humour in terrorism may seem inconceivable, but with Chris Morris at the helm, anything is possible. Four Lions delights in flipping our expectations, revealing the absurdity and folly inherent in the subject matter.

The film satirises flawed idealism, portraying unplugged fundamentalist factions interpreting religious scripture on a whim, and highlighting the futility of their actions.

This dark comedy serves as a biting contemporary social commentary, simultaneously funny and provocative, challenging audiences to confront uncomfortable truths with laughter.

Comfort And Joy

Dir. Bill Forsyth (1984)

Bill Forsyth's Comfort and Joy (1984)

In Scotland, radio DJ Alan Bird, portrayed by Bill Paterson, becomes embroiled in a conflict between rival families vying for control of Glasgow’s ice cream market. Directed by Bill Forsyth, renowned for works like Local Hero and Gregory’s Girl, this film stands as arguably his finest. It’s a beautifully melancholic and whimsically life-affirming story, following a down-on-his-luck Glaswegian who, abandoned by his girlfriend, unwittingly becomes entangled in the city’s ice cream war.

Withnail And I

Dir. Bruce Robinson (1987)

Top 10 Films Brits on Holiday
Considered the quintessential Brits-on-holiday film, Bruce Robinson’s seminal classic Withnail and I remains a cult favourite. Drawing from Robinson’s own experiences as an out-of-work actor amidst the squalor of Camden Town, fuelled by alcohol, the movie follows two unemployed Londoners as they escape to the countryside for a much-needed respite.

Mixing comedy with tragedy, Withnail and I offers a caustic, unapologetic, and inherently truthful portrayal of this fringe element of London’s evolving cultural and societal landscape. Its brilliance lies in Robinson’s sparkling dialogue and standout performances, notably Ralph Brown’s spaced-out drug dealer and Richard E. Grant’s perennially drunk Withnail.

Source: 10 Low-Budget British Comedies That You Need To See