Palace Theatre
113 Shaftesbury Ave, Soho, London WC2H 8EG
Venue informationA semi-rehearsed staged reading of THE UNDERSTUDY is coming to the Palace Theatre in December 2020. Actor Stephen McQueen has just landed a dream West End role. Well, that’s not quite true – what he’s going to be is understudying film star (and 12th Sexiest Man in the World) Josh Harper in the brand new show Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know, but still…
Based on the novel by David Nicholls, THE UNDERSTUDY is written by Henry Filloux-Bennett and directed by Giles Croft.
What is The Understudy about?
Whilst he’s waiting for his time to shine, Stephen McQueen reflects on his career – one that has spanned everything from (non-speaking) Rent Boy 3 in The Bill to his recent starring role as Sammy in the (low-budget) regional tour of Sammy The Squirrel’s Seriously Silly Safari.
With this new job Stephen’s stage career may be destined for the dizzying heights, but not everything is going quite as well. Stephen’s wife left him two years ago, wondering if he’d ever grow up; his daughter wonders when he’ll get an actual job; worst of all, he’s starting to fall for the leading man’s wife.
The Understudy is the story of an underdog – a failed husband, a failing father, a failing actor, and the impossible choice he’s going to have to make between stealing the show and stealing another man’s wife.
Running Time
2 hours including an interval
Cast & Creatives
Mina Anwar, Natalie Casey, Sasha Frost, Stephen Fry, Marie Lawrence, James McNicholas, Lizzie Muncey, James Norton
Please Note:
Age Guidance: 16+ due to some sexual references and swearing
