The cast and producers of Epstein: The Man Who Made The Beatles – the long-awaited play about the legendary music manager Brian Epstein – visited London’s Leicester Square Theatre last week to officially launch the show’s initial 6-week run at the venue this Summer.
2014 also sees Brian Epstein posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of fame after a campaign from fans and also the unveiling of a commemorative blue plaque at the London offices of Epstein’s company NEMS.
Epstein: The Man Who Made The Beatles is the untold story and window into the private world of the music entrepreneur whose stellar career as Beatles Manager made him a household name yet whose controversial personal life remained very much in the closet. Brian died in 1967 of an accidental overdose at the age of 32.
Acclaimed stage and TV star Andrew Lancel (Coronation Street, The Bill) and actor Will Finlason will return to the roles of Brian Epstein and the fictional character ‘This Boy’ respectively, for which they each received rave reviews during the initial run of Epstein: The Man Who Made The Beatles in Liverpool, where the show premiered in November 2012 as part of the city’s official Beatles 50th Anniversary celebrations at the Epstein Theatre.
Andrew Lancel said: “As a huge Beatles fan I am absolutely delighted to be returning to London and this role, wonderfully written by Andrew Sherlock. Especially in the year that would have seen Brian Epstein celebrate his 80th Birthday. It was great to see and chat to so many media representatives from outlets all over the World who wanted to hear more about the play.”
This two-hander play imagines this brilliant but troubled man’s drug-fuelled final days whilst looking back upon his illustrious adult life and meteoric career from his drama school days to managing the world’s biggest pop group – a must-see opportunity to discover a previously unexplored story and celebrate a true icon of 1960’s popular culture – a man who shaped music and style across the world.
Martin Witts, Artistic Director at the Leicester Square Theatre said: “We are very much looking forward to having this exciting new play in residence at the Leicester Square Theatre throughout the Summer period, it is a perfect fit for our diverse audience and a great attraction for international visitors. It’s very fitting that the show is coming to London during what is going to be a Rock and Roll year celebration of Brian Epstein’s life and the instrumental impact he had on popular music, we hope it will run and run.”
Running from 30 July – 6 September 2014 at London’s Leicester Square Theatre, Epstein: The Man Who Made The Beatles is brought to you by Bill Elms & Jen Heyes Productions Ltd, written by Andrew Sherlock and directed by Jen Heyes.
