Stars flock to fringe theatres
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.IT IS now impossible to throw a brick in some parts of north London without hitting a movie superstar who is looking for a poorly paid part in a small, but hip, stage play.
The latest to join the likes of Ralph Fiennes, Kevin Spacey, Juliette Binoche and Nicole Kidman is Ewan McGregor, the Scottish star made famous by his role in the film Trainspotting.
McGregor, 27, opened a seven-week revival of David Halliwell's Little Malcolm And His Struggle Against The Eunuch last night in the tiny Hampstead Theatre. For this he is being paid pounds 250 a week, considerably less than he was paid in his last role, as a young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the forthcoming Star Wars prequel.
But his presence will pay the theatre well. Every one of its 174 seats has been sold for the entire run with the exception of a pounds 125-a-seat gala night next week.
McGregor recently said: "If people come along to Hampstead thinking, `That's the guy from Trainspotting', we're going to show them a great play. Maybe then someday they'll go, `Oh, I quite liked that, I'll maybe go to the theatre again.' That's what's fantastic."
He plays rebellious art student Malcolm Scrawdyke, and is appearing in the play partly as a favour to his uncle, Denis Lawson, the star of Local Hero, who inspired his nephew to go into acting. His character plots revenge on his school when he is suspended and with three friends forms The Party of Dynamic Erection.
Nicole Kidman, star of To Die For, has just finished a sell-out run in The Blue Room in which she took off her clothes. But the ubiquitous McGregor, who has stripped for roles in The Pillow Book and Velvet Goldmine, will keep his clothes on in Hampstead
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments