Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell

Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell to be staged in real-life Soho setting at Coach and Horses pub

Will Longman
Will Longman

An immersive production of Keith Waterhouse's play Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell will be staged at the pub in which it is set when it opens at the Coach and Horses in Soho.

The play is based on the life of journalist Bernard, who wrote The Spectator's 'Low Life' column from the mid-70s, but the line 'Jeffrey Bernard is unwell' often appeared in place of his copy when he was too intoxicated or hungover to produce his piece.

Waterhouse's one-man play was first performed in the West End at the Apollo Theatre in 1989 starring Peter O'Toole, who also starred in a run of the play at The Old Vic in 1999. The play, which features an infamous trick involving a glass of water, a matchbox and an egg, was last seen in the West End at the Garrick Theatre in 2006.

The play is set in the Coach and Horses pub, one of the writer's favourite haunts, where Bernard finds himself locked in. For 14 performances from 7th May, the play will take place at the very pub in which it is set, in a new immersive production directed by James Hill.

There will also be a number of lock in performances on Saturdays which will begin at midnight, and guests are invited to stay on at the bar for a traditional lock-in.

Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell is at the Coach and Horses pub from 7th May.

Photo: Copyright Google 2019

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