McQueen delays previews at Haymarket Theatre

Dom O'Hanlon
Dom O'Hanlon

The West End transfer of McQueen by James Phillips, a new play about British fashion designer Alexander McQueen, has delayed previews at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.

The production was initially set to begin previews on 13 August 2015, and has since cancelled performances, stating that previews will now begin on Saturday 22 August 2015. The official opening on 27 August 2015 will go ahead as planned, and it is booking to 7 November 2015.

Producers of the show announced the news, saying "With all the changes that were being made to the production for the transfer to the Theatre Royal Haymarket, we needed a longer technical rehearsal period than we'd originally allowed in the schedule and, in order to be totally ready to present the production in front of an audience, we took the difficult decision to cancel the first few previews."

McQueen is described as "stepping into the fairy story landscape of McQueen's mind, the landscape seen in his immortal shows, where with a dress an urchin can become an Amazon, where beauty might just help us survive the night".

Written by James Phillips, the production is directed by John Caird, with set design by David Farley, lighting by David Howe, sound by John Leonard and choreography by Christopher Marney. Cast includes Stephen Wight (Lee Alexander McQueen), Carly Bawden (Dahlia), Tracy-Ann Oberman (Isabella Blow), Laura Rees (Arabella) and Michael Bertenshaw (Mr Hitchcock).

Synopsis: "A girl has watched McQueen's Mayfair house for eleven consecutive days. Tonight she climbs down from her watching tree and breaks into his house, to steal a dress, to become someone special. He catches her, but, instead of calling the police, they embark together on a journey through London and into his heart."

The West End production has scenes that have been rewritten and will also include an interval.

Originally published on

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