"One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" starring Christian Slater at the Gielgud from 3 Sep 2004

"One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" starring Christian Slater at the Gielgud from 3 Sep 2004

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, By Dale Wasserman, based on the Novel by Ken Kesey, opens at the Gielgud Theatre 16 Sep 2004, following previews from from 3 Sep 2004, and booking to 4 Dec 2004, starring Christian Slater as 'R.P. McMurphy' .

Booking is now open!!

(Before its West End run the play is at the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh in Aug 2004).

It is produced by Nica Burns for Theatreshare, Max Weitzenhoffer and Ian Lenagan. Guy Masterson was to direct, but pulled out at last minute because of personal reasons. The new director is Terry Johnson. It has designs by Katy Tuxford and costumes by Dagmar Morrell.

The cast includes: Christian Slater (R.P. McMurphy ), Mackenzie Crook (Billy Bibbitt ), Frances Barber (Nurse Ratched), Brendan Dempsey (Chief Bromden), Owen O'Neill, Ian Coppinger, Dave Johns, Gavin Robertson and Phil Nichol, Felix Dexter, Lucy Porter, Lizzie Roper, Katherine Jakeways, Stephen K Amos, Tim Ahern

Set in the sterile confines of a US mental hospital in the early 1960s. Into this world walks McMurphy, a violent, larger-than-life gambler who has faked psychosis to avoid the drudgery of a working goal.

The cast of eccentrics live out their banal routines watched over by the tyrannical Nurse Ratched and in constant fear of the brutal treatment dealt out in the 'Shock-Shop'. Randle vows to fight one-man battle against the institution, risking losing the respect of the inmates, his life and chances of freedom. The ensuing power struggle between Randle and Nurse Ratched results in a suicide, a murder and a liberation.