"STONES IN HIS POCKETS" to transfer to New Ambassadors 14 July 03

"STONES IN HIS POCKETS" to transfer to New Ambassadors 14 July 03

Stones in his Pockets by Marie Jones, will transfer from the Duke of York's Theatre to the New Ambassadors Theatre on Monday 14 July 03

The show was initially seen at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast in April 99. It transferred to the West End at the New Ambassadors in May 2000 and then transferred to the Duke of York's theatre in Aug 2000 with original cast Sean Campion and Conleth Hill. (Conleth Hill won the Best Actor Laurence Olivier Award for his role as Charlie.) The show now returns to the New Ambassadors on 14 July 03, where it will run to 10 Jan 04.

Currently Rupert Degas portrays Charlie Conlon and Brian Doherty is Jake Quinn. Hugh Lee will portray Jake Quinn from 14 July, a role he has performed during the last year in the UK tour.

This Award winning comedy is directed by Ian McElhinney, set design by Jack Kirwan, with lighting by James C McFetridge.

The film production of Stones In His Pockets will start in August. There is a current UK tour, and a second US tour has just been completed. The comedy has been seen in Perth Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Vienna, Canada. Stones In His Pockets has been translated into 16 languages. By the end of this year it will be playing in more than 20 countries throughout the world including Japan, Ecuador, Argentina, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay, Turkey, South Africa, Scandinavia, Italy.

Marie Jones was awarded an OBE in the Jubilee Honours. She has received the Laurence Olivier and The Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy for Stones in his Pockets , a special Award for her Outstanding Contribution to the Cultural Life of Northern Ireland from Belfast City Council and the Literature Award from the Irish Post. The production received a Drama Desk Special Award and a Special Achievement Award from the Outer Critics Circle in New York.

The comedy is set in a village in County Kerry where a Hollywood film is being shot. The actors play 15 different roles - the extras, the spoilt star Caroline, the crew plus various locals. It is partly based on Marie Jones' acting roles in films shot in Ireland.

Stones In His Pockets statistics as of 28 May 2003:

(01) It has been translated into 16 languages.

(02) It has been performed in over 20 countries.

(03) It was Jeffrey Archer's last theatre trip before he changed his name to FF8282

(04) Terry Patmore, a fan, has seen the production 27 times. He has seen all the different companies both in the West End and on tour.

(05) There are only two actors on stage but there are 34 pairs of shoes/boots involved in the production each performance.

(06) The ghost of Violet Melnotte, the original owner of the Duke of York's Theatre, was seen during one performance in a Dress Circle Box.

(07) "Stones In His Pockets" is now on some school syllabus. There have been 38 educational workshops

(08) During rehearsals and the West End run 656 packets of biscuits have been eaten by the casts and they have used 218 boxes of tissues.

(09) The broken down and distressed jackets worn by the 'extras' were once repaired by dry cleaners who were trying to be helpful!

(10) 107,976 ice creams have been consumed during the intervals.

(11) The 'dance' has been performed 1239 (twice for Comic Relief) and 24 waistcoats have been made for the dance.

(12) 6743 litres of mineral water have been drunk by the company during the run.