New Production Photos

All production pictures by Johan Persson

More celebrations - Pictures and Video

The Charlie facebook page has a birthday album now with a few more celebration pictures.

And the video, including some Alex comments is at YouTube.


For all pictures see Facebook.

Charlie's Birthday Celebrations

Charlie celebrated its birthday with a party. Broadway World has some of the pictures. Alex can be seen on and offstage.

For the story and other pictures see: Broadway World.

Broadway.com Interview

Alex talks to Broadway.com about Willy Wonka and a few other things. Just a few of the questions:

After a distinguished a career as a classical actor, it must be lovely to give musical theater another go.
Oh, it is. Working in musicals is something I always dreamed of, and then it happened with My Fair Lady, which was a completely joyful experience. And then came Charlie, which I am aware makes considerable demands on me, but I’m really enjoying it.

You made your public debut as Wonka at the Olivier Awards before you’d started performing the role. Was that daunting?
I made the mistake of looking at it online recently, which was a big error [laughs]. It was completely terrifying. The screen flew out and there I was as Willy Wonka thinking, “I wonder if I could just walk back into the wings now!”

No worries about the glass elevator that flies you and Charlie over the audience?
Not really. I don’t particularly suffer from fear of heights, but I do make sure to hold on very tightly to Charlie’s hands.

You'll be playing two roles—or two versions of the same role—in the film adaptation of Alan Bennett’s The Lady in the Van.
I’m guessing that may come off a bit like the twins in The Social Network: Alex Jennings acting with Alex Jennings? [Laughs.] Hopefully, we’ll be filming in the house in north London where the events [in the play] actually happened; Alan is writing to the neighbors as we speak.

You’re no stranger to Dame Maggie Smith, having acted opposite her in The Importance of Being Earnest in 1993.
And I had a wonderful time with her—a really fabulous time. How can you not enjoy being on stage with one of this country’s greatest if not the greatest living actresses? All that is left is to try to live up to the mark and match her, and what’s been wonderful is that the Charlie producers are giving me the necessary time off to do the film before returning and continuing in the part through to next May.

Is your current experience in Charlie making you look around the musical landscape to see what else might possibly appeal?
Not in any sense of being very proactive, since that’s not usually how I go about getting work. But it has given me more confidence in this field, certainly, and I have to say I do love Sondheim and would love to do one of his musicals one day. I wonder whether that could ever happen?


Read the full interview at Broadway.com.

Charlie's Birthday

Yesterday "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" celebrated its first birthday. There was a party, of course, and Alex attended. The pictures are from Charlie's official twitter feed.

The Secret Scripture

Alex will be reading Sebastian Barry's "The Secret Scripture" on BBC Radio 4 Extra with Doreen Keogh from tomorrow, 23 June at 14.00. The 10 episodes will be broadcast over the next two weeks. For more information see: BBC Radio 4 Extra.

Thanks again to Jen!

Wonka Talk

Alex talks at length to Lloyd Evans of The Spectator about appearing in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and other plans. He talks about the funny voices, acting with children, other ambitions, politics and his "transatlantic presence". The article will appear in the printed edition of 21 June.

Read at The Spectator.

Words of War

Monday afternoon 30 June Alex will take part in a reading of poetry, letters and memoirs of the First World War. Harriet Walter also takes part. The reading will take place at St Johns Church, Waterloo Road and is an NT platform. For tickets and information check the National Theatre website.

Thanks again to Kate!

Autumn Charlie Schedule

Alex will take time off from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" in the autumn to film "Lady in the Van". The official website gives the following message: "Mr Jennings' performance schedule is subject to change between the following dates inclusively: 6-25 October 2014 and 3-29 November 2014." So I guess if you want to be sure to see Alex in the show you need to book outside these periods.

For full announcement: official website.

Equity

The actors union Equity is holding elections. No guesses who Alex will be voting for. Malcolm being Mr Sinclair.

See Original tweet.

Thanks again to Kate!

Lonely Mountain

Alex did the narration for this lovely short animation you can watch on Vimeo.

Guardian Caricature

Nicola Jennings has drawn Alex as one of a series of caricatures in the Guardian.

For the original and other drawings see the Guardian.

Belle

Alex appears in the new film Belle.

The official trailer is available on YouTube.

The official website is at Belle.

Castles in the Sky

The film Alex made with Eddie Izzard, Tim McInnerney, Julian Rhind-Tutt amongst others in Scotland last year will open on 23 June at the Edinburgh Film Festival.

For more information or tickets check the Festival Website.

Meanwhile, last year Iain McKee posted a picture of the cast after the wrap on Twitter.

Drury Lane

The pictures are up outside the Theatre Royal Drury Lane:

Charlie Website

A couple of Alex pictures are now up on the official website, along with the pictures of the original cast. One is the picture used in social media today, the other:

Both pictures taken by Johan Persson.

For news and pictures see the official website.

First Night

Alex takes to the stage as Willy Wonka for the first time tonight, and this picture appeared on all the social media. And a change to the Wonka look!

Rehearsing Charlie

Some pictures of rehearsals with Sam Mendes were published today at Digital Spy.

Music Fest

Lucy Parham tweeted a rehearsal picture of Alex at the Campden Music Fest yesterday

Original tweet at: Lucy Parham

Thanks again to Kate!

Happy Birthday, Alex!

Lady in the Van

BBC Films announced today that they will adapt Alan Bennett's memoir "The Lady in the Van" with Maggie Smith playing the lady, Miss Shepherd and Alex returning to the part of Alan Bennett.

For more information see: Screen Daily.

Thanks again to Kate!

007

Alex plays Draco on Radio 4 in an adaptation of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" on Saturday 3 May at 14.30. Toby Stephens plays Bond, other parts are taken by Joanna Lumley, Alfred Molina, Lisa Dillon, John Standing, Janie Dee, Lloyd Owen, Joanna Cassidy, Clare Dunne and Julian Sands.

For full details see: BBC Radio 4.

Thanks to Uli!

One More

From Official London Theatre.

Backstage at the Oliviers

The Charlie facebook page has created an album backstage at the Oliviers. Some nice shots in there. All the pictures were taken by Helen Maybanks.

All pictures at Charlie on Facebook.

Charlie Newsletter

The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory newsletter reported back on the Oliviers and on Alex taking over. The newsletter includes a backstage picture of Alex and Douglas Hodge:

The newsletter also contains a link to the ITV Player, where the ceremony can be watched

If you want to receive the newsletter sign up at the Official website.

Willy Wonka at the Olivier Awards

The first picture of Alex in costume just found its way onto Twitter:

Sounds like he opened the Olivier Awards. More later!

And another one:

Original at Twitter.

Words and Music - Below the Surface

Yesterday Alex was one of the readers for BBC Radio 3's Words and Music, Below the Surface. Juliet Stevenson was the other reader. The episode is available on BBC iPlayer until next Sunday.

For more information and a playlist see BBC Radio 3 website.

Look, Stranger

Alex will take part in "Look. Stranger", working again with Utter Jazz and Ruthie Culver in a show all about Britten's music and Auden's poetry. Alex performs Auden's words in between the music, new arrangements of the music performed by Ruthie Culver and Utter Jazz. The performance will take place on 26 April at the Wenlock Poetry Festival.

For more information and tickets check the Festival website.

No Place Like Home

Some time ago Alex appeared with Toby Stephens in the radio drama "No Place Like Home", written by Robert Rigby. I only just found this picture of the two actors on the author's website. So for the fans of both:

From: Robert Rigby.

WhatsOnStage Awards

Especially for all of you who voted. Alex was runner-up in the WOS awards for his solo performance in Hymn, getting 20% of the vote. He was beaten by none other than Dame Edna herself, Barry Humphries got 33.8% of the vote for his farewell performance "Eat Pray Laugh" at the Palladium.

Silk Pictures

There is a set of Silk pictures on The Consulting Detective's Blog, with some nice pictures of Alex in there.

With more pictures of the characters at: Inside Media Track - characters.

And more from the first episode at: Inside Media Track - episode 1.

Silk 3

Silk returns to BBC One on 24 February at 9 pm with Alex playing the part of head of chambers Alan Cowdrey. His family is at the centre of the first episode of the new series with Alex playing a substantial part. For more information see his character page on the BBC website.

Thanks to Uli

Casino Royale

BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcasts a repeat of Alex reading the James Bond story "Casino Royale" from today. Episodes are available on the iPlayer for 7 days after the broadcast. For more information check BBC Radio 4 Extra.

Thanks again to Jen!

Willy Wonka

Alex is set to take over from Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka in the West End musical "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" at Drury Lane from 19 May! Various sources report this, here is one: London Theatre Direct.

The Guardian reports on the new Willy Wonka as well.

So, does this mean it's time for another big meeting of the AJ Girls? Let me know if you're interested!

WhatsOnStage Awards 2014

Alex has been nominated for a WhatsOnStage Award for his Solo Performance in "Hymn." You can vote for him at the WhatsOnStage website.

The awards will be presented on 23 February at a live event at the Prince of Wales Theatre. You can buy tickets at Delfont Mackintosh Theatres.

Castles in the Sky

The BBC have announced a number of new science commissions for BBC Two and Four. "Castles in the Sky" is described as a factual drama. From the website:

Factual drama Castles In The Sky tells the previously untold remarkable story of the fight to invent RADAR by Scotsman Robert Watson Watt and a team of British scientists.

It conveys the genuine human drama behind the invention which saved the nation in the Battle of Britain.

Eddie Izzard plays Watson Watt with Laura Fraser (Breaking Bad) as his wife Margaret. The cast also includes Alex Jennings (The Queen) as Tizard; Tim McInnerny (The Devil’s Whore) playing Churchill, David Hayman (Trial And Retribution) as Lindemann and Julian Rhind-Tutt as Albert Percival Rowe.

Eddie Izzard joined the project because he was so inspired by the character and story: “I feel very privileged to be playing the role of Robert Watson-Watt. Hopefully our production will allow him, along with Arnold 'Skip' Wilkins and their team, to finally take their places in the pantheon of British greats of World War II, as the inventors of RADAR.”

The piece also has the first official picture of Eddie Izzard at BBC Media Centre.

More Britten

Alex is the special guest on BBC Radio 3's "Essential Classics" tomorrow morning at 10.30. Britten is mentioned as the subject of the item. For more information see BBC Radio 3.

Thanks to Uli!

Henry Tizard

The IMDb now credits Alex with playing the part of Henry Tizard in "Castles in the Sky". The World War II drama deals with the development of radar, with Eddie Izzard taking the part of Robert Watson Watt.

Wikipedia describes his work in this area as follows:

"In 1933 Tizard was appointed as chairman of the Aeronautical Research Committee and served in this post for most of the Second World War. He supervised and championed the development of RDF (radio-direction finding, later to become more familiarly known as radar) in the run-up to the war.

In 1940, after a top secret landmark conference with Winston Churchill at which his opposition to R.V. Jones' view that the Germans had established a system of radio-beam bombing aids (Battle of the Beams) over the UK had been overruled, Tizard led what became known as the Tizard Mission to the United States, which introduced to the US, amongst others, the newly invented resonant-cavity magnetron and other British radar developments, the Whittle gas turbine, and the British Tube Alloys (nuclear weapons) project."

Debussy

Alex will appear again with Lucy Parham in the "Rêverie" programme as Claude Debussy. The appearance is scheduled for the Chipping Campden Festival on 11 May next year.

For more information and tickets check the festival's website at Campden Music Festival.

Thanks again to Kate!

My Fair Lady

Alex is busy rehearsing "My Fair Lady" at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Videos of rehearsals are available on their YouTube Channel and Instagram.

Some pictures have been posted on their Facebook Page.

The production will open on December 5. For more information and tickets check their website at Théâtre du Châtelet.

Thanks to Kate!

Radio Britten

Alex is one of the readers for a Benjamin Britten edition of "Words and Music" this Saturday 23 November at 15.30 on BBC Radio 3. The other reader is Diana Quick.

For more information see BBC Radio 3.

Thanks again to Jen!

NT 50 Programmes

The National Theatre is making programmes for their special events available online. You can download the programmes as pdfs.

The NT50 Years on Stage programme you can download here.

The programme for "Habit of Art is here.

Habit of Art - Encore

As part of the NT 50 celebrations NT Live are showing "The Habit of Art" in cinemas in various countries over the next few months. To check for showings where you are see NT Live - Habit of Art.

NT 50

Alex appeared in two segments of the NT 50 Years on Stage celebrations. Two pictures were published related to the "My Fair Lady" segment. Alex sang "The Rain in Spain" with Rosalie Craig and Malcolm Sinclair.

He also reprised his part as George Bush in David Hare's "Stuff Happens", opposite Lloyd Owen as Tony Blair.

For more pictures and information on the show check the NT 50 website or the blog.

The show is available in the UK on iPlayer for a few more days. There will be a few more international cinema broadcast through NT Live.

NT - 50 Years on Stage

The BBC has provide more information on the special National Theatre Broadcast next Saturday. Alex is mentioned "among the pairings of great actors and great playwrights" with Christopher Eccleston, Ralph Fiennes paired with David Hare and Howard Brenton. I would guess this for Alex means "Stuff Happens". In the list of musical performances it says there will be a scene from "My Fair Lady".

You can see the whole performance on BBC2, Saturday 2 November from 9.00 to 11.15 pm.

For the full line up see: BBC Media Centre.

If you are not in the UK, NT Live will screen the performance in cinemas worldwide. For venues check the NT Live website.

Just a few tickets are still available for the preview on November 1 at the Olivier Theatre. You can book tickets at £500.00 or £300.00 at National Theatre.

Die Schöne Magelone

On 14th November Alex will take part in a performance of Brahms' Die Schöne Magelone at the Temple Church. The music will be performed by Roderick Williams (baritone) and Julius Drake (piano). Alex is the narrator.

For details and tickets check Temple Song website.

Alan Bennett on Alex Jennings

Alan Bennett talks to the Observers about NT50 and Alex gets a mention:

"After the success of The History Boys I found my next play much harder to write. This was The Habit of Art (2009), an account of an imaginary meeting between Benjamin Britten and WH Auden, and it was only when I set it as a rehearsal of a play that it began to work. It takes place in Rehearsal Room 2 in the National, the room reproduced so exactly by Bob Crowley that one had to keep reminding oneself this was not the real thing.

Playing Britten, Alex Jennings was well placed to perfect an imitation of me, which I suspect he had long been doing on the quiet but which he was able to put to legitimate use in Hymn and Cocktail Sticks (2013), two short autobiographical pieces which began life in the Platform slot before transferring to the Duchess."

Read the full interview at: The Observer.

Thanks to Lex!

Castles in the Sky

Alex will play a part in the new BBC production "Castles in the Sky", a World War II story starring Eddie Izzard as "Sir Robert Watson-Watt, the Scottish hero of the Battle of Britain and the “Father of Radar.” Filming on the production has started in Edinburgh.

For more general information on the film check The Scotsman.

A Trap for Cinderella

Kate has provided some screencaps for "A Trap for Cinderella", the film released in July 2013 with Alex appearing as Chance. More images in the archives.

NT Platform

Alex's platform, where he talks about his history with the National, together with Nancy Carroll can now be seen in full on YouTube. Alex talks about productions he was in, productions he has seen or wished he had seen, and about his heroes.

Watch at: NT 50.

National Histories: 10 questions for leading artists

Alex will take part in the first of the National Theatre's "National Histories" sessions, celebrating 50 years of the NT. He will share the stage in the shed with Nancy Carroll. For more information and tickets see National Histories website. You can find a full list of platforms here.

Thanks to Kate and Uli.

Shoreham WordFest - Auden and Britten

Alex will appear on Sunday 29th September at the Shoreham Wordfest. He will take part in "Look, Stranger", a celebration of the work of Benjamin Britten and W.H. Auden. Music will be performed by Ruthie Culver and the Utter:Jazz quartet with Alex taking care of the readings.

For more information and tickets check the festival website.

Thanks again to Kate!

50 Years on Stage

Alex will take part in the NT birthday celebration performance on 2 November. He will most likely perform in segments from "Stuff Happens" and "My Fair Lady". Tickets in the Circle for the Friday preview are available at £500 from the NT website .

The performance will be broadcast to cinemas worldwide as part of NT Live, you can check the NT Live website for details. It will also be broadcast on BBC2, details will follow.

Boys From Brazil

Another chance to hear Alex reading Ira Levin's novel on BBC Radio 4 Extra. In 6 parts, the series starts this Friday 13 September at 06.30. For times check the BBC Radio 4 Extra website.

Thanks to Jen!

The Dark Pastoral

Alex will work once again with pianist Lucy Parham on a music programme. He will appear in "The Dark Pastoral" reading poetry of the First World War. The performance will take place at Kings Place in London on Sunday morning 16 February 2014.

For more information and to book tickets check Lucy Parham's website.

NT at 50

Alex will take part in the celebrations for the fiftieth anniversary of the National Theatre in October. He will be taking part in the National Histories, though no date for his appearance has been set yet. He is also mentioned as one of the contributors to a two-part Arena special on the history on the National to be broadcast on BBC2 in October.

For more information and updates check the National Theatre Website.

Thanks to Kate!

Internee

Alex plays the part of Malcolm Muggeridge in the BBC Radio 4 recording of "How to Be an Internee With No Previous Experience". The play, by Colin Shindler, will be repeated this Wednesday at 11.15 on Radio 4 Extra. Tim McInnerny plays Wodehouse, Anton Lesser is Major EJP Cussen.

The story: In 1944, PG Wodehouse, the creator of Jeeves and Wooster, was questioned by MI5 after broadcasting to America from a German internment camp. One of the interrogators was an up and coming journalist called Malcolm Muggeridge. The other was Major EJP Cussen, who later became a high court judge. The stakes were high: one of Britain's best loved authors was facing the possibility of the death penalty.

For more broadcast times and to listen to the play check: BBC Radio 4 Extra.

Thanks again to Penny!

Electric Ink

Radio 4 Extra starts a repeat of the newspaper comedy "Electric Ink", starring Alex and Robert Lindsay, next Friday at 9.30.

For details check: BBC Radio 4 Extra.

Habit of Art Encore

As part of the Encore screenings NT Live will show "Habit of Art" again on 7 November. So far only a few cinemas have been announced but they promise to announce more venues shortly.

For more information and for cinemas taking part check NT Live.

Thanks to Kate!

Silk 3

Filming on the new series of "Silk" has started and Alex is back! Frances Barber posted a picture taken during filming on her Twitter:

Original on: Twitter.

Thanks to Kate!

Trap for Cinderella

Iain Softley's new thriller "Trap for Cinderella" has premiered at the Brussels International Film Festival. It will be shown in cinemas in Ireland and the UK from 12 July. No release dates are given as yet for other countries.

Alex plays Chance in the film. Some other familiar faces are Aneurin Barnard (We'll Take Manhattan), Tuppence Middleton (The Lady Vanishes), and Frances de la Tour (Habit of Art).

For a review of the Brussels premiere: Casarotto March.

There also is an official Facebook Page. Here you can find pictures, the trailer, and a spotify playlist to the soundtrack. The trailer is now also available through the films IMDbpage'.

Burberry

Alex' appearance as Alan Bennett has had a rather unexpected fashion result. The role has inspired Burberry to create a "Writers and Painters" collection. Jess Cartner-Morley writes in the Guardian: " The role of Alan Bennett as played by Alex Jennings in the National Theatre's production of Hymn led Bailey to rediscover the joys of brightly coloured ties contrasted with knitwear." Another inspiration to designer Christopher Bailey was the painter David Hockney.

The full story as well as a video of the colourful collection on the catwalk is at: The Guardian.

Thank you to Kate!

Who

I missed this one earlier, but the Sun published a piece in March on the next Doctor. Alex is one of the names mentioned, and he is in very good and interesting company. Very nice picture in there: The Sun.

Inheritance Tracks Podcast

The podcast of "Inheritance Tracks is now available at BBC Podcasts and Downloads.

Alex listens to and talks about the piece of music he inherited from his parents, Morecambe and Wise's "Bring Me Sunshine". The track reminds him of his parents, of growing up, and of his desire to be a showman. He also talks about Prince's "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night", the track he wants to pass on. Again, happy memories, dancing, and a little embarrasment added.