SMASH HIT BEATLES PLAY SUPPORTS CALM IN WEST END

Starring Andrew Lancel as Brian Epstein, with Will Finlason as ‘This Boy’

Written by Andrew Sherlock | Directed by Jen Heyes

Leicester Square Theatre, London

Wed 30 July – Sat 6 September 2014

The producers of Epstein: The Man Who Made The Beatles, the long-awaited play about the legendary music manager Brian Epstein, are delighted to announce that the play, with CALM as their official charity partner, will open at London’s Leicester Square Theatre in Summer 2014 for an initial 6-week run in the year which also sees Brian Epstein posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of fame after a campaign from fans and also the unveiling of a commemorative blue plaque at the London offices of Epstein’s company NEMS.

Epstein: The Man Who Made The Beatles is the untold story and window into the private world of the music entrepreneur whose stellar career as Beatles Manager made him a household name yet whose controversial personal life remained very much in the closet. Brian died in 1967 of an accidental overdose at the age of 32.

Acclaimed stage and TV star Andrew Lancel (Coronation Street, The Bill) and actor Will Finlason will return to the roles of Brian Epstein and the fictional character ‘This Boy’ respectively, for which they each received rave reviews during the initial run of Epstein: The Man Who Made The Beatles in Liverpool, where the show premiered in November 2012 as part of the city’s official Beatles 50^th Anniversary celebrations at the Epstein Theatre.

Andrew Lancel said: “As a huge Beatles fan I am absolutely delighted to be returning to London and this role, wonderfully written by Andrew Sherlock. Especially in the year that would have seen Brian Epstein celebrate his 80^th Birthday.”

“Andrew Lancel as Epstein is terrific…As the boy, Will Finlason gracefully mingles brashness and compassion.”

The Times

“A show of thought-provoking insight and raw emotion…The Beatles Manager superbly portrayed by Andrew Lancel.  An experience not to be missed!”

The Stage

This two-man play imagines this brilliant but troubled man’s drug-fuelled final days whilst looking back upon his illustrious adult life and meteoric career from his drama school to managing the world’s biggest pop group – a must-see opportunity to discover a previously unexplored story and celebrate a true icon of 1960’s popular culture – a man who shaped music and style across the world.

Running from 30 July – 6 September 2014 at London’s Leicester Square Theatre, Epstein: The Man Who Made The Beatles is brought to you by Bill Elms & Jen Heyes Productions Ltd, written by Andrew Sherlock and directed by Jen Heyes

“At times comic, at times intensely moving… Epstein is not merely an exercise in nostalgia, it also finds the real man lurking inside an enigma.”

The Arts Desk

“An evocative and moving history lesson, enlivened with wit – enthralling for those who were there (and still remember it) and for a new generation discovering their musical roots.”

Whatsonstage.com

More information on Epstein: The Man Who Made The Beatles can be found at epsteintheplay.com.

Writing co-commissioned by Homotopia. Supported by Orange Amplification, Arts Council England, Liverpool Vision and Liverpool Echo.Production partners: The Beatles Story (Liverpool), Hard Day’s Night Hotel (Liverpool),Hard Rock Cafe (London), The Beatles Coffee Shop/Beatles Walks (London)