The Last Temptation of Boris Johnson UK Tour will see Jonathan Maitland's new political comedy start at the Festival Theatre Malvern in January 2020 starring Will Barton.
Will Barton returns to lead the cast as Boris Johnson. Also in the cast will be Bill Champion as Michael Gove / Winston Churchill, Emma Davies as Margaret Thatcher / Sarah Vine / Chief Whip, Claire Lichie as Marina Wheeler / Boris’s Girlfriend, along with Tim Wallers, who returns to the roles of Evgeny Lebedev / Tony Blair / Huw Edwards.
It was the dinner that changed history: the night in February 2016 when Boris Johnson decided to vote ‘leave’. Guests included fellow MP Michael Gove, Gove’s wife, the journalist Sarah Vine, Evgeny Lebedev and, for Boris at least, the spirits of Prime Ministers past – Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair.
Will Barton as Boris Johnson. Photo: Pamela Raith
Fast forward to post-Brexit Britain, 2029. Boris, no longer in power (for reasons that may be fact and/or fiction at time of performance!), roams the political wilderness. But unexpected events see him back in the spotlight and with a chance to “make Britain great again”. This play addresses the big questions: What will Britain look like in ten years’ time? Is chlorinated chicken really bad for you? And what IS going on inside the head of the most divisive and controversial politician of our time?
As befits the fastest moving story of our time, the script will be updated – nightly, if necessary - to reflect events...
Will Barton has played Boris before, in the 2017 BBC 2 drama Theresa V Boris, and his most recent theatre credits include The Libertine at Theatre Royal Haymarket, Toast at Park Theatre and in New York and Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’be at Theatre Royal Stratford East.
Will Barton as Boris Johnson. Photo: Pamela Raith
Jonathan Maitland says of his play, “It’s nice to have written something which unites Leavers and Remainers: the audiences so far have laughed, gasped and occasionally cried throughout! It’s quite a brew: politics, power, sex, sovereignty and more re-writes than any withdrawal agreement! But it seems to work. Who’d have thought?”
The Last Temptation of Boris Johnson will be directed by Dugald Bruce-Lockheart, with set and costume design by Louie Whitemore, lighting design by Christopher Nairne and sound design by Andy Graham.
THE LAST TEMPTATION OF BORIS JOHNSON UK TOUR
22 - 25 January 2020
Festival Theatre, Malvern
3 - 8 February 2020
Nuffield Southampton Theatres
10 - 15 February 2020
Theatre Royal Windsor
18 - 22 February 2020
Northern Stage, Newcastle
24 - 29 February 2020
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
2 - 7 March 2020
The Lowry, Salford
9 - 14 March 2020
Devonshire Park Theatre Eastbourne
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Douglas Mayo has had a life long love affair with musical theatre. He has authored several books on publicity and marketing for amateur theatre groups. He is in the process of developing a musical based on his original story concept.
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