Kenneth Branagh and Rob Brydon are to star in The Painkiller, part of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s 12-month season at the Garrick Theatre
Rob Brydon to reprise his role in The Painkiller
This hilarious adaptation of Francis Veber’s classic French play is directed by Sean Foley. Foley has enjoyed a number of West End hits and has worked with Branagh previously on ‘The Play What I Wrote.’
A recipe for drama
The Painkiller’s farcical plot is centred on two men in two hotels rooms with a door adjoining the two rooms. One of the men is a killer and one wants to die – a recipe for drama!
Following on from their highly-acclaimed performances in The Painkiller at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast, Kenneth Branagh and Rob Brydon reprise their roles in the new adaptation of the production.
As the drama unfolds, Branagh’s character starts to take Valium, whilst Brydon’s character is in much need of a friend.
‘Comic-tour-de-force’
The Painkiller has been described as a ‘comic-tour-de-force’, which, asides the insecurities of the two main characters, includes policemen hiding in wardrobes and chaotic hotel porters, in an “exceptionally farcical” comedy that is “set to delight audiences’.
The Painkiller is one of five plays put together by Sir Kenneth Branagh’s own theatre company. Branagh stars in four of the five plays and also directs and co-directs some of the productions.
The season will run for 12 months at the Garrick Theatre during 2015 and 2016.
The Painkiller is booking at the Garrick Theatre in London from 5 March 2016 – 30 April 2016.
