News round-up: insights into Harlequinade, Death of a Salesman comes to radio, Zoë's gift to new Sylvia cast and more!

1 October 2015 18:31

Zoë attended the opening night of Mr Foote's Other Leg at Hampstead Theatre, London, early last week. Ian Kelly's play stars Zoë's Much Ado About Nothing (2007) and Battle Royal (1999) co-star, Simon Russell Beale. It takes a humorous look at the life of satirist Samuel Foote, who's described by the theatre as 'the Oscar Wilde of the 18th century'. Zoe was photographed enjoying the event, alongside fellow guests Jeremy Irons and Lesley Manville, for Hampstead Theatre, Whatsonstage.com and Wooller.com.

Zoë will soon return to the stage herself, in the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's productions of All On Her Own and Harlequinade, set to run at London's Garrick Theatre from 24 October – 13 January. The Financial Times' fascinating interview with Zoe's co-star and director, Kenneth Branagh, provides insights into the plays. As Branagh suggests, they both explore the nature of passion.

Passion for Shakespeare inspired Muse of Fire (2013), the ground-breaking documentary that includes interviews with Zoë and many other well-known actors. The 83-minute, feature-length version will be released on DVD on 6 October, as a Region 0, two-disc set.

BBC News reports that Radio 3's production of Arthur Miller's masterpiece, Death of a Salesman, which Zoë recorded earlier this year, will be broadcast on 11 October (time TBC). Part of a series of programmes celebrating the playwright's centenary, it reunites Zoë with David Suchet and director Howard Davies, who most recently worked together on another Miller classic, All My Sons (2010). The trio are pictured on the BBC's announcement about the forthcoming season of Radio 3 programmes. The Guardian has a small photo of Zoe and Suchet also taken at the Death of a Salesman recording.

In anticipation of Death of a Salesman, Zoe and David Suchet will join fellow actor Antony Sher on Radio 3's Free Thinking discussion programme, on 7 October at 10pm. They'll talk about their experiences of acting in Miller's plays.

Zoë's Cheltenham Literature Festival performance as poet Stevie Smith is also taking place soon – on 11 October, the same date as Death of a Salesman's broadcast, to be precise. Tickets are still available on the Festival's website.

The cast of Potters Bar Theatre Company's production of Sylvia, A.R. Gurney's comedy about a stray dog who threatens to derail a marriage, have had a lovely surprise from Zoë. As the theatre company tweeted this week, Zoe has gifted the original 'collar' necklace she wore during the 1996 West End production to the cast. It'll have pride of place in their show, due to be performed from 27-31 October at Hertfordshire's Tilbury Hall Theatre.

When Zoe was preparing to play Sylvia, she visited Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, as you can see in this lovely photo, which has recently been put online by Getty Images.

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