Last chance to see ‘pitch-perfect’ Zoë in Two Ladies

25 October 2019 22:26

Time’s running out to watch the world premiere production of Nancy Harris’ brilliant drama Two Ladies, in which the personal and political collide, at London’s Bridge Theatre. The play’s run ends tomorrow, 26 October, after six wonderful weeks. There’ll be a matinee and evening show: I highly recommend catching one of them if you can.

Zoë is on stage throughout as Helen, the smart, sharp First Lady of France, who’s confined to a conference room with her opposite number from the US (played by Zrinka Cvitešic) while a political crisis rages. Her compelling performance has won considerable praise from reviewers.

‘Wanamaker’s Helen is, no surprise, pitch-perfect: all withheld irritation, needling looks, growling emphasis and sudden shifts’ – Telegraph

‘Zoë Wanamaker (as Helen) and Cvitešic both give fantastic performances’ - Guardian

‘Zoë Wanamaker and Zrinka Cvitesic deliver compelling performances as ideological foes’ – The Times

‘Helen [is] played with spry wit by Zoë Wanamaker’ – Financial Times

‘[Two Ladies is] pacy, gripping and crisply acted’ – Mail on Sunday

‘The great Zoë Wanamaker and Croatian actress Zrinka Cvitešic give terrific, starkly contrasting performances [...] Two Ladies is absolutely worth seeing to witness two actresses in confident control of their art, and for the laughs and intakes of breath it provokes’ – Evening Standard

‘Zoë Wanamaker is always hugely watchable as Helen: sharp, a little tetchy, dryly sarcastic’ – Time Out

‘[Zoë Wanamaker] is brilliant at suggesting vulnerability beneath a waspish, self-possessed exterior’ – WhatsOnStage.com

‘Zoë Wanamaker [is] particularly strong in playing up the comic elements’ – British Theatre Guide

‘Wanamaker ably creates the sense of a woman whose frustration, energy and down-to-earth manner reacts to the confinement and political crisis with restless edginess’ – Morning Star

‘Zoë Wanamaker and Zrinka Cvitešic brilliantly convey the impotent frustration of two competent women reduced to mere trophies. The interplay between them is razor sharp’ – City A.M.

‘Wanamaker brings her signature intelligence and mordant wit to the role of Helen [...Two Ladies is] a thought-provoking piece graced by two stellar central performances’ – The American

‘You leave the theatre full of admiration for the acting, and convinced of the truth of the play’s central message - that although it’s wrong to think of women just as victims, they usually do have it tough’ – TheArtsDesk.com

You can check out what Zoë and her co-star have to say about the play in a series of brief but delightful interviews on the Bridge Theatre’s YouTube channel. In addition, hear them talk in more detail on the 8 October episode of BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.

The theatre’s Facebook page features a great photo of Zoë at the after-party on the opening night.

Having been unwell for several weeks, I felt excited – and relieved – when I made it to a matinee this week. The show was certainly worth the wait.

Some tickets are still available for Two Ladies’ last two performances – don’t miss out if you haven’t seen it yet! I’d love to hear what you think.

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It's Two Ladies' opening night!

25 September 2019 18:45

Tonight is the official opening of Two Ladies at London's Bridge Theatre, starring Zoë and Zrinka Cvitešic.

Let's wish everyone involved with this world premiere production every success!

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'It's a big play': Zoë's views on Two Ladies

23 September 2019 20:13

Yesterday's interview with Zoë and her Two Ladies co-star, Zrinka Cvitešic, on BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show is now available to watch online.

Interspersed with extracts from Nancy Harris' play, the interview offers insights into the real events that inspired the show. As Zoë points out, the cast were rehearsing around the time of the G7 summit. It was clear to them that the media displayed greater interest in what the world leaders' wives were wearing than anything those women might've had to say.

Zrinka remarked that 'as actresses we can really relate to that', based on her and Zoë's experiences of red carpet events and similar engagements.

By contrast, Two Ladies gives two (fictional) First Ladies, Zoë's Helen and Zrinka's Sophia, a voice. They are very much centre stage.

In addition, Andrew Marr invites Zoë to reflect on the complex political pressures that led to her father, Sam Wanamaker, deciding to leave the US and begin a new life in the UK. His gift to his adopted home is, of course, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, which Marr describes as 'one of the great successes of the London theatre world'.

What would Sam make of The Globe's position in British cultural life today? 'I think he'd be thrilled,' Zoë emphasises.

If you'd like to play a part in the future of Shakespeare's Globe and its companion, the indoor playhouse named in honour of Zoë's dad, you can donate to the Sam Wanamaker Centenary fundraising campaign.

Two Ladies is being staged at another great London venue, the Bridge Theatre, until 26 October. Tickets are available from the theatre's website.

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Zoë to discuss Two Ladies on The Andrew Marr Show

21 September 2019 19:49

Zoë and her Two Ladies co-star, Zrinka Cvitešic, will be interviewed as part of The Andrew Marr Show tomorrow, 22 September. The hour-long programme airs on BBC One at 9 am. According to a BBC Politics tweet, the focus of the interview will be on ‘playing political wives’ in Nancy Harris’ play at the Bridge Theatre.

This will be Zoë’s third time as one of The Andrew Marr Show's special guests. She discussed appearing in Passion Play in 2013 alongside Samantha Bond (you can still watch part of that interview on the BBC News site) and All My Sons with David Suchet in 2010.

Tickets are available for Two Ladies, which is currently in previews and will have its opening night on 25 September. In addition, the text of the play has just been published by Nick Hern Books: you can read it in paperback or as an ebook.

Audiences are full of praise for the ‘amazing play’ about the role of world leaders’ wives, as well as the cast. Two Ladies is ‘[a]n absolute must see’ in which ‘Zoë Wanamaker and Zrinka Cvitešic give masterful performances’. In a nutshell, the show boasts ‘[p]henomenal acting; phenomenal writing.’

Two Ladies runs until 26 October – catch it while you can!

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First look at Two Ladies in performance

19 September 2019 19:09

London’s Bridge Theatre has released fantastic first-look photos of Zoë, Zrinka Cvitešic and the rest of the cast in Two Ladies. The play, which explores the role of world leaders’ wives, is currently in previews.

Meanwhile, Zoë’s character, Helen (originally called Hélène), has some wise words for us.

Interviewed by The Times, Zrinka Cvitešic, who plays Helen's opposite number in the US, emphasised that Two Ladies is an important play for female audience members in particular. 'I think this play will speak to so many women on so many levels.'

Theatregoers are continuing to respond enthusiastically to the ‘brilliant, thought provoking and very pertinent’ production. As the (fictional) First Lady of France, ‘Zoe Wanamaker gives a masterclass performance.’

For more details or to book tickets for Two Ladies, head to the theatre’s website. The play runs until 26 October.

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