Another Theatreland casualty of the coronavirus outbreak, this summer's London premiere of LOCAL HERO has been cancelled at the Old Vic Theatre.
As lockdown continues, the Old Vic Theatre has postponed its London premiere of screen-to-stage musical Local Hero. Based on the 1983 Scottish film, Local Hero had its world premiere last spring at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre and was due to run at the Old Vic from 18 June to 27 August 2020.
A re-envisioning of the hit 1983 film of the same name, Local Hero is adapted by the Lyceum’s artistic director David Greig and Bill Forsyth, the critically acclaimed Scottish filmmaker and writer whose work also includes Gregory’s Girl and Comfort and Joy.
It tells the story of an American oil company representative who is sent to the fictional village of Furness on the west coast of Scotland to purchase the town and surrounding property for his company. It has musical composition by legendary Dire Straits guitarist and singer Mark Knopfler, who wrote the original score, and features new music alongside favourites from the film.
Government restrictions permitting, the next production at the Old Vic will be the return for a fourth year of A Christmas Carol, with a planned festive season from 21 November 2020 to 16 January 2021. In a lengthy statement released explaining the steps taken during lockdown to safeguard the Old’ Vic’s future, artistic director Matthew Warchus asks audiences to buy tickets in a spirit of optimism and in support of the theatre which will “without question” need to launch “a critical and major fundraising campaign if we are to continue” in future.
Speaking about the musical's cancelled summer season, Matthew Warchus said:
"I’d like to convey our great sadness at being forced to postpone this summer’s production of the uplifting new musical Local Hero. This beautiful, heartwarming and politically resonant adaptation of the hit film was a huge success with critics and audiences following its world premiere with our partners The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh last year. The brilliant creative team and wonderful cast were all about to dive into rehearsals in the next few weeks. We very much hope you will get to see this production before too long."
.@oldvictheatre has indefinitely postponed musical #LocalHero, which was due to open in London 18 Jun after last year's premiere at Edinburgh's @lyceumtheatre. The theatre still aims to secure new dates for #4000Miles, which was fully rehearsed when #lockdown began. #ST #SF pic.twitter.com/jdrCh3SkRZ
— Terri Paddock (@TerriPaddock) April 16, 2020
