Photo Flash: First Look at Helena Blackman, Ben Stock in NOEL & GERTIE

The creative team behind the acclaimed production of Parade at Southwark Playhouse (nominated for 4 Off West End Awards) are reunited for a major revival of Noël & Gertie, Sheridan Morley's hit play about Noël Coward and Gertrude Lawrence, that originally ran in the West End for nine years.

Noël & Gertie, starring Helena Blackman and Ben Stock, directed by Thom Southerland, produced by Danielle Tarento, will get a major revival at the Cockpit Theatre from Tuesday 27th September - Saturday 22nd October. Press night is Friday 30th September at 7.30pm.

This witty and moving show, affectionately crafted from diaries and letters between Coward and his stage partner, Gertrude Lawrence, tells the story of the professional and personal relationship between two of this century's greatest stage personalities. Although they only appeared in two productions together, Private Lives and Tonight at 8.30, Noël Coward and Gertrude Lawrence epitomised an era of high style and elegance. The songs, sketches and snippets of scenes pieced together in Noël & Gertie have the entrancing effect of accurately portraying this remarkable duo and the era they helped to define.

Helena Blackman was nominated for a TMA Award as Best Actress in a Musical in 2008 for her starring role as Nellie Forbush in the UK number 1 tour of South Pacific. She starred as Helen Fogel in the West End premiere of Stephen Sondheim's Saturday Night at Jermyn Street Theatre. She was a runner up in the TV contest How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria.

Ben Stock's West End roles include Eugene in Grease, Over My Shoulder - The Jessie?Matthew Story, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! On tour he played Lumiere in Disney's Beauty & The Beast.

Director Thom Southerland recently directed the acclaimed revival of Parade at Southwark?Playhouse. He was named Best Director at the 2011 Off West End Theatre Awards for Me and Juliet at the Finborough. He directed the European premiere of I Sing!, Divorce Me, Darling!, Annie Get Your Gun, The Pajama Game and sold-out all-male adaptations of Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore and The Mikado (all at the Union Theatre).

Produced by Danielle Tarento, who recently produced Parade and the sold-out Company, both at Southwark Playhouse. She is co-founder of the Menier Chocolate Factory and co-produced all in-house shows 2004- 2006, including Sunday In The Park With George, which received a West End transfer and 5 Olivier awards.

Photo Credit:  Annabel Vere

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