This is an archived page of the run of The Agent at the Old Red Lion in March 2007.
For information on the next or current run, click here.
To buy or find more information about The Agent book click here.
'If you can't live, write; if you can't write, be a publisher; if you can't be a publisher,
be a literary agent; and if you can't be a literary agent, God help you.' Colin Haycraft
It's just another day at the office for high-flying literary agent
Alexander. Phone calls to be returned, deals to be finalised, celebrity
clients to be taken out to lunch... and just one quick meeting to get
through with an author whose latest book the agent thinks is, frankly,
not up to scratch.
Martin Wagner's gripping and often bitingly
funny two-hander about a writer's struggle for proper representation
perfectly reveals the subtle shifts in power in the relationship
between artist and agent. As every minute passes and the tables
continue to turn, the only thing we can be sure of is that there can
only be one winner.
REVIEWS
"The
trials of a struggling author are a subject close to every playwright's
heart, but don't necessarily make for an edifying evening's
entertainment – what's so impressive about this piece is the way it
refuses to take sides, drawing out both character's points of view in
all their complexity. Steven's embittered insights never gain our
affection any more than Alexander's commitment to good business. Their
spiky exchanges are wonderfully alive with moments where the two
mis/understand their differences.
Two
terrific performances more than do justice to Martin Wagner's taut
script. Hamish Clark makes a thinking, feeling man out of Alexander
with just the right balance of self-confidence and sensitivity...
Stephen Kennedy plays Stephen with mole like intensity, eyes huge
behind milk-bottle spectacles, staring out at a world hostile to his
ambition. It's great to see actors this engaged in bringing a piece to
life.
The Agent
is a wonderful two-handed drama. It paints a relationship between its
two characters that is full, lifelike and thoroughly theatrical –
highly recommended!" Hugh Chapman - EXTRA! EXTRA
"Grippingly dark and achingly funny, at times The Agent reminds me very much of Ricky Gervais' and Stephen Merchant's hit comedy The Office, but not quite so straightforward. Martin Wagner has brought together an almost perfect representation of the subtle power-shifts that can occur between an artist and their agent... The audience were entranced by some powerhouse performances. Hamish Clark was fantastic as the slightly jaded agent who just wants an easy life, finding humour in the darkest of places and the perfect foil for Stephen Kennedy’s neurotically desperate author who just wants to be published... There’s no excuse for not seeing this great new play." Luke Tudball - UKTheatre Reviews
"An entertaining evening of theatre. The twists are neatly and effectively presented, and the tension of the final scene makes for gripping theatre." MY LONDON YOUR LONDON
"When the play enters a far more fantastical world it really takes off. And how it takes off. The second act is tense, funny, poignant." THE STAGE
"Very amusing and dark... fabulous twists and turns... really enjoyable with great performances and a wonderful set... A very good two-hander." RESONANCE FM
"An exceptionally well-crafted, intelligent and enjoyable exchange exploring the nature of being an artist in a contemporary capitalist society, where substance is often overlooked and talent unrewarded... Kennedy excels as the self-effacing artist straining against a system where the agent is the bridge to the publisher, and 'most writers can't swim'. Martin Wagner's debut play is impressive and entertaining. Here's a writer who can swim." Belinda Williams - ROGUES AND VAGABONDS
"The best play I've seen in months! Should go to the West End." Rob Frost - PREMIERE RADIO
"A neat two-hander." Dominic Cavendish - DAILY TELEGRAPH
"Perfectly timed… this neatly constructed work pleased its packed house well." HAM & HIGH
THE OLD RED LION RUN – CAST & CREW
Cast:
Hamish Clark (the agent) (bio)
Stephen Kennedy (the writer) (bio)
Lee Boardman (voice of Charlie)
Writer: Martin Wagner (bio)
Director: Lesley Manning (bio)
Set designer: Humphrey Jaeger (bio)
Stage Manager: Peter Mazurkovic
Assistant Stage Manager: Tomoe Uchikubo (her website is here)
Casting Director: Sarah Bird (bio)
Poster design: Thorsten Knaub (bio)
Produced by: Pinter & Martin
For the Old Red Lion: Helen Devine (artistic director)
The Agent was playing at London's Old Red Lion Theatre from 6th - 24th March 2007.
THE OLD RED LION RUN - BIOGRAPHIES
Hamish Clark (the agent) is best known for his role as Duncan in Monarch of the Glen. He just completed a highly successful run of the Olivier-nominated revival of Michael Frayn’s Donkeys’ Years at the Comedy Theatre in the West End.
Stephen Kennedy (the writer) plays Ian Craig in The Archers and has recently appeared in Richard Eyre’s Notes on a Scandal. His theatre credits include Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party (Bristol Old Vic) as well as performances at the Royal Court, The Riverside Studios and the RSC.
Martin Wagner is a writer, film-maker and publisher living in London. His first novel, Rachel's Machine, was published by Pinter & Martin in the UK and Mondadori in Italy. His acclaimed book The Little Driver is used in Spain to educate children about traffic issues, and was followed by the biting satire on contemporary politics The Little Politician. The Agent is his first play. (click here for full bio)
Lesley Manning is a film and television director. Her credits include Ghostwatch, one of the BBC's highest rating single drama , P.O.V., Berkeley Square and the forthcoming Telepathy, written by Stephen Volk.
Humphrey Jaeger is a Bafta nominated set designer whose credits include An American Haunting and Fated.
Sarah Bird's numerous film and television credits include Wilde, Stormbreaker and Deep Water.
Thorsten Knaub is an artist working with video, sound, performance and drawing and often uses digital processes. His latest work is the extraordinary The Cinema Machine, which was recently exhibited at the Outpost Gallery in Norwich. See his web site for further details.
Many
thanks to Guy Chapman, Will Maidwell and Jenny Eldridge at GCA, Helen
Devine and all the staff at the Old Red Lion, Gilly Sanguinetti, Bogus
Machnik, Richard Boyd, National Film & Television School, Candid
Arts Trust, Bill Norris at Central Books.
Visit Doodlee.com a database of modern playwrights and theatre plays.
For a picture gallery of The Agent, click here.
