Brokeback Mountain

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The world premiere of Brokeback Mountain, a new play with music, written by Ashley Robinson with songs by Dan Gillespie Sells and based on Annie Proulx’s short story, opens @sohoplace on 10 May. Directed by Jonathan Butterell, Brokeback Mountain stars Mike Faist as Jack and Lucas Hedges as Ennis, both making their West End stage debuts. The production sees Jonathan Butterell and Dan Gillespie Sells (The Feeling), creators of the hit musical and film Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, reuniting with Producer Nica Burns.

Wyoming 1963: a wild landscape where people live in extreme rural poverty in tight, insular and conservative communities. When Ennis and Jack take jobs on the isolated Brokeback Mountain, all their certainties of life change forever as they flounder in unexpected emotional waters of increasing depth. Dan Gillespie-Sells’ beautiful Country and Western songs weave heartbreakingly through this intense tale of an irresistible and hidden love spanning twenty years and its tragic consequences.

This is a play with original music by Dan Gillespie Sells, performed by the extraordinary singer, Eddi Reader, joined by her onstage Country and Western band: Sean Green (piano/MD), Meelie Traill (upright bass), Greg Miller (chromatic harmonica), BJ Cole (pedal steel guitar).

Performance Dates

10th May – 12th August 2023

Running Time

Approx 90mins, no interval

Age Guidance

16+

Content Warning

This production contains smoking of cigarettes, a loud gunshot and partial nudity.

Mike Faist

Jack

Mike was most recently seen in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, for which he received a BAFTA award nomination.  He will next be seen in Luca Guadagnino’s CHALLENGERS for MGM and Jeff Nichols’ THE BIKERIDERS for New Regency.  Mike originated the role of ‘Connor Murphy’ in the international megahit Dear Evan Hansen, which earned him a Tony Award Nomination, Grammy Award and Emmy Award.  Additional New York theatre credits include Steven Levenson’s Days of Rage (Second Stage), A Month in the Country (Classic Stage Co.) and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Appropriate (Signature).  Additional films include Fritz Böhm’s Wildling, The Grief of Others (both premiered at SXSW), The Atlantic City Story and upcoming indie Pinball: The Man Who Saved The Game. 

Lucas Hedges

Ennis

Lucas Hedges’s credits include Manchester by the Sea (Academy Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Lady Bird, Mid 90s, Boy Erased (Golden Globe Nomination for Best Actor), Ben is Back, Honey Boy, Waves, Let Them All Talk, and French Exit. Hedges can next be seen in John Ridley’s upcoming Shirley.

He also appeared in BJ Novak’s Anthology Series The Premise in the episode entitled The Ballad Of Jesse Wheeler.  

Stage credits include Yen (Lucille Lortel Nomination for Best Actor) at MCC, And Kenneth Lonergan’s The Waverly Gallery at the Golden Theater with Elaine May, Michael Cera and Joan Allen.

Eddi Reader

Balladeer

Celebrating over 40 years as a live performer, Eddi Reader has effortlessly developed into one of popular music’s most thrilling and affecting performers. What sets Eddi apart is the depth and quality of the emotional performance and ability to not only move the listener, but connect her experience to that of her audience. No two performances are ever the same.

Though first brought into the limelight as front woman for Fairground Attractionwho’s #1 single, Perfect and parent album, First of a Million Kisses, both topped the U.K. charts and the charts in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan,  it was Eddi’s subsequent solo albums that signalled her ability to assimilate different musical styles and make them very much her own. Notably, The Songs of Robert Burns(2003) is a timeless interpretation showcasing the poems of Scotland’s national bard and gained her Five honorary degrees from Strathclyde University, Caledonia University, Stirling university, Edinburgh university and Paisley University.

Plus an MBE for outstanding contributions to the Arts.

Eddi has explored the acting profession before, through her acclaimed performances as Jolene Jowett in John Byrnes “Your Cheatin Heart” (BBC Scotland production starring Tilda Swinton), a 1937 jazz singer in Richard Linklaters movie: “Me and Orson Welles”, (starring Zac Efron) and in her contribution as “Joy 3” in Michael Boyd’s production of Janice Galloway’s “The Trick Is To Keep Breathing”. (Radio Four and a Tron theatre production also starting Siobhan Redmond and Jenny Black).

With her work in song, from the traditional to the contemporary, Eddi Reader extinguishes the preordained boundaries of genre, bringing joyous life to all forms. Her rare blend of meltingly true vocals and towering romanticism combine with an astute and pragmatic nature to make her a unique and powerful figure in contemporary music. With 10 critically acclaimed solo albums, and awards in tow, Eddi continues to delight audiences worldwide. 2022 proved to be one of her busiest touring years yet, playing sell out shows as part of her ‘40 Years Live Tour’ in addition to appearing as special guest with theJools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra for an extensive UK tour.

Emily Fairn

Alma

Film credits include: CHUCK CHUCK BABY (BFI Films)

Television credits include: MARY & GEORGE (Hera Pictures); COBRA S3 (New Pictures for Sky); BLACK MIRROR (Netflix); RAIN DOGS (Sid Gentle Films); THE RESPONDER (Dancing Ledge Productions / BBC)

Theatre credits include: EARTHQUAKES IN LONDON (Guildhall School of Music and Drama); PROVOK’D: A RESTORATION (Guildhall School of Music and Drama); RED VELVET (Guildhall School of Music and Drama); ALL THE LITTLE LIGHTS (Guildhall School of Music and Drama); A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Guildhall School of Music and Drama); OEDIPUS (Guildhall School of Music and Drama); OLEANNA (Guildhall School of Music and Drama); SHADOWLANDS (Guildhall School of Music and Drama); FAIR AND UGLY, FALSE AND TRUE (Guildhall School of Music and Drama); POMONA (Guildhall);THE CHERRY ORCHARD (Guildhall School of Music and Drama)

Paul Hickey

Older Ennis

Paul was born in Dublin and now lives in West London. Theatre includes WASTE, OUR CLASS, CHILDREN OF THE SUN, THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD, ROMEO AND JULIET and PEER GYNT all at the National Theatre; FEWER EMERGENCIES, BANG BANG BANG, CRAZYBLACKMUTHAFUKINSELF, O GO MY MAN and WHO CARES at the Royal Court; MACBETH and THE DEEP BLUE SEA at the Royal Exchange, Manchester; THE MERCHANT OF VENICE for the RSC (World Tour); INCOGNITO and DRINK DANCE LAUGH LIE at the Bush; LITTLE LIGHT at the Orange Tree; IN THE NEXT ROOM (OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY) at the Ustinov. FRED’S DINER and WALLENSTEIN at Chichester Festival; GHOSTS at the Arcola; PENTECOST and IN A LITTLE WORLD OF OUR OWN at the Donmar Warehouse; HELEN AND I for Druid; RED ROSES AND PETROL, LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN and THE ASH FIRE at the Tricycle; DEALER’S CHOICE and MY NIGHT WITH REG at Birmingham Rep, THE LAST YANKEE at The Print Room; THE SILVER TASSIE and THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS at the Abbey Theatre…

On TV, Paul was Johno in Dublin cop show, RED ROCK (BBC/Virgin Media); he recently played Lord Allyn Caswell in HOUSE OF THE DRAGON for HBO, and plays Gary in Apple TV’s new 7-part thriller, HIJACK with Idris Elba, to be released this Summer. Other TV includes CATHERINE THE GREAT, THE LAST TSARS, THREE GIRLS, THE INSPECTOR LYNLEY MYSTERIES (Series IV-VI), DOCTOR WHO, FATHER TED, NUREMBERG , WHITECHAPEL, SUNSHINE, THE AMERICAN, CRITICAL, DOCTORS, FRIENDS AND CROCODILES , THE GOVERNOR, MURDER SQUAD, REBEL HEART and THE INFORMANT. Films include: 100 STREETS, BITTER HARVEST, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, WAR MACHINE, NOBLE, THE MATCHMAKER, THOUGH THE SKY FALLS, NORA, SPIN THE BOTTLE, MOLL FLANDERS, THE GENERAL, ON THE EDGE and ORDINARY DECENT CRIMINAL

Martin Marquez

Joe / Bill / Jack's Father

Theatre credits include: Othello, Leopard, Guys & Dolls, Sweet Charity, Still Alice, Much Ado About Nothing, This House (UK Tour), Imogen, Before I Leave, Husbands & Sons, Ah, Wilderness, Blasted, The Crucible, From Here to Eternity, Abigail’s Party, 4 Knights In Knaresborough, A Streetcar Named Desire, A View From A Bridge, Anything Goes, Asylum, Biloxi Blues, Boeing Boeing, Brothers Maquez, Cleansed, Don Juan, Flesh & Blood, Fool For Love Front Page, Gondoliers, Hamlet, High Society, I Caught My Death in Venice, Identical Twins, Insignificance, Jack and the Beanstalk, Jude The Obscure, Legends of Evil, Love’s Labours Lost, Macbeth, Mother Courage and Her Children, Of Mice and Men, Pal Joey, Paradise Lost, Private Lives, Redemption, Road, Romeo & Juliet, Royal Hunt of the Sun, She Stoops to Conquer, Snowbull, The Dark Side of Buffoon, The Iceman Cometh, The Revenger’s Tragedy, The Sea, The Slicing Edge, Uncle Silas and What Do I Get.

Television credits include: Kate and Koji, The Chelsea Detective, Holby City, Dead Pixels, Bounty Hunter, The Crown, Modus, Decline and Fall, Suntrap, The Javone Prince Show, The Job Lot, Woody, Vera, Knifeman, Benidorm, The Whale, Twenty Twelve, Falcon – Blind Man of Seville, Holy Flying Circus, New Tricks, Hotel Babylon, Lead Balloon, Elizabeth, Empire, Eastenders, Heartbeat, Dirty Tricks, The Plastic Man, Murder Most Horrid, The Bill and In Suspicious Circumstances.

Film credits include: 7 Hours on Earth, The Mercy, After Louise, Girl on a Bicycle, A Louder Silence, Les Miserables and The Business.

Rob Alexander-Adams

Understudyy Joe, Bill, Jack's Father, Older Ennis

Rob trained at Rose Bruford

His professional theatre credits include; Mick in THE CARETAKER, Constable Dull in LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST , Tommy Adaire in RACING DEMON, Tim in NOISES OFF (all at Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich). Mad March Hare in ALICE ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND (Library Theatre, Manchester), Multi Role in THE SUNSET SHIP (Young Vic) and Narrator in THE HAPPY PRINCE (Oxfordshire Touring Theatre) Film and TV roles include; Moe in EXIT (Fausti Films), Warship Technician in THE FIFTH ELEMENT (Zaltman Films), Ashley Johnson in THE BILL (Thames TV), Simon Harris in THE CHIEF(Anglia TV).

Recently performed at the Camden Fringe with his new one man show “Keeper of the Flame”, which will also be touring in the autumn. Filming work – Peter in “Capture” for the NFTS , Director- Franz Bohm.

He has also worked extensively as Course Leader in Drama at Westminster Kingsway College for 20 years

Tom Mahy

Understudy Jack / Ennis

Tom trained at Drama Centre, London.

Previous credits include; Vincent River (Trafalgar Studios/Park Theatre); I Dare You (Nottingham Playhouse); Othello/The Importance Of Being Earnest (Changeling Theatre); Wuthering Heights (Euro Theater Bonn).

Television includes; Small Axe (BBC)

Film includes; Kingsman: The Great Game (Twentieth Century Fox)

Sophie Reid

Lureen, Waitress, Backing Vocals & Understudy Alma, Baladeer, Jack's Mother

Training: The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Theatre credits include: Siren in Lizard Boy (Original UK Cast, Hope Mill Theatre/Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh), Ellen Dawson aka ’The Spirit of Sting’ in The Last Ship (Canada/US Tour), Snow Queen in The Snow Queen (Dundee Rep), Girl in Once (Phoenix Theatre, West End), Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bard in The Botanics), Mrs Walker in Tommy and Cinderella in Into The Woods (RCS)

TV credits include: Count Abdulla (ITVX), The Baby (HBO), Doc Martin (ITV), Game of Thrones (HBO), Gary Tank Commander (BBC), Hedz (BBC Scotland)

Film credits include: Justine (Jump Start Productions), Barracuda (Orion Pictures & Samuel Goldwyn), Beauty & The Beast (Disney).

Sophie is a Screen International Star of Tomorrow. She was nominated for Best Newcomer at SXSW in 2017 for her performance as Sinaloa in Barracuda.

Publishing under the name REID, Sophie is a spoken word artist, rapper and musician who has performed at festivals such as LatitudeSXSWEdinburgh FestivalThe Big Retreat & Unearthed.

You can access Sophie’s latest work @reid_itandweep on IG.

Sean Green

Piano / Musical Director

Current Projects Include:

SYLVIA | Musical Director | The Old Vic | Dir: Katie Price | The Old Vic Theatre Company

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN | Musical Director | SOHO Place | Dir: Jonathan Butterell

Previous Projects Include:

GET UP, STAND UP! | Lyric Theatre West End | Clint Dyer| Playful Productions

54 | Workshop | Hannah Chisswick | McGill Productions

TURN UP | Cadogan Hall/ Online |Nicole Raquel Dennis & Ryan Carter

ALADDIN (Arranger and Musical Supervisor) | Newbury Corn Exchange

PRISCLLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT | UK Tour | Ian Talbot |Mark Goucher Productions LTD

LEAVE TO REMAIN | Lyric Hammersmith | Robbie Graham| Lyric Hammersmith

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK | White Rock Hastings | Kirk Jameson | Qdos in association with Daryl Back

TWELFTH NIGHT | Young Vic | Kwame Kwei-Armah | Young Vic

LIVER BIRDS FLYING HOME | Liverpool Royal Court | Seabright Productions

THE WEDDING SINGER | UK Tour | DLAP

ONE LOVE | Birmingham Rep | Playful Productions/Birmingham Rep

MURDER BALLAD | Arts Theatre | Soundcheck Productions

INTO THE WOODS | Manchester Royal Exchange |Manchester Royal Exchange

ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW | European Tour | BB Promotions

BRITAIN’S GOT BHANGRA | UK Tour | Rifco Arts

BJ Cole

Pedal Steel Guitar

BJ Cole’s uniquely eclectic style of Pedal Steel Guitar playing first made an impact on the British music scene in the early 1970’s with his major contribution to Elton John’s classic ‘Tiny Dancer’, and Joan Armatrading’s ‘Down To Zero’.

Throughout the ’70’s and into the ’80’s, BJ’s inimitable Pedal Steel work on classic recordings by Gerry Rafferty, Steve Marriott, Scott Walker, The Stranglers, Deacon Blue, and Michael Chapman earned him considerable respect as both an innovative and exciting creative force.

During the 1980’s and ’90’s, BJ’s desire to pioneer the use of the Pedal Steel Guitar far beyond its traditional context in country music has ensured that he has continued to expand the instrument’s sonic horizons and played a large part in its acceptance as a unique voice in the popular music of the time.

The success of this pioneering approach has been born out through his ongoing session work and collaborations with artists as diverse as David Sylvian, Depeche Mode, Beck, Bjork, Sting, John Cale, The Verve, Tom Jones and more recently, with Matt Berry, the avant garde rock band Black Midi and the Australian experimental composer Oren Ambarchi.

His explorations have also seen the release of a string of solo and collaborative recordings – ‘The New Hovering Dog’ ( United Artists 1972). ‘Transparent Music’ (1989), ‘Heart Of The Moment’ (1995), ‘Stop The Panic’ (with DJ Luke Vibert, 2000), ‘Trouble In Paradise’ (2004), ‘Into The Blue’, ( with cellist Emily Burridge, 2006) and ‘Lush Life’ (with Roger Beaujolais and Simon Thorpe, 2009). Making these records has enabled BJ to establish his own artistic profile, and has opened up avenues to new collaborations and to composing for film and TV.

BJ & Emily Burridge are well established as a live duo. In their concerts they feature their unique interpretations of music by Aaron Copland, Erik Satie and Claude Debussy.

Never content to stand still, BJ now makes his unique sound palette available to recording artists, songwriters and record producers via his ‘Online Overdub Service’, at his website, www.bjcole.co.uk

Meelie Traill

Upright Bass

Meelie Traill is a bass guitarist and double bassist based in London and is delighted to be part of the Brokeback Mountain band!

Theatre credits include: Legally Blonde (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Bring It On (Southbank Centre); But I’m A Cheerleader (London) and Closer Than Ever (filmed for Broadway HD). As a dep she has also played on Dreamgirls (UK Tour); Six (West End) and We Will Rock You (UK Tour).

She graduated from The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts in 2021 and aside from theatre, Meelie has performed at festivals and concerts with numerous artists on the bass guitar and synth bass. She is proudly supported by Ernie Ball/Music Man.

Greg Miller

Harmonica

Greg Miller is a multi-award winning harmonica player. He was named Blues Harmonica Player of the Year in 2011 by the National Harmonica League in the UK, and in 2013, he won the first price at the Jazz World Harmonica Festival.

Greg also plays regularly with his band in London and around Europe. His music has marked the halls of venues such as the Soho Theatre, Ain’t Nothin’ But, Proud Camden and QueCumBar, as well as several festivals such as the Oxjam Music Festival. He has also been involved with the BBC Introducing Music Programmes.

Since then, Greg has played alongside Ian Siegal, Dana Gillespie, Kyla Brox, Marcus Malone, Arnaud Fradin and many more. Greg also opened for Van Morrison and Mary Coughlan, alongside Jessica Sweetman and appeared at the Dennis Hopper exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts.

Greg is also the founder of The London Harmonica School and organises different workshops and events in the UK

★★★★★

‘A powerful and enticing production’

Broadway World
★★★★

‘Even better than the film’

Sunday Times
★★★★

‘A gem of a show’

Evening Standard
★★★★

‘Brokeback is still moving mountains 20 years on’

Metro
★★★★

‘One of the most heartbreaking queer stories ever told’

Attitude

Annie Proulx

Original Short Story

Ashley Robinson

Playwright

Dan Gillespie Sells

Songs

Jonathan Butterell

Director

Tom Pye

Set & Costume Design

David Finn

Lighting Design

Christopher Shutt

Sound Design

Shaheen Baig

Casting Director

Nimmo Ismail

Associate Director

Tommy Ross-Williams

Intimacy Director

Kevin McCurdy

Fight Director

Phil Wilding

Production Manager

Zeb Lalljee

Costume Supervisor

Sam Cox

Wigs Maker/Supervisor

Lily Mollgaard

Props Supervisor

Jo Nastari

Associate Intimacy Director

Mary Irwin & Ben Furey

Vocal/Dialect Coach

Nica Burns

Producer

Adam Blanshay Productions

Producer

Lambert Jackson

Producer

Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment

Producer

@sohoplace

4 Soho Place, Charing Cross Rd, London, W1D 3BG

@sohoplace

4 Soho Place, Charing Cross Rd, London, W1D 3BG

Performance Dates

10th May – 12th August 2023

Running Time

Approx 90mins, no interval

Age Guidance

16+

Content Warning

This production contains smoking of cigarettes, a loud gunshot and partial nudity.