Thomas Howells previews the play Quiz, to play Cardiff’s New Theatre and starring Rory Bremner as Chris Tarrant.
Rory Bremner will star as Chris Tarrant in James Graham’s new drama: Quiz, which is about Charles Ingram aka The Coughing Major who was accused of trying to con the popular TV quiz show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, out of $1,000,000.
Quiz will embark on a nine-week tour and stop at Cardiff’s New Theatre between the 17th and 21st of October 2023.
Rory Bremner says: “I’m really excited about this; not just the challenge of playing Chris Tarrant in long form, but presenting to a live audience every night the scandal that really captured the public’s imagination.
“What really happened? The jury is out – and this time it’s you! I didn’t have to call a friend. It wasn’t even 50/50. This was a role I had to take on, with A: a brilliant director; B: a great screenplay; C: a different audience live every night; and D: a story that still divides opinions today. Final answer? Ask the audience!”
In September 2001, the nation was gripped by a mystery as to how a group of criminals managed to cheat Who Wants to Be a Millionaire out of one million pounds. The Coughing Major, Charles Ingram, and his accomplices were suspected of perpetrating this crime, but how they pulled it off is still a mystery. New evidence has recently come to light, and it’s up to you, the audience, to decide: are they guilty or not guilty?
This production is a collaboration between two high-quality theatre companies, Jonathan Church Theatre Productions and Wessex Grove. The Quiz is directed by Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre, Daniel Evans, with design by Robert Jones, and produced by Jonathan Church Theatre Productions and Wessex Grove. Lighting by Ryan Day, composition and sound design by Ben and Max Ringham, and video by Tim Reid. Casting by Ginny Schiller CDG.
This new drama is based on true events that occurred after an episode of the hit TV show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? It is completely unrelated to the show’s creators or actors, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is produced by 2waytraffic.
- For ticket availability visit Cardiff New Theatre’s website.