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MEDIA RELEASE
FEBRUARY 2006

FRANK WILLIAMS & THE WALRUS GROUP PRESENT
AND IN THE END
THE DEATH AND LIFE OF JOHN LENNON
Starring VALENTINE PELKA as John Lennon
Written and directed by ALEXANDER MARSHALL
Lighting Design by GAVAN SWIFT
With ANDREW BIBBY, JONATHAN HARDY & YVONNE STRZECHOWSKI

AND IN THE END is the real story of John Lennon — arguably our greatest pop cultural icon of the 20th Century. It’s 10.52pm on the night of December 8, 1980 at the Dakota Apartments in New York City. Five bone-chilling shots ring out. John Lennon has been shot! Struggling to stay alive, he finds himself caught in the vortex of his existence —somewhere between life and death. As his life flashes before him: Liverpool, Hamburg, The Beatles, his mother’s death, Yoko, May-Pang, Cynthia, Julian, Sean, Bed-ins for Peace, solo years; Gatekeepers of the White Light help John confront the five stages of death — Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. And in the end, John shows us that sometimes what lies beyond us matters less than what lies within us as he completes his journey through the tunnel to the Other Side. A touching, uplifting, often-funny conversation with Death. Psychedelic lighting. Adult language. Brief nudity. Compelling, intense theatre.

AND IN THE END - The Death and Life of John Lennon starring Irish actor Valentine Pelka (Under the Tuscan Sun, The Pianist, The Highlander’s Kronos) as John Lennon is a powerful, funny, sad and revealing new play by multiple Emmy award-winning American writer/director, Alexander "Sandy" Marshall.

John Lennon's sister Julia Baird said "It's the most accurate piece ever written on my brother's life". Australian producer Frank Williams and American producers’ The Walrus Group are bringing the show to Sydney's Parade Theatre in Kensington opening on March 8 (previews from March 3), playing to March 26. AND IN THE END was the hit of the 2004 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Following a strictly limited 4 week season in Sydney, the play will move to Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre, then it's Broadway-bound!

Rod Davis (one of John Lennon's Original Quarrymen) said, "After so many people have got John's story wrong...it's great to see someone come along and finally get it right". The play received unanimous critical acclaim for the Edinburgh season: (Five Stars) "Hilarious and touching. This is the genuine article and a must for even the most casual Beatles observer". The Irish Post. Powerful. . . a thrilling experience . . . brilliantly conceived.” Daily Express. “Illuminating . . . a tremendous piece of work. Valentine Pelka is John Lennon.” BBC Radio Scotland.

Following auditions on his arrival in Sydney last week, director Alexander Marshall cast versatile Sydney actors Andrew Bibby, Jonathan Hardy and Yvonne Strzechowski in the multiple supporting roles. Some of the characters that pepper the script include Lennon’s first wife Cynthia, Yoko Ono, the Beatles manager Brian Epstein and singer Harry Nilsson.

Marshall read over 200 books on the ex-Beatle and conducted literally hundreds of interviews prior to writing the play.

SEASON DETAILS:
VENUE: PARADE THEATRE, 215 ANZAC PARADE, KENSINGTON
DATES: Previews: 8pm Fri March 3, 4, 5 & 7, Opening night Wed March 8, season to March 26. (Season may extend)
PERFORMANCES: Tues – Sat 8pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 5pm.
PRICES: $25 - $69. Previews $44, Under 26 & Student rush $25 – applies to all performances. Tues – Thurs 8pm, Sat 2pm & Sun 5pm: Full price $64, Conc $54, Groups of 10 or more $54 Fri 8pm: Full price $69, Conc $59, Groups of 10 or more $59. Sat 8pm: $69 (no concessions except student rush)
BOOKINGS: TICKETEK 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au

For further information / images / interviews contact: MERRAN DOYLE PUBLICITY (02) 9905 4644 0419 999 607 or email: merran@merrandoyle.com.au website: www.andintheend.com