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Chit Chat - Marching orders

Published Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 12:45 by Tabard

Tabard would like to send our many thanks to Vicky Biles - former theatre manager of the Hampstead Theatre, who has helped to clear up a few issues surrounding Anthony Neilson’s award acceptance speech at this year’s TMAs.

The playwright mysteriously referred to a time he was kicked out of the Hampstead while directing a play there, although he insisted he couldn’t recall why.

Luckily, Ms Biles has a better memory. As she informed us: “To shed some light on what happened at Hampstead Theatre 11 years ago, Anthony was invited by Jenny Topper, the then artistic director, to bring a show to the theatre that he had directed at that year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

“During his short time at Hampstead he behaved in such a way towards the staff, that Jenny had to ask him to leave. A simple case of an artistic director supporting her staff in the face of inappropriate and bad behaviour. Mystery solved and Anthony can add that to his anecdote if he wants to.”

So, there we go. Cased closed. Although Ms Biles does also add: “Congratulations to Anthony Neilson on a well deserved TMA Award.”

Next year’s award for most popular playwright goes to…

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