Poor box office sales force early closure of Prick Up Your Ears
West End comedy Prick Up Your Ears is set to close early due to poor ticket sales, following Matt Lucas’ withdrawal from the show.
Con O'Neill (Kenneth Halliwell) and Chris New (Joe Orton) in Prick Up Your Ears Photo: Catherine Ashmore
The Little Britain comedian pulled out of the play, written by Simon Bent, after his former civil partner Kevin McGee committed suicide. He was replaced in the leading role of Kenneth Halliwell by Con O’Neill.
A spokesperson for the show said: “Despite very good feedback and notices for Con O Neill’s performance, the box office sales have not been sufficient to keep the show going, and so the producers have taken the difficult decision to close the show three weeks prior to its scheduled end date.”
The show, which opened at the Comedy Theatre on September 17 and was initially booking until December 6, will now close on November 15.
The next show scheduled for the Comedy Theatre is Martin Crimp’s modern adaptation of Moliere’s The Misanthrope, which stars Keira Knightley in her West End debut. Previews for the play will begin on December 7.
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