A grieving Lucas leaves Prick Up Your Ears
Story by Lizzie Guilfoyle
MATT Lucas has withdrawn from Simon Bent’s dark comedy Prick Up Your Ears for an indefinite period following the death of his former civil partner Kevin McGee, who was found hanged in his Edinburgh flat yesterday (October 5, 2009).
In a statement, the producers of Prick Up Your Ears said: “Our thoughts are with Matt whom we are in constant touch with. Until further notice his role of Kenneth Halliwell in the West End production of Prick Up Your Ears will be played by his understudy Michael Chadwick.”
Lucas and McGee’s relationship began before Lucas shot to fame in Little Britain. They ‘married’ in December 2006 but parted in October 2008. And although neither man spoke publicly about the split, media speculation suggested that Lucas’ filming commitments were to blame.
Prick Up Your Ears premiered in the West End only last week following a regional tour which kicked off at Richmond Theatre on August 26. Inspired exclusively by the John Lahr biography and the diaries of Joe Orton, it examines the private lives of Kenneth Halliwell and Joe Orton.
Chris New (as Orton) and Gwen Taylor (Mrs Corden) will stay with the production, which is booking at the Comedy Theatre until December 6, 2009.