Kurt and Sid
Encyclopedia
Kurt and Sid is a play by Roy Smiles
which had its world premiere at the Trafalgar Studios
in London's West End. The play opened on 9 September 2009 and starred Danny Dyer
(as Sid Vicious
) and Shaun Evans
(as Kurt Cobain
). Kurt and Sid was produced by Thomas Hopkins and Andrew Jenkins.
previously. The previous portrayal of Kurt Cobain was in the 2005 film Last Days
. Danny Dyer first became interested in having a role when Roy Smiles told him about it 9 years before the play opened. Roy Smiles' opinion is that Gary Oldman
played Sid Vicious "like an idiot". Shaun Evans grew out his hair for the role of Kurt Cobain and dyed his hair blond. Dyer thought that it would be interesting to see how the audience reacts because of the play being both dark and light.
when he was alive. Sid and Kurt discuss what it is like to be famous and their problems. Sid tries to convince Kurt that he should not take his life. The play takes place in Kurt's greenhouse.
also rated the play 2 out of 5 stars saying the neither characters appear admirable and that a real frustration is none of their music being played. Rhoda Koenig of The Independent
said that the cardboard box in the play had more empathy than the script.
Roy Smiles
Roy Smiles is an English playwright and singer-songwriter from West London, also occasional actor.-Career:Roy Smiles is the author of twenty three produced stage plays...
which had its world premiere at the Trafalgar Studios
Trafalgar Studios
Trafalgar Studios, formerly The Whitehall Theatre until 2004, is a West End theatre in Whitehall, near Trafalgar Square, in the City of Westminster, London....
in London's West End. The play opened on 9 September 2009 and starred Danny Dyer
Danny Dyer
Danny Dyer is an English actor, media personality, and chairman of Greenwich Borough, a non-League football team.-Biography:Daniel John Dyer was born in Custom House, an area of East London, to Antony and Christine Dyer...
(as Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious was an English musician best known as the bassist of the influential punk rock group Sex Pistols...
) and Shaun Evans
Shaun Evans
Shaun Evans is an English actor.Evans completed a course with the National Youth Theatre before relocating to London at the age of eighteen to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. His first major role was that of gay French teacher John Paul Keating in the Channel 4 comedy-drama...
(as Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
). Kurt and Sid was produced by Thomas Hopkins and Andrew Jenkins.
Development
Sid Vicious was only portrayed in the 1986 film Sid and NancySid and Nancy
Sid and Nancy is a 1986 British biopic directed by Alex Cox. The film portrays the life of Sid Vicious , bassist of the seminal punk rock band the Sex Pistols, and his relationship with girlfriend Nancy Spungen .-Plot:The film opens with several police officers dragging Sid Vicious out of the Hotel...
previously. The previous portrayal of Kurt Cobain was in the 2005 film Last Days
Last Days (film)
Last Days is a 2005 American film directed, produced, and written by Gus Van Sant, and is a fictionalized account of the last days of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. It was released to theaters in the United States on July 22, 2005, and was produced by HBO. The film stars Michael Pitt as the...
. Danny Dyer first became interested in having a role when Roy Smiles told him about it 9 years before the play opened. Roy Smiles' opinion is that Gary Oldman
Gary Oldman
Gary Leonard Oldman is an English actor, voice actor, filmmaker and musician.A member of the 1980s Brit Pack, Oldman came to prominence via starring roles in British films Meantime , Sid and Nancy and Prick Up Your Ears , with his performance in the latter bringing him his first BAFTA Award...
played Sid Vicious "like an idiot". Shaun Evans grew out his hair for the role of Kurt Cobain and dyed his hair blond. Dyer thought that it would be interesting to see how the audience reacts because of the play being both dark and light.
Plot
Kurt is tired of the media so he decides to commit suicide and when Sid stops Kurt from shooting himself, Kurt wonders if it is the real Sid. Sid may have come back from the dead to save someone after killing Nancy SpungenNancy Spungen
Nancy Laura Spungen was the American girlfriend of Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious. Spungen has been the subject of controversy among music historians and fans of the Sex Pistols.-Early life:...
when he was alive. Sid and Kurt discuss what it is like to be famous and their problems. Sid tries to convince Kurt that he should not take his life. The play takes place in Kurt's greenhouse.
Reception
Jane Edwardes of Time Out London rated the play 2 out of 5 stars said that although the actors are charismatic, the script changes from one joke to the next without much conviction. Henry Hitchings of This Is LondonEvening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
also rated the play 2 out of 5 stars saying the neither characters appear admirable and that a real frustration is none of their music being played. Rhoda Koenig of The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
said that the cardboard box in the play had more empathy than the script.