PURE GOLD VALLEY

Hall apologises to Downton star

5 November 2012 Last updated at 12:53 GMT By Tim Masters Entertainment and arts correspondent, BBC News Sir Peter (left) said the cast, including Laura Carmichael (right), were "a fine company of actors" Director Sir Peter Hall has apologised to Downton Abbey actress Laura Carmichael after he "unintentionally disrupted" her West End debut.

Audiences at the opening night of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya on Friday heard Sir Peter speaking in the stalls during the play's final scene.

Reports over the weekend suggested Sir Peter had been "heckling" the actors.

In a statement, however, the 81-year-old said he had been "disorientated" after falling asleep.

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Being rather aged I dropped off for a moment and on being woken by my wife I was briefly disorientated”

End Quote Sir Peter Hall "I am mortified that I unintentionally disrupted the final scene of Uncle Vanya and I have sent a personal note to Laura Carmichael offering my apologies," Sir Peter said.

"I enjoyed the evening, and her performance, immensely, and I cannot stress too strongly that my remarks were in no way directed at her or the production."

The distinguished director added: "Being rather aged I dropped off for a moment and on being woken by my wife I was briefly disorientated.

"Remarks made in the resulting confusion were not in any way related to Uncle Vanya, which I think is a very fine production with a marvellous company of actors."

Carmichael, who plays Lady Edith Crawley in ITV1 drama Downton Abbey, was making her first appearance in London's West End in a new version of Chekhov's classic at the Vaudeville Theatre.

The actress continued to deliver her emotional closing speech despite the disruption.

Downton star Carmichael (r) appears with Ken Stott in the Vaudeville Theatre production

The production, directed by Lindsay Posner, stars Ken Stott in the title role alongside Anna Friel and Samuel West.

"I was delighted that Peter Hall and a host of great actors - Idris Elba, Rhys Ifans and stars from Downton Abbey - attended the opening night of Uncle Vanya," said Nica Burns, owner of the Vaudeville.

"I left the auditorium with Sir Peter and Lady Hall and he was applauding enthusiastically and shouting 'Bravo!' He clearly had a great evening."

Sir Peter founded the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1961 and was its artistic director for eight years. He went on to spend 11 years as director of the National Theatre.

The current series of Downton Abbey concluded on ITV1 on Sunday night.

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