Mic Gruchy

In 2011 Donald Macdonald sent Susie Lindeman the script of his new play “Letter To Larry”. Having performed together at The Wyndhams Theatre in the West End, they knew that London was the play’s ideal home. In May 2011, Susie performed it at the Leicester Square Theatre, London, in association with “A Weekend With The Oliviers’- an event created by vivandlarry.com. From this, Jermyn Street Theatre expressed interest in the show.

In 2012 it was invited to play a series of previews during the Jubilee Week and it was here that many of Vivien’s friends expressed their astonishment and support at how Vivien was so vividly brought to life in Macdonald’s play. In 2013, the 100^th year of Vivien’s birth, the play was invited to Paris for it's world premiere as directed by Wayne Harrison at the 17thC Theatre de Nesle.

The press and public response was superlative. Susie was then asked to play special centenary shows in London and Los Angeles- including on Vivien’s actual birthday in a performance at Covent Garden’s famous “Actors Church’, St Pauls on the piazza. From this a performance was presented by London’s National Portrait Gallery in their Ondaatje Wing Theatre, as part of the NPG’s “Starring Vivien Leigh” exhibition.

                     

Letter to Larry brings the essence of Vivien Leigh into the West End. When Laurence Olivier asked her for a divorce, Vivien's response created a world-wide sensation. As a new revelation takes her to the edge, Vivien is fighting for his love - and her life.

Donald Macdonald is an award-winning international playwright and actor. Other plays include the smash-hit comedy "Caravan".

Susie Lindeman's UK credits include her stunning debut in "Catherine" (Thames TV film), as Dolly in "Howards End", opposite Michael Gambon in "Maigret", "Let Them Eat Cake" (French and Saunders) and West End "Prin", "The Admirable Crichton", "Sons of Cain" and "The Deep Blue Sea".

I have know Susie for over 20 years and we've always wanted to work together. I have agreed to be Video Artist and Media Designer for this new production to add a projection design playing with scenic and lyrical imagery to enhance our vision of Vivien's inner life and environments. I will prepare video media for projection cues by composition of stills and short footage.
The sourcing of many of the images has been done with special permission exclusively for this production.
Susie and I will work on content design including some shooting here in Australia before leaving for the UK.

I will be travelling to London for two weeks of rehearsal and bump in. I will be leaving on the 23rd of July and we will be rehearsing for one week with the director in the rehearsal rooms at RADA (The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) in London before bump in commences on the 2nd of August. We preview before opening on the 5th. I will stay until the 6th to see the show up and running.

This London season is a rare opportunity to work in the West End and extend my practice internationally. The $3600 will cover my travel and living expenses for the 12 days away from Sydney. I am currently looking at return airfares from $1800 - $2200 AUD$. Susie has secured cheap share accommodation in Brixton and the remaining funds after the airfare will pay for food and board. I hope to have something approaching AUD$100 prepay to survive in London.
Not luxury but I shouldn't starve!

The greatest challenge would be if no funds were available to get me to London so I can complete my video design and create a beautiful new production. Though I will be receiving a small designer fee this production has no public funding and the budget is limited. If we are successful the result will be a touring production for future seasons internationally and especially home in Australia.