Totally Tennant

David Attends Birthday Party with Georgia Moffett

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Tennant stuns kids at Davison's party
Tuesday, January 13 2009, 09:11 GMT
By Ben Rawson-Jones, Cult Editor

David Tennant's appearance at the birthday party of Peter Davison's young son stunned the children in attendance - apart from Davison's own.

Former Doctor Who actor Davison, currently starring in ITV1 drama Unforgiven, told Digital Spy: "My son Louis had a birthday party and Georgia [Moffett, Davison's daughter] was coming to his party and she turned up with David Tennant, and every other child in the garden was [shocked] - but my children were like 'I've met him before'."

Davison, who shared the Tardis alongside Tennant in the Children In Need special 'Time Crash', explained the reaction: "Well, they don't know any other world in which their dad is not in Doctor Who, so they're not as impressed as their friends are. We had David Tennant around... and they were almost unimpressed with him, I have to say! That was really extraordinary - it was almost like he didn't exist, it was very weird."

Does this mean David and Georgia are dating? Or, is he a friend of the family? It could be either way, but we'll never know because David never talks about his love life.

Tennant's Hamlet is Great

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 07:08:00 +0000

Hamlet, Novello Theatre, London

Reviewed by Ivan Fallon
Monday, 12 January 2009

Hamlet with the prince has turned out to be even better than Hamlet without the prince – and that is quite something. Gregory Doran's RSC production at the Novello Theatre has been one of the best events London theatre has seen in years. It came to the capital a month ago, with enormous expectations centring around its megastar, DavidTennant, of Doctor Who fame, and opened without him.

So we had Edward Bennett, shot from Laertes to play the Great Dane, becoming an overnight star, while poor Tennant, nursing a back injury, seemed forgotten. But he came back for the final week's run, and lifted an already superb production to sublime heights. This is a Hamlet that we will talk about for years.

Tennant's Hamlet is quite different from Bennett's, but then it is also different from any other Hamlet. Tall and incredibly thin, he is like a rubber-man, bending himself into impossible shapes, his astonishingly mobile face expressing emotions from mockery, shock, anguish and madness within a single scene. He almost mutters some of the greatest lines in the English language, and throws others away so casually that it is hard to remember this is really Shakespeare. He gets laughs and he gets tears, and his soliloquies, which he delivers as deep, probing analyses of his soul, are spellbinding.

Doran set out to make Hamlet a thoroughly modern and relevant play, and he succeeds. Tennant's prince is a familiar figure to most of us: a depressive who cannot cope with his life and responsibilities, highly intelligent and utterly self-centred. It is all about the "me", and he couldn't care a fig about anyone else, including his mother (played beautifully by Penny Downie), while poor Ophelia (Mariah Gale) is a plaything. Polonius (Oliver Ford Davies) is a prating old fool whom he treats with utter disdain, dragging his corpse off-stage and gleefully hiding it as if it were a game of hunt-the-treasure; only Patrick Stewart (who doubles as the Ghost) as Claudius has his measure, showing him that he has seen through his assumed madness.

Bennett, back as Laertes, brings a new dimension to that role, and he can feel pretty satisfied with what has been the most eventful month of his life. If Tennant had not returned, his Hamlet would have been rated close to the top. He did 21 performances, and at one stage it seemed likely that he would complete the run. As it is, we got two Hamlets, one good, the other great.

I wish I could have seen David's Hamlet. I'm still hoping for a DVD.

Most Attractive Man of 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 05:24:00 +0000

Vote for David for Most Attractive Man of 2008 at www.hellomagazine.com. You can vote more than once, but you must wait 10 minutes between votes. Voting ends on January 20.

He's currently in second place. Twilight's Robert Pattinson is 1,700 votes in the lead while Hugh Laurie is running a distant third.

David's Return to Hamlet

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:58:00 +0000

David returned to Hamlet and I missed it! I've been sick with the flu since last Saturday so I've been playing catch up on all the latest news.

According to the BBC, the RSC has been making daily postings about David's appearances since his return is being assessed on a "day by day" basis.

I also found out that "the RSC came very close to securing a deal to ensure the production was recorded professionally for TV and DVD - but that the plans fell apart, after lengthy negotiations." What a shame! What I would give to be able to get this on DVD. I'm sure the RSC could make a boatload of money from the massive amount of people that would buy it.

A review by Nick Curtis praises David's return in his column titled Tennant is better than ever in Hamlet. Nick writes:

David Tennant's triumphant return for the last week of performances of his RSC Hamlet proves his tenacity. The Dr Who star faced down snipers and doubters when he first returned to Stratford, and the company where he first made his name, to play the Dane last year.

Invalided out of the sold-out London run by a severe spine injury, he could just have kicked back and convalesced. But whether or not his back is better, Tennant is back, and his performance is better than ever.

There is a core of truth to this Hamlet with which Tennant only occasionally loses touch. He plays the prince from the start as an unstable man-boy, sharp but prone to mood swings and histrionics. He’s a case of arrested development, clearly unfit to rule and smart enough to know it. This makes brilliant sense of Hamlet’s inability to avenge his murdered father, or feel lasting remorse for Polonius’s murder or Ophelia’s death, because everything is always about him and his shortcomings.

The lithe, manic physicality of Tennant’s performance hasn’t been affected. Last night I still found some of his early anguish forced and his later “madness” close to Time Lord showboating. But in the soliloquies he is magnetic, rightly confident of his ability to make an audience share his pain, while also being one of the wittiest Hamlets I’ve seen. And it seems bitchy to quibble in the face of Tennant’s commitment to Shakespeare, and the new audiences he must surely have brought in.

He’s supported here by an excellent cast including Patrick Stewart as a silkily conniving Claudius and Edward Bennett, the understudy who covered for him, now back in the role of Laertes.

Gregory Doran’s production is full of detail and nuance, while still delivering all the bombastic flourish — dry ice, chandeliers, frocks! — typical of the RSC. But this is David Tennant’s show. I hope he, and those lucky enough already to have tickets for the last few performances, enjoy it. Until 10 January. Sold out: queue for returns on the door.

The following picture of David and Richard Wilson leaving The Ivy at 1AM is included in the Nick Curtis review.

It's so wonderful that David's recovery has been going so well. It makes me very happy!

Doctor Who Confidential: The Eleventh Doctor (1-3-09)

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:31:00 +0000

Castrolvalva is still in the process of uploading part 4 as I write this. Thought I'd get it up as soon as possible since it may not be available for long.

Meet the New Doctor on Doctor Who Confidential: The Eleventh Doctor - BBC One

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:02:00 +0000

I found a preview of tomorrow's special. It looks like David is going to be interviewed.

The Eleventh Doctor to be Revealed

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:25:00 +0000

BBC One has announced that the Eleventh Doctor will be revealed tomorrow in a special Doctor Who Confidential. The show will be broadcast at 5:35PM GMT, which is 12:35PM ET.

I assume there will be something about David in this show, along with the previous 9 Doctors. I'm hoping there will be an interview with David. I'd like to see his comments about the actor to follow him.

I remember when David replaced Christopher Eccleston and I didn't like him leaving. This time it's even worse. David is THE BEST Doctor of them all. David's Doctor is going to be a tough act to follow.

OK now I'm depressed. :-(

David Named One of the Most Influential People in Show Business

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Tennant holds strong appeal

Published Date: 31 December 2008

DOCTOR Who star David Tennant has been named as one of the most influential people in showbusiness.

He is only the fifth actor to make it into entertainment bible The Stage's Top 20 power list.

Alistair Smith, The Stage's news and opinion editor, said the Bathgate-born star's appeal was so strong he could "read the phone book" and still get people to pay to listen. Tickets to see Tennant in the Royal Shakespeare Company's Hamlet in Stratford-upon-Avon and London sold out in hours.

I know I would be in the audience to listen to any phone book David would want to read.

David to Narrate Two-Part Documentary

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 06:00:00 +0000

David will be narrating a two-part documentary titled Swarms: Nature's Incredible Invasions. It reveals the world of animal swarms with real life footage of killer bees at a football match, mice raiding South Australian farms, trillions of flies blanketing villages, etc. Part one of the program is to be broadcast on BBC One on January 4. There is no mention of when part 2 will air, but I'm assuming it will be on January 11.

Normally, I wouldn't even think about watching something about swarms, but I'll put up with swarms of anything to hear David's voice. I'll just have to close my eyes while I listen.

Doctor Who Christmas Confidential 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 04:00:00 +0000

I've uploaded the Christmas Confidential at Blip TV. I must thank Mad Martha at mininova.org since that's where I downloaded this from. You can watch it here.

If this works well, I'll try uploading other things at Blip TV.

Doctor Who: The Next Doctor (12-25-08)

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 03:00:00 +0000

I've been looking for The Next Doctor on YouTube since yesterday. It seems they have been taking down any uploads of this episode as soon as they can. So I gave up on finding anything there. I finally found a decent upload at Blip TV. I must give thanks to GallifreyTV for posting this.

If you are into torrents, Mad Martha's is here. Mad Martha uploads fantastic torrent files. If you download it, please keep seeding for as long as you can.

David's Radio Interview on BBC 5 Live (12-22-08)

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 05:30:00 +0000

David did a phone in interview on Simon Mayo's BBC 5 Live show on December 22. David is being interviewed by Phil Williams - who is sitting in for Simon. The other guests are Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer.

FileFactory.com

The Latest from the RSC About David

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:32:00 +0000

RSC statement on David Tennant and Hamlet
22 December 2008

We are very aware of the need to keep people updated about Hamlet at the Novello Theatre.

David Tennant’s doctors are pleased with the progress he is making. His recovery is encouraging so far, and we are not ruling out that he might be able to return to Hamlet during the last week of the run, although we cannot be more specific about the exact date of his possible return.

Edward Bennett will continue in the title role, with Tom Davey, Ricky Champ and Robert Curtis retaining their understudy roles as Laertes, Guildenstern and Lucianus.

David Tennant said today:
"I am so grateful for all the terrific medical attention I have received and although it is frustrating to have to take it easy whilst all my friends and colleagues continue at the Novello Theatre every night, I am aware that I must listen to the experts and take my time.

"I am impatient to be back at work and sincerely hope to make it back some time before the end of the run.

"I am very sorry to disappoint anyone who booked to come and see me in Hamlet, but confident that you will be far from disappointed by Edward Bennett’s performance in the title role. He is one of British theatre’s most promising talents and an opportunity to see his Hamlet, alongside the brilliant ensemble of actors that I have had the great pleasure of working with all year, is very exciting."

We are writing to all ticket holders for performances after 26th December to update them and will post any new information on our website.

All performances of Hamlet will continue as scheduled and therefore refunds will not be issued. As before, patrons will be able to exchange their tickets for other productions in the RSC’s London season at the Novello, subject to availability, or offer their tickets for resale at the Box Office, although we cannot guarantee this will be possible.

It sounds like David is doing what his doctors are telling him to do. Very glad to read that. Even though it sounds like it's frustrating for him, it's best in the long run. Recovery from surgery is something that just can't be hurried along.

Doctor Who Filming to Start on January 19

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 23:00:00 +0000

Tennant expected fit for new Who

By Tim Masters
Entertainment reporter, BBC News

David Tennant is expected to be fit enough to start filming scenes for a Doctor Who special next month, just weeks after surgery on his back.

The show's executive producer, Russell T Davies, said he was "hopeful" Tennant would start filming on 19 January.

"We'll have to be very careful," he said. "I don't think we'll be swinging him on a wire on his first day back."

The actor's back injury has forced him out of a London stage production of Hamlet until after Christmas.

Davies, who was speaking at the press launch of BBC One's Christmas Doctor Who special, The Next Doctor, said there would be no re-writes on the next story to cut down on Tennant's action scenes.

"No, there's been none of that, and I think David would have told us by now because he's read the first script."

He said the production was insured in case Tennant was still recuperating when filming resumed.

Neither Tennant nor David Morrissey - who plays "The Next Doctor" - attended the launch.

The Christmas story sees them team up to battle a threat from the Cybermen in London on a snowy Christmas Eve in 1851.

The episode also stars Dervla Kirwan, who plays evil workhouse matron Miss Hartigan.

Warning - potential spoilers ahead: Please do not read any further if you do not wish to know more about The Next Doctor or next year's specials

The story introduces some new variations on the Cybermen: the dog-like Cybershades and the CyberKing.

It also features a mystery surrounding a man named Jackson Lake, the Doctor taking a trip in the other Doctor's Tardis and a new kind of sonic screwdriver.

Davies revealed that the first of next year's Doctor Who specials will be filmed abroad.

"It's going to be quite exotic," he said. "I can't tell you where, but we've got four days filming abroad, to give it a bit of size and a new feel to it."

He added there was also a "great guest star".

Tennant announced in October that he would stand down as the Doctor after filming the four special episodes in 2009.

'Big climax'

Davies said each special would feature a different companion and that he would write Tennant's two final stories which would be broadcast "toward the end of next year".

"The big climax is mine, all mine," he said.

He added that the production team for the 2010 series of Doctor Who were "auditioning or looking" for a new Doctor.

"I think it could be a while - it's a very big deal to set up. Whoever becomes the Doctor has got to take on a whole life. It's not just becoming a part of a TV show," he said.

I had read a rumor in the past about an episode being filmed in the U.S. I can't imagine Russell T Davies describing the U.S. as exotic though. I wonder where it's being filmed.

I hope David is feeling well when he's filming. Back surgery seems like it wouldn't be the easiest operation to recover from. He's going to have to take good care of himself.

David is Out and About

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:00:00 +0000

Doctor Who and Hamlet star David Tennant in first outing after back surgery

Doctor Who star David Tennant has ventured out for the first time since back surgery forced him to withdraw from the West End production of Hamlet.

By Anita Singh, Showbusiness Editor
Last Updated: 10:49PM GMT 17 Dec 2008

Tennant, 37, was photographed on a trip to the local shops near his North London home.

The actor was wrapped up against the cold in a stripey scarf not dissimilar to the one worn by Tom Baker's Doctor Who in the 1970s.

The pictures of Tennant out and about will be a welcome sight for fans awaiting his return to the stage.

He underwent surgery for a prolapsed disc last week, spelling disappointment for thousands who paid to see him in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Hamlet at London's Novello Theatre. Tickets for the run sold out in a single day and the RSC is not offering refunds.

He will be out until after Christmas, and understudy Ed Bennett is playing the lead role. The injury had already caused Tennant to miss the official opening night and the last preview performance.

The actor said at the time: "It is hugely disappointing for me to have to miss these performances. My back problem has progressed to the point where it is currently impossible for me to carry on without surgery. I want to get back onstage as quickly as possible."

Tennant is still recuperating and will miss a preview screening of the latest Doctor Who special, which airs on Christmas Day. The episode co-stars David Morrissey and is intriguingly titled The Next Doctor, leading to speculation that Morrissey will take over when Tennant quits at the end of next year.

I've been wondering how David has been doing. This is the first I've read about him since he texted Christian O'Connell. It's nice to see him up and around.

David Texts A Song Request

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:04:00 +0000

According to david-tennant.com David texted Christian O'Connell this morning with a request for Letter From America by The Proclaimers and said he was doing well after his surgery. He had been listening to the show on Absolute Radio over the internet. You can listen to The Breakfast Show's Choice Cuts here.

David Doing Well

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:12:00 +0000

David's surgery is done and the word is that all went well.

Sign the Hamlet DVD Petition

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:48:00 +0000

Someone has a petition for the RSC to put Hamlet out on DVD. I don't know if this will have any influence on the RSC, but it's worth a try. Show your support for a DVD by signing the Hamlet DVD Petition.

Say Get Well to David

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:52:00 +0000

You can send David a get well message on the David Tennant Forum. The Get Well Soon Thread is under the forum named David in the Theatre. If you aren't already a member, you'll have to register to post your message.

If you would like to send David a get well card or present, his fan mail address is:

David Tennant
c/o Independent Talent Group
Oxford House
76 Oxford Street
London
W1D 1BS

David Having Back Surgery Today

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:15:00 +0000

Doctor's orders: David Tennant quits Hamlet role for back surgery

For half the Doctor Who fans who queued overnight, crashed booking websites and jammed ticket hotlines to see David Tennant play Hamlet, it is sadly not to be.

The RSC confirmed yesterday that the actor would not be returning to the Novello Theatre stage in the West End before Christmas. He has a prolapsed disc and will undergo surgery today.

In his stead Edward Bennett, 29, a relative unknown who was due to be playing Laertes, will continue to perform the most coveted role in English drama.

Bennett received a standing ovation on Monday night and again on Tuesday when he filled in for Tennant with three hours’ notice, attracting warm reviews from the critics. He emerged wide-eyed from rehearsals yesterday to say that he was thrilled to have the opportunity to play the Prince of Denmark, but said that Tennant was a “scary” act to follow.

“It’s a dream part to do and it’s amazing, but you don’t want him to be away and you don’t want him to be sick.”

Tennant, 37, has suffered from a “niggling” back injury for some time but had ignored it, thinking that there was no point in seeking medical help for an occasional twinge. On the set of Doctor Who he was renowned for his athleticism and for performing his own stunts. He played Hamlet 60 times at Stratford-upon-Avon in the summer before the West End transfer, without missing a single performance.

A spokesman for the Royal Shakespeare Company said: “The problem has been around for a while, certainly before he was with this production. I don’t think even he knows when it started.”

Tennant saw a specialist on Tuesday and again yesterday. Last night he said: “It is hugely disappointing for me to have to miss these performances. My back problem has progressed to the point where it is currently impossible for me to carry on without surgery. I want to get back on stage as quickly as possible and I am very grateful to Ed who has courageously got to grips with the role but in a much shorter time. It’s a fantastic achievement.”

By Christmas, Tennant will have missed 14 of the scheduled performances not counting previews, with a further 14 still to come.

He has proved a box-office sensation as Hamlet, with all 6,000 available tickets for the London shows selling out in three hours in September.

However, the run at the Novello is due to finish on January 10, four months before Jude Law, another Hamlet with huge crossover appeal, attempts to stamp his own personality on the role at the Wyndhams Theatre a few hundred yards to the west.

Michael Boyd, the artistic director of the RSC, said: “We all wish David a speedy recovery and it is an indication of the RSC’s investment in under-studies that Ed Bennett can take over Shakespeare’s largest role at such short notice.”

Although the production’s popular appeal was hugely enhanced by the casting of Tennant, the RSC and Delfont Mackintosh Theatres have refused to offer refunds. The RSC said: “The company has a fully rehearsed understudy policy and performances will continue as scheduled. The company is able to offer exchanges, subject to availability, for other RSC London performances during this season at the Novello Theatre. Patrons are also able to offer tickets for resale, subject to the usual terms and conditions.”

Viagogo, the biggest online ticket reseller, said that tickets for the show, which originally sold for between £5 and £40, had been changing hands for upwards of £300.

The statement of "I don’t think even he knows when it started" makes me wonder if he even injured himself at all. It's possible it could be in his genes according to this article given as a related link in the above story.

Whatever the cause of his back problem, I wish David a speedy recovery. I hope he doesn't try to do too much too soon. Even though he hates disappointing his fans and wants to be on stage as soon as possible, he should do exactly what his doctors tell him.....even if it means he misses all the rest of the performances. His health is much more important.

I was thinking.....if I had a ticket to see Hamlet during David's time off, I would still go see it. I know it would be disappointing to miss David's Hamlet, but I'd still get to see Patrick Stewart and maybe find some other new fantastic actors too. And, it still would be a great treat to see the whole production. In a way, it would be my way of showing my support of David. I don't know if this makes any sense, but that's the way I feel about it.

David Not in Tonight's Hamlet

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:54:00 +0000

RSC's Hamlet Opens Dec. 9 Without Its Star; Bennett Goes on for Tennant

The transfer of the RSC's Stratford-upon-Avon production of Hamlet to the West End's Novello Theatre officially opens Dec. 9 without its star, David Tennant, in the title role.

Due to a back injury suffered by Tennant, understudy Edward Bennett will perform in the production, which began previews Dec. 3. Bennett also played the role at the Dec. 8 performance of Hamlet; he normally plays the role of Laertes.

In a statement RSC artistic director Michael Boyd said, "As an ensemble company we feel that it is important to go ahead with tonight's performance. While understanding that some people will be disappointed at not seeing David Tennant on stage, this production, like all our productions, is more than the sum of its parts – an ensemble of actors, designers, composers etc. and we should respect that by going ahead as planned."

RSC chief associate director Gregory Doran, who directed the production, added, "David is gutted, not only at the thought of disappointing audiences, but also to be unable to perform a role that he has worked on and developed throughout 60 performances in Stratford-upon-Avon. Before this injury, he has only ever been off for one performance in his entire career to date, and is hoping that he will be able to return to the show as quickly as possible. It is an indication of the RSC's investment in understudies that Ed Bennett can take over from David in one of Shakespeare's largest roles at such short notice."

Edward Bennett has also been seen in Othello at the Donmar Warehouse, Little Neil and Pygmalion at Theatre Royal Bath, and Nan and Skin Game at Richmond Orange Tree, among others. His screen credits include "Friends Just United," "After Your Gone" and "Silent Witness."

At the Dec. 9 performance Tom Davey will take on the role of Laertes, Ricky Champ will be Guildenstern and Robert Curtis will play Lucianus.

Also featured in the cast are Patrick Stewart and Penny Downie as, respectively, Claudius and Gertrude, and Oliver Ford Davies as Polonius.

The production also includes David Ajala (Reynaldo), Sam Alexander (Rosencrantz/Second Gravedigger), Ricky Champ (Lucianus) Ewen Cummins (Barnardo), Robert Curtis (Francisco), Tom Davey (Guildenstern), Peter De Jersey (Horatio), Samuel Dutton (Lord), Ryan Gage (Osric), Mariah Gale (Ophelia), Mark Hadfield (Gravedigger), Jim Hooper (Priest), Keith Osborn (Marcellus), Roderick Smith (Lord and Captain), Andrea Harris (Lady), Riann Steele (Lady), Zoe Thorne (Lady and Player) and John Woodvine (Player King).

The production originally opened at Stratford-upon-Avon's Courtyard Theatre Aug. 5, following previews from July 24, and ran in repertory to Nov. 15.

The entire run to Jan. 10, 2009, is sold out. To inquire about returns, contact the box office at 0844 482 5135. For further details visit www.rsc.org.uk.

I wonder when he hurt his back. I hope it isn't something he'll have trouble with for a long time. I'm sending David my healing thoughts through the internet....too bad it can't work to heal him like using the satellites helped the Doctor in Last of the Time Lords.

Alas, poor.......Andre?

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:00:00 +0000

David Tennant realises pianist's dying wish by using the skull he left in his will to play 'Alas, poor Yorick' scene in Hamlet

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 11:11 PM on 25th November 2008

As an acclaimed musician, Andre Tchaikowsky lived his life to the sound of applause. Now in death, it continues.

The Polish pianist, who died in 1982, bequeathed his skull to the Royal Shakespeare Company.

And after more than 25 years of waiting in the wings, it is finally starring in the company's latest production of Hamlet.

It is used in act five, scene one, when a grave-digger unearths the skull of the jester Yorick. Hamlet, holding it close, declares: 'Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy.'

David Tennant, best known for his role in the BBC's Doctor Who, plays Hamlet in the RSC production. He is the first actor to use Mr Tchaikowsky's skull on stage.

In the years since the bequest, it has only been used in rehearsals as no actor has felt comfortable using it in performance. Replicas have been used instead.

Greg Doran, director of the current play, is said to have wanted 'to make the performance as real as possible' and retrieved the skull from its tissue-lined box at the RSC archive.

Mr Tchaikowsky was a Holocaust survivor who emigrated to Britain at the age of four.

He was devoted to Shakespeare, often visiting the Bard's home town of Stratford-Upon-Avon.

He died of cancer aged 46 and in his will asked that his organs be donated for medical research - and his skull given to the RSC for use in its productions.

Mr Tchaikowsky emigrated to Oxford in 1942 at the age of four and regularly visited Shakespeare's Stratford-Upon-Avon.

He died of cancer aged 46 in 1982 and in his will he stated it was his wish for his organs to be donated for medical science.

But he added the odd proviso: '...with the exception of my skull, which shall be offered by the institution receiving my body to the Royal Shakespeare Company for use in theatrical performance.'

Since then, his skull has largely been stored in a tissue-lined box kept within a box in a climate-controlled room at the RSC archives.

David Howells, curator of the archives, said: 'It has never been used on stage before.

'In 1989 the actor Mark Rylance rehearsed with it for quite a while but he couldn't get past the fact it wasn't Yorick's, it was Andre Tchaikowsky's.

'That, and the fear of an accident and it being slightly macabre, was why they decided not to use it and used an exact replica.

'You will probably have to go back to the early 19th century for the last time a real human skull was used in a production of Hamlet.

'Various people have known about its existence before and the director for the current production, Greg Doran, knew about it and was interested in using it.'

'I think he wanted to make the performance as real as possible.'

The RSC had to apply for special permission to use the skull from the Human Tissue Authority as it is less than 100 years old.

Unbeknown to the audience and most of the production crew Tennant appeared with it for 22 performances during the recent run.

Mr Doran, who made the decision to use it, explained why he didn't want anyone to know.

He said: 'I thought it would topple the play and it would be all about David acting with a real skull.

'It was sort of a little shock tactic though, of course, to some extent that wore off and it was just Andre, in his box.'

Dave Ferre, a friend of the Tchaikowsky family and who runs his official website, said: 'That was Andre's dream and this is great news, the family will be pleased.'

I find this fascinating. Using a real skull! I hope someone asks David what it felt like to act while holding Andre's skull for those 22 performances.

Doctor Who: The Next Doctor - Children in Need 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:00:00 +0000

This was shown on the Children on Need fund raiser on 11-14-08. It's the first couple of minutes of the 2008 Christmas Special titled 'The Next Doctor' guest starring David Morrissey.

I want to see this so much that Christmas can't come soon enough for me.

Einstein and Eddington (11-22-08)

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:04:00 +0000

I've been watching each part of this as it has been posted all day long.....while I've been downloading the torrent...shhh....don't tell anyone. David, as usual, is fantastic playing Arthur Eddington. The story is well worth watching even if David weren't in it.

It's so sad that Eddington has been so forgotten when he was so important to Einstein's work being accepted. This story should have been told years ago.

I give much thanks to Tiddybeth for posting this. Please visit her site at YouTube and let her know how much you appreciate her taking the time to upload this.

'Einstein and Eddington' Articles

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:30:00 +0000

There a some articles about 'Einstein and Eddington' at david-tennant.com. Included is a diary David wrote in the Radio Times about filming 'Einstein and Eddington'. Click on the pictures to read them here.