London's Prick Up Your Ears to Close Early

Simon Bent’s Prick Up Your Ears is closing early in the West End. The Daniel Kramer-helmed production will play its final performance on November 15. It was originally scheduled to close on December 6 at the Comedy Theatre.

Following a short regional tour, Prick Up Your Ears began performances at the Comedy Theatre on September 17, 2009, starring Matt Lucas and Chris New. Con O’Neill replaced Matt Lucas as Kenneth Halliwell in the show after Lucas withdrew from the production following the suicide death of his former husband.

Based on John Lahr’s biography of Orton and the playwright’s diaries, Prick Up Your Ears tells the sensational story behind the domestic life of Orton and Halliwell, holed up in a tiny flat in Islington. After striking his famous lover to death, Halliwell went on to commit suicide.

"Despite very good feedback and notices for Con O'Neill’s performance, the box office sales have not been sufficient to keep the show going," the producers said in a statement, adding that the decision to close the show was "difficult."