Keith Drinkel

The Eastbourne Under Ground Theatre welcomes Keith Drinkel in “Larry” a retrospective on the life and times of Sir Laurence Olivier, perhaps the greatest English actor of the twentieth century. Written by Mark Burgess and directed by Derek Parry.

In 1975, in his late sixties following a series of life-threatening illnesses, alone and in despair in his New York Hotel suite, Olivier feared that he would never work again. A surprise telephone call from film Director John Schlesinger led to a leading role with Dustin Hoffman in “Marathon Man”. Revitalised, he went on to make 20 or more films and TV plays.

Keith Drinkel’s career spans 40 years on the stage, as actor and director – from award winning TV series to highly praised stage performances and to working with the Radio Drama Company.

Keith leads us through Olivier’s great stage and film roles, the Old Vic and the National Theatre, his three marriages, his connection with famous actors including Guinness and Gielgud. From his greatest triumphs, through his punishing fitness regimes, his recurrent bouts of terrifying stage-fright, Keith Drinkel is Olivier.