Laura Donnelly tells Graham Norton about new West End show with partner Jez Butterworth

Virgin Radio

25 Feb 2024, 15:49

Laura Donnelly is starring in The Hills Of California on the West End and has high hopes the play will one day go to Broadway. 

The Hills Of California is set in Blackpool, 1976, the driest summer in 200 years. The beaches are packed, and the hotels are heaving, but in the sweltering backstreets, the Webb sisters are returning to their mother's run-down guest house as she lies dying upstairs. 

Speaking on the Graham Norton Show with Waitrose, Laura said: "My character is Veronic, and it's based on this guest house in Blackpool. The play takes place over two periods of time, and so the mother role that I play exists mainly in the 1950s as we see the kind of childhood of these sisters that we meet in the 70s."

The play is written by Jez Butterworth, responsible for the play Jerusalem which was called 'play of the century'. Jez is also Laura's partner, and they've been named the 'power couple' of the West End.

Jez also wrote The Hills of California specifically for Laura to be a part of. She explained: "He had ideas for it over several years, and I guess some of those predated our relationship. When it came to pulling it all together, we chatted about it right from the beginning. It was just always assumed that I would do it, which is a very lovely and luxurious place to be in as an actor. 

The play has already had rave reviews, and at this point, we could be seeing it make its way to Broadway- something that Laura would love. 

She added: "That would be amazing. I love Broadway. It always changes a bit out there to different kinds of audiences and a different kind of reaction. It's a really exciting place to bring and play, and if we get the opportunity, I will be there with bells on."