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‘Interlude In Prague’ starts shoot, adds cast

Morfydd Clark, Ade Edmundson and Charlotte Peters have all joined the biographical drama about Mozart.

Interlude In Prague, which stars Aneurin Barnard as Mozart, has commenced a six-week shoot in the eponymous Czech capital.

Joining a cast that already includes James Purefoy(Solomon Kane) and Samantha Banks (Les Miserables) is Morfydd Clark (Love & Friendship), Ade Edmundson (War & Peace) and Charlotte Peters (Pound Of Flesh).

The story follows Mozart as he composes his operatic masterpiece Don Giovanni. While visiting Prague, the composer becomes embroiled in a turbulent narrative of lust and murder.

John Stephenson (Animal Farm) is directing from a script by debutant Brian Ashby. Huw Penallt Jones is producing for UK-based Productive International alongside Hannah Leader.

London-based Carnaby International are handling worldwide rights and, having introduced the title at EFM, will be commencing sales at Cannes in May.

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‘Vikings’ renewed for fifth season as Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers joins cast

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History has commissioned a fifth season of Irish co-produced drama series ‘Vikings’ with Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers joining the cast in an unspecified role.

Production of the new 20 episode season is expected to begin in the summer, with the series premiering in 2017. Rhys Meyers has previously starred in ‘The Tudors’ – another acclaimed period drama which was shot in Ireland and created by Michael Hirst. That series ran from 2007-2010 with Rhys Meyers garnering Golden Globe and IFTA nominations for his role on the show, winning the IFTA in 2008. Rhys Meyers has recently completed work on thriller ‘Damascus Cover’ as well as an upcoming ‘Roots’ remake.

‘Vikings’ has been a critical and commercial hit since premiering in 2013. It is now the number one telecast on Thursday nights on cable in all key demos in Live +3, drawing in 4.2 million total viewers. It has also just been nominated for five IFTA Awards, including Best Drama.

The first four series of ‘Vikings’ were shot in Co. Wicklow with production in Luggala and Ashford Studios. There were approximately 400 Irish people involved in the production of the series. A number of key Irish professionals involved included director Ciarán Donnelly, costume designer Joan Bergin, production designer Tom Conroy and cinematographer PJ Dillon. A total of 8000 extras were sought for the fourth season of the show.

Irish Executive Producer Morgan O’Sullivan of World 2000 Entertainment said: “I am thrilled that Vikings is once again a success in the United States and across the world. A big thank you to the History Channel and MGM for their huge support and congratulations to the many hundreds of people in Ireland and Canada who work tirelessly on the show to make it a success.”

From creator and sole writer Michael Hirst, ‘Vikings’ is inspired by the sagas of Icelandic Viking Ragnar Lothbrok, one of the best-known legendary Norse heroes and notorious as the scourge of England and France.

Hirst serves as executive producer along with Morgan O’Sullivan of World 2000, Sheila Hockin, John Weber of Take 5 Productions, Sherry Marsh, Alan Gasmer and James Flynn.

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Stage Stars Samantha Barks and Morfydd Clark Join ‘Interlude in Prague’

Stage stars Samantha Barks and Morfydd Clark are headed to Prague!

The Daily Mail writes that the pair of leading ladies will appear in the upcoming Mozart film INTERLUDE IN PRAGUE, opposite previously announced James Purefoy and Aneurin Barnard.

No word on Barks’s role, but Clark will play ‘Zuzanna’, described as “an opera singer who meets and ‘engages’ with the composer (Barnard).”

Directed by John Stephenson with a screenplay by Brian Ashby, INTERLUDE IN PRAGUE is based on true-life events and is set in the city in 1787. Variety describes the project as “an intense and emotional narrative of love, lust and murder” that “follows the story of a few turbulent months in the short life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart that influenced the creation of the opera ‘Don Giovanni.'”

Filming begins in Prague next month.

Barks will next be seen in the films BITTER HARVEST, NEW AMSTERDAM and CHOCOLATE CAKE. She recently led the Berkeley Rep premiere of the musical adaptation of AMÉLIE. Her theatre credits include CHICAGO at The Hollywood Bowl, OLIVER! and CABARET on tour in the UK, and the West End’s LES MISERABLES (as well as its 25th anniversary show at the O2). She also starred as ‘Eponine’ in Tom Hooper’s film version LES MIS.

Clark recently appeared on in the BBC movie A POET IN NEW YORK and on the big screen in THE FALLING, LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES. A stage vet, the actress recently starred in Gary Owen’s new play VIOLENCE AND SON at the Royal Court upstairs, in ROMEO AND JULIET at the Crucible, and in LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES at Donmar Warehouse.