Wagatha Christie hits the West End as Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney get a theatrical make-over
Stars of a new theatre production based around the multimillion-pound Wagatha Christie libel trial hope audiences “go away with sympathy” for both Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney.
West End audiences will soon see Lucy May Baker and Laura Dos Santos take the stage as the two WAGs in a play that’s scripted around seven days-worth of court transcripts.
Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial is on at Wyndham’s Theatre
Baker, who plays Vardy, told Sky News: “This is the women telling their story in their words in a way that we haven’t seen yet, I don’t think.
“We’re looking at two intelligent women who both have their own truths here and…I think it’s a really interesting way to get deeper into the actual stories.”
Dos Santos, who plays Rooney, says the case was “exposing for both of the women”.
“The way they’re treated on the stand by the barristers, how they behave, how they hold themselves together. I hope that people will go away with sympathy for both women… that an audience wouldn’t just be laughing at them and thinking ‘Ha-ha! Isn’t it funny these two WAGS going at it?’.”
The story, of course, began back in October 2019, when Rooney broke the internet with her ‘big reveal’ post on Instagram, where she announced to the world that she’d left a trail of fake-story breadcrumbs to work out who was selling stories from her private Instagram account to The Sun and that: “It’s… Rebecca Vardy’s account”.
Vardy sued Rooney for libel – insisting her name was unfairly dragged through the mud – and the case came to a head earlier in 2022 when the claim was heard at the High Court.
The nation (in part) was captivated.
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It all started with a social media post back in October 2019 which quickly went viral.
Vardy, 40, lost the case against 36-year-old Rooney, with the judge finding Rooney’s post “substantially true”.
But before that, catty WhatsApp messages would be read aloud by very expensive lawyers, accounts of phones being lost in the North Sea would emerge, and the nation would be transported back to World Cups of yesteryear and a time of tabloid tip-offs when WAG culture was both aspirational and a way to make money.
Liv Hennessy, the show’s writer, says the “trial had all the ingredients of a great drama.”
She explains: “What’s brilliant for us is that the British legal system is so inherently theatrical, the dialogue is very robust, there are costumes, wigs and really fantastic dramatic moments.”
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As well as the West End production, Channel 4 is producing a two-part TV drama on the case.
Due out before Christmas, it’ll feature a star turn from actor Michael Sheen who will appear as Rooney’s charismatic barrister David Sherborne.
Disney+ has also confirmed it is creating a three-part documentary series about the court battle, with “exclusive access” to Rooney.
Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial opens on 15 November at Wyndham’s Theatre and will be staged every Tuesday through until Christmas.
Entertainment
Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner and investor of Swansea football club saying it’s ‘an underdog just like me’
Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.
Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.
However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.
The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.
Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.
The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA
Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.
They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.
Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.
The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”
“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.
The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.
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One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
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