Gentlemen in West End talks

The League of Gentlemen could be starring in the long-running West End show Art.

The group's three performers have reportedly approached the show's producer with an eye to taking the roles.

The play, about how friends react when one of them buys an overpriced piece of modern art was named best new comedy at the Olivier awards in 1997 - the same year the League won the Perrier award.

According to actors' newspaper The Stage, Mark Gatiss is set play Serge, who buys the piece, with Steve Pemberton portraying Marc and Reece Shearsmith as Yvan.

The trio ­ along with writer Jeremy Dryson - had their own West End hit last year.

Their show, A Local Show For Local People, was originally booked at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane for just one week ­ but the run was eventually extended to six.

If negotiations are successful, The League will appear on stage later this year, after finishing work on their third TV series.

The current cast of Art, at the Whitehall Theatre, includes The Kumars at Number 42 star Sanjeev Bhaskar.

Published: 30 May 2002