A West End play due to open tonight has been dramatically cancelled after one of the actors pulled out at the last minute.
Anthony Flanagan, best known as policeman Tony in Channel 4's Shameless, has withdrawn from the production citing "personal reasons".
Flanagan performed in the previews of David Mamet's play Glengarry Glen Ross last week but has pulled out of tonight's opening night.
The first night at the Apollo Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue will now take place on Friday with a new actor, Peter McDonald-taking over Flanagan's role for the rest of the run.
The cancellation will prove highly embarrassing in a muchanticipated new production of the play, which also stars Jonathan Pryce and Aidan Gillen.
Flanagan, 35, from Stockport, is mainly known as a television actor, having risen to prominence in Channel 4's award-winning comedy drama Shameless. He has been in Life On Mars and Doctor Who and is considered a rising star. Mamet's play depicts the dogeatdog world of Chicago real estate agents and was made into a movie in 1992, which also starred Pryce, Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey and Jack Lemmon.
One theatre-goer who saw an early preview of the play said Flanagan seemed out of his depth in the role. She told the Evening Standard: "To be honest, it was embarrassing. His performance was not up to scratch and by the end of the performance he wasn't even trying to put on an accent. Either he was just having a bad day or was out of his depth."
McDonald, 35, performed Flanagan's role for the first time last night. Sources said it was very unusual that an actor would be in an opening night after only three performances.
His previous stage roles include Exiles and The Aristocrats at the National, Resurrection Blues at the Old Vic, Days Of Wine And Roses, A Lie Of The Mind at the Donmar Warehouse and The Wexford Trilogy at the Tricycle. He has also appeared in BBC1's Sea Of Souls and Channel 4's Green Wing.
