Woody London Bound

Woody Allen is set to abandon his home in Manhattan and move to London to direct for the stage. Allen wants to direct a series of one act plays in London's fashionable 'boutique' theatres - tiny fringe venues - after producers in New York rejected a similar plan as too expensive. The Oscar-winning actor/director is expected to spend at least a year living in the city with his partner Soon-Yi and their daughter Bechet Dumaine Allen. He plans to recoup his costs by casting big Hollywood stars in the plays, many of whom are keen to find roles on the British stage in the wake of London successes such as The Blue Room with Nicole Kidman and The Iceman Cometh with Kevin Spacey. Sources close to the William Morris Agency which represents Allen say he could stay in Britain for a year, or even longer, starting from next autumn.