The producers of a stage play based on the Wagatha Christie trial say the show will go on – despite Rebekah Vardy trademarking the term.
Vardy v Rooney: The Wagathie Christie Trial, a “verbatim production” using High Court transcripts from the libel battle between Coleen Rooney and Vardy, is on at the Ambassadors Theatre in the West End and set to tour the UK and Ireland next month.
On Wednesday, Saphia Maxamed, owner of London Entertainment, confirmed her firm has registered Wagatha Christie as a trademark on behalf of its client, Rebekah.
But the producers of the Wagatha Christie play told the PA news agency they show will continue and even extended an invite to Rebekah.
In their statement, show bosses used asterisks to alter the play’s name in an apparent reference to the trademark – and the idea they may no longer be able to legally use the term, Wagatha Christie.
They said: “This story continues to have more twists and turns than an Agatha Christie thriller and this morning’s news that Rebekah Vardy has trademarked the term ‘Wag*tha Chr*stie’ is the latest plot development.
“Performances of Vardy v Rooney: The Wag*tha Chr*stie Trial continue as planned in the West End and on tour and we would be delighted for Mrs Vardy to come and see the show.”
After a successful debut at London’s Wyndham’s Theatre between November and January, the play was renewed for a run at the Ambassadors Theatre for six weeks in April and May.
It will head to New Victoria Theatre in Woking, Liverpool’s Empire Theatre, the Palace Theatre in Southend, The Lowry in Salford and Brighton’s Theatre Royal throughout May and June.
In a viral social media post in October 2019, Rooney, wife of former Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney, accused Vardy, who is married to Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, of leaking “false stories” about her private life to the press.
Last summer, in a trial that gripped the nation, Vardy, 41, took Rooney, 37, to the High Court for a libel battle – with a judge finding the latter’s post to be “substantially true”.
The case got its popular name, a portmanteau of WAG because of the steps Rooney took to probe the source of the leaks.
Rebekah applied for the trademark license eight months ago, and now, should anybody wish to use the phrase on a commercial basis, she will need to approve it and can also receive a fee for usage.
In documents obtained by the Mirror, her trademark covers everything from clothing, non-alcoholic beverages, broadcasting, education and beauty.
Speaking to The Sun, a source said: "This trademark is Becky's two fingers to Coleen and all the misery associated with 'Wagatha Christie', Becky is shrewd and knew people would try to cash in on the phrase."
The source went on to explain that Vardy would consider expanding the trademark out of the UK if this was required.
They added: "It is a legal grey area in some respects, however, and will be done on a case-by-case basis."
