Man and Superman - Ralph Fiennes returns to the NT
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
RALPH Fiennes is returning to the National Theatre to play Jack Tanner in Simon Godwin’s reinvention of Bernard Shaw’s witty, provocative classic, Man and Superman, which runs in the Lyttelton Theatre from February 25 (previews from February 17) to May 17, 2015.
The cast also includes Tim McMullan and Indira Varma as Ann.
They are joined by Elliot Barnes-Worrell, Nicholas Bishop, Faye Castelow, Clare Clifford, Naomi Cranston, Henry Everett, Colin Haigh, Nick Hendrix, Corey Johnson, Christine Kavanagh, Mary Keegan, Ferdinand Kingsley, Nicholas le Prevost, Simon Markey and Arthur Wilson.
A romantic comedy, an epic fairytale, a fiery philosophical debate, Man and Superman asks fundamental questions about how we live.
Jack Tanner, celebrated radical thinker and rich bachelor, seems an unlikely choice as guardian to the alluring heiress, Ann. But she takes it in her assured stride, and, despite the love of a poet, she decides to marry and tame this dazzling revolutionary.
Tanner, appalled by the whiff of domesticity, is tipped off by his chauffeur and flees to Spain, where he is captured by bandits and meets The Devil. An extraordinary dream-debate, heaven versus hell, ensues. Following in hot pursuit, Ann is there when Tanner awakes, as fierce in her certainty as he is in his.
Ralph Fiennes appeared at the National Theatre most recently in the title role of Oedipus, and in the venue’s 50th anniversary gala performance. His other theatre credits include Faith Healer (Dublin’s Gate Theatre and Broadway); God of Carnage (Gielgud Theatre); Julius Caesar (Barbican and tour); title roles in Hamlet, Ivanov, Richard II and Coriolanus (Almeida Theatre); Edmund in King Lear, Henry VI in The Plantagenets, and Troilus in Troilus and Cressida (RSC) and Prospero in The Tempest (Theatre Royal Haymarket).
His extensive film appearances include The Grand Budapest Hotel, Skyfall, Voldemort in the Harry Potter films, The Constant Gardener, The English Patient and Schindler’s List.
Indira Varma’s recent theatre work includes Titus Andronicus (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Hothouse (Trafalgar Studios), Dance of Death and Twelfth Night (Donmar Warehouse), and Hysteria (West End). Her many screen appearances include Game of Thrones, What Remains, Rome, Luther and Exodus: Gods and Kings.
Man and Superman is directed by Simon Godwin, who directed Strange Interlude at the National Theatre last year. He is an Associate Artist at Bristol Old Vic and Associate Director at The Royal Court, where his productions include Lucy Kirkwood’s NSFW, Vivienne Franzmann’s The Witness, Luke Norris’ Goodbye to All That, Anya Reiss’ The Acid Test, and Nick Payne’s Wanderlust. His other work includes Two Gentlemen of Verona for the RSC. Godwin received the Emerging Director Award at the 2012 Evening Standard Awards.
Man and Superman will be designed by Christopher Oram, with lighting by James Farncombe, music by Michael Bruce, movement by Jonathan Goddard and sound by Christopher Shutt.
NB: There will be a National Theatre Live broadcast of Man and Superman on May 14, 2015.