Rupert Grint will make his stage debut alongside Ben Whishaw, Daniel Mays and Brendan Coyle in Ian Rickson’s revival of Jez Butterworth’s Olivier Award-winning play Mojo when it opens at the Harold Pinter theatre later this year.
Playing from 26 October, the searing Soho-set drama charts the story of aspiring rock ‘n’ roll star Johnny Silver whose manager and Atlantic Club owner Ezra is determined to keep him from the clutches of local gangster Sam Ross. But when murder strikes, Ezra is no longer in a position to protect him and the club falls into the hands of the very man he tried to drive away.
Grint, who soared to stardom as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films before appearing more recently in Wild Target and Into The White, is the latest star of the spellbinding franchise to turn his talents to the stage following appearances from Hogwarts exports including Daniel Radcliffe, Bonnie Wright, Matthew Lewis and Harry Melling.
Whishaw most recently appeared on stage opposite his Skyfall co-star Judi Dench in the Michael Grandage Company’s production of Peter And Alice. Well known for his on screen appearances in television series The Hour and Criminal Justice, the actor’s work for the stage includes Trevor Nunn’s production of Hamlet at the Old Vic, for which he received an Olivier Award nomination, and Cock at the Royal Court.
Last seen on the London stage in Joe Wright’s production of Trelawny Of The Wells at the Donmar Warehouse, Mays is fast becoming a regular at the Covent Garden venue, with other credits including 2011’s Moonlight and the forthcoming production of Nick Payne’s new play The Same Deep Water As Me. The actor’s stage performances elsewhere include Hero at the Royal Court, while on screen he has appeared in films including Wright’s hit romantic drama Atonement and television series including ITV’s Mrs Biggs.
Olivier Award-winning actor Coyle, whose face has become synonymous with ITV period drama Downton Abbey in which he plays valet John Bates, has appeared extensively on screen, with credits including television series Lark Rise To Candleford, True Dare Kiss and North & South. The actor has also made his mark on stage, appearing in the premiere of Conor McPherson’s Olivier Award-winning play The Weir, for which he won his prestigious accolade in 1999.
Director Rickson, who returns to the Harold Pinter theatre following Kristin Scott Thomas-led productions of Pinter plays Old Times and Betrayal, has received critical acclaim for his work with Butterworth. The duo’s collaborations together include the multi-award-winning Jerusalem, The Winterling, The Night Heron, Parlour Song, the playwright’s most recent hit The River and Mojo’s 1995 premiere at the Royal Court.
Rickson’s revival of Mojo will open following the transfer of Lucy Kirkwood’s hit play Chimerica, which brings its tale of the 1989 protests in Tiananmen Square to the West End venue for a limited season from 6 August to 19 September.