The subversive rise of a meticulous demagogue played by Lenny Henry takes centre stage at the Donmar Warehouse this month – check out the first rehearsal images.
Chicago! A city of jazz and gangsters, prohibition and poverty. Amongst the murk of the Great Depression, there’s room for a small time crook like Arturo Ui to make a name for himself.
Ui and his henchmen just want to look after you, to offer protection for workers, for jobs, for businesses. Nothing to fear. But a little bribery here, some harmless corruption there, and soon something much more dangerous takes hold.
Bruce Norris’ new translation of Bertolt Brecht’s satirical masterpiece The Resistible Rise Of Arturo Ui is directed by Simon Evans with design by Peter McKintosh. Lenny Henry will make his Donmar debut as Arturo Ui and is joined by Michael Pennington, who recently played the title role in King Lear at the Royal & Derngate Northampton, as Dogsborough. Other casting includes Philip Cumbus, Lucy Eaton, Tom Edden, Lucy Ellinson, Simon Holland Roberts, Louis Martin, Justine Mitchell, Gloria Obianyo, Guy Rhys and Giles Terera.
The Resistible Rise Of Arturo Ui previews from 21 April 2017. You can book your tickets through the venue’s website.