House star Robert Sean Leonard will return to the London stage for the first time in 22 years to star in Timothy Sheader’s production of To Kill A Mockingbird, the premiere show in the Regent’s Park Open Air theatre’s 2013 season.
Leonard will lead the cast of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning tale from 16 May (press night 22 May) as Atticus Finch, a lawyer dedicated to tackling racial injustice as he represents a man accused of rape in a small town in the Deep South.
While Leonard may be best known for his long-running role as Dr James Wilson in US medical drama House, the actor is a Tony Award-winning stage performer, earning nominations for performances in Broadway productions of Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Candida and winning for The Invention Of Love.
The New Jersey-born actor made his West End debut at the age of 22 in a production of Our Town, three years after he found fame in cult film Dead Poets Society. His numerous subsequent film credits include Much Ado About Nothing, The Age Of Innocence and The Last Days Of Disco.
Joining Leonard in the cast as his equally courageous daughter Scout is Eleanor Worthington-Cox, the youngest ever recipient of an Olivier Award following her win at last year’s ceremony for Matilda The Musical alongside her fellow Matildas, Cleo Demetriou, Kerry Ingram and Sophia Kiely.
The award-winning pair will be joined by Waterloo Road star Richie Campbell, who takes on the role of the accused Tom Robinson following appearances in Truth And Reconciliation at the Royal Court theatre and Lower Ninth at the Donmar Warehouse.
Fellow cast members also announced include Simon Gregor (Much Ado About Nothing, Regent’s Park Open Air theatre), Hattie Ladbury (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lady Macduff, Lady Be Good, Regent’s Park Open Air theatre), Rona Morison (The Second Mrs Tanqueray, Rose theatre Kingston), Joe Speare (The Harder They Come at the Barbican and West End) and Daniel Tuite (Peter Pan, Kensington Gardens). Further casting is to be confirmed.