David Suchet is to return to the London stage next year in Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night, which is scheduled for the Apollo theatre from 2 April to 18 August 2012.
One of the American playwright’s later plays, and based on his own family background, Long Day’s Journey Into Night is set in 1912 and centres on James Tyrone (Suchet), his wife Mary and their sons Jamie and Edmund as they battle their demons during a long summer’s day. It was first produced on Broadway in 1956, posthumously winning O’Neill the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Suchet was last seen on the London stage in All My Sons, also at the Apollo theatre, for which he picked up his seventh Olivier Award nomination. The actor, who is best known on television for playing Belgian detective Poirot, is a vastly experienced stage actor whose recent credits also include The Last Confession at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2007 and Complicit at the Old Vic in 2008.
Long Day’s Journey Into Night is directed by Anthony Page, who directed Design For Living at the Old Vic last year. His credits also include Rosmersholm and The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia? at the Almeida theatre, The Lady From Dubuque, Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? and The Night Of The Iguana in the West End.
The production comes to the Apollo theatre following a spell at Richmond theatre from 22 February to 3 March. Further casting is yet to be announced.
Currently playing at the Apollo theatre is Yes, Prime Minister, which is booking to 17 September.
CB