Broadway star Seth Numrich will make his London stage debut opposite Kim Cattrall in the forthcoming production of Sweet Bird Of Youth at the Old Vic theatre.
Directed by Marianne Elliott, Tennessee Williams’ powerful and poetic play, which plays at the Waterloo venue from 1 June to 31 August, tells the story of a fading Hollywood legend (Cattrall) who, travelling incognito, seeks refuge in drink, drugs and the arms of idealist young dreamer turned gigolo Chance Wayne (Numrich), a man intent on achieving his own movie stardom.
The youngest person ever to be accepted into the Juilliard School’s theatre department, Numrich made his Broadway debut aged 16 opposite Al Pacino in The Merchant Of Venice before going on to play the lead role of Albert Narracott in the Broadway production of War Horse where he first worked with director Elliott. More recently he played Joe Bonaparte in Broadway’s Golden Boy and, on screen, the actor’s credits include American television series The Good Wife and Gravity, and How To Kill A Mockingbird and Private Romeo on film.
The Broadway actor and Sex And The City star will be joined in the production by Brid Brennan and Owen Roe.
Tony Award-winning actress Brennan, who was last seen on the London stage in the Shakespeare’s Globe production of Henry V, has previously appeared on stage in productions including The Veil, Pillars Of The Community and Rutherford And Son at the National Theatre, and The Little Foxes at the Donmar Warehouse, while, on screen, her credits include Upstairs Downstairs, Dr Who and Trial & Retribution.
Irish actor Roe, who has appeared extensively on stage in his home country, appearing in productions including King Lear and The Plough And The Stars at the Abbey theatre, has appeared on screen in ITV’s Prisoner’s Wives, and films Sensation and When Harvey Met Bob.
The quartet will be joined by a cast that also includes Charles Aitken, Michael Begley, Daniel Betts, Ruari Cannon, Emily De Cosimo, Louise Dylan, Kurt Kansley, Sean McConaghy, Katie Meekison, Bryonie Pritchard, Lucy Robinson, Violet Ryder, Ryan Saunders, Alistair Scott, Anthony Taylor, Joe Townley, John Trindle and David Webber.
Sweet Bird Of Youth will open at the Old Vic theatre following Lindsay Posner’s acclaimed production of Terence Rattigan’s The Winslow Boy, which plays until 25 May.