James McAvoy returns to the London stage in the first revival of The Ruling Class since its West End premiere in 1969.

Returning to the Trafalgar Studios following his turn as Macbeth in 2013, McAvoy takes on the role of Jack in Peter Barnes’ razor-sharp comedy exposing the foibles of the English nobility.

After his father passes away in a bizarre accident Jack inherits the title of the 14th Earl of Gurney. Singularly unsuited to a life in the upper echelons of elite society, Jack finds himself at the centre of a ruthless power struggle as his scheming family strives to uphold their reputation.

Best known for his screen roles, which include films Atonement, The Last King Of Scotland and the X-Men series, McAvoy has previously appeared on stage in productions including 2005’s Breathing Corpses at the Royal Court and 2002’s Privates On Parade at the Donmar Warehouse.

The satire is directed by Lloyd whose recent productions include The Commitments and Urinetown The Musical.